Frequently Asked Questions
If I live out of state, can you still handle our estate sale?
Absolutely! We have streamlined our process to accommodate clients who live out of state. We can handle everything via email, Zoom, text, and phone. Trust is vital in this business, so we advise prospective clients to interview two or three companies, ask lots of questions, check references, and trust your instincts. If you have a local Realtor or attorney, we are more than happy to work with them as well.
What should I expect from our initial consultation?
The initial consultation allows us to meet personally (or virtually), walk through the house together, understand your objectives, needs and desires, discuss our various service options and fees, and determine if we are the right fit for you. If we decide to work together, we will prepare a contract for your review and signature, and then get to work!
What if we don’t have enough stuff for an estate sale? Are there other options?
If after the consultation we determine that an estate sale is not the best path forward, we offer two other options for you. We offer a modified liquidation, where we invite buyers from our network of resellers to purchase select items. Then for a fee that is offset by those purchases, we clear out the home and professionally clean it for you. In the end, the home is left “Realtor Ready” – completely empty, professionally cleaned, and ready for whatever comes next. This process usually takes twenty days or so. We also offer a fee-based clean-out service where we get in ASAP and get the home emptied and cleaned as quickly as possible. No muss, no fuss. Just get in, get it done, and move on. We can usually complete a clean-out in less than two weeks.
Is there a charge for the initial consultation?
Our initial consultation is always free of charge.
Does it matter if an estate sale company is licensed and insured?
Yes, it does matter. Entrusting an estate sales company with your home, possessions, and the liability associated with the event requires certainty that you are dealing with a legitimate, reputable operator who is responsible and accountable.
Should we remove anything from the home before we hire an estate sale company?
It is advisable to have family members decide what they might want to take and remove those items BEFORE you hire an estate sale company. At least have those items clearly marked. Once a contract is signed, the items in the home (and not marked) become part of the sale and must be purchased at the agreed-upon terms. Also, we advise against cleaning or throwing anything away as seemingly unwanted or unusable items can sometimes have surprising value. Our expertise lies in figuring out the value of all those items. We will do all the cleaning and sorting. That’s part of what you are paying for. Hire a good estate sale company then let them do the work.
How long does it take to schedule and conduct and estate sale?
We get moving as quickly as we can! Once we agree on a date, the White Hat team gets to work. We typically need 7 to 10 days to prepare, organize, stage, and price the contents of the home. Larger homes or properties with a significant volume of merchandise may require a little more time.
Once everything is ready, your estate sale is generally conducted over two to three days.
Our goal is to make the process as efficient and seamless as possible, getting you to the finish line quickly while giving your belongings the attention they deserve.
Can you help me sell the home too?
We are more than happy to help promote your home’s sale during the estate sale weekend if you are already working with a Realtor. We can collaborate with them to attract potential buyers. Additionally, we can refer you to reputable real estate professionals we trust if needed.
Will you leave the Home empty and clean?
Absolutely. That is part of the White Hat promise.
When the sale is over, we do not simply pack up and wave goodbye. We remove the remaining merchandise, coordinate the disposition of unsold items, and leave the home empty and professionally cleaned.
Our goal is for the property to be “Realtor Ready” when we are finished, so you can move on to whatever comes next with one less thing to worry about.
What happens to items that do not sell?
Our goal is to sell as much as possible, and we are pretty good at it.
After the sale, we invite our network of consolidators and resellers to take one final look at the remaining merchandise. This additional step helps us maximize the return on your belongings rather than simply giving everything away at the end of the sale.
Whatever remains after that, which is usually very little, is donated to charitable organizations serving families in need throughout the Albuquerque area.
In other words, sell it, consolidate it, donate it. We keep the process moving and the leftovers to a minimum.
What if we have some questions before we are ready to commit to an estate sale?
Ask away! We are here to help. Whatever you do, don’t feel rushed when choosing an estate sale company. There is a wide spectrum in the quality of service, and results, in the estate sale marketplace and, unfortunately, if you choose the wrong company you won’t know until it’s too late. So, take your time, read Google and Yelp reviews, ask for “recent” client references and Realtor references, and then follow your gut. You got this!
How do you advertise my sale?
We are not exactly shy about getting the word out.
White Hat has built a following of more than 4,000 trusted followers, giving us an established audience of shoppers who are already looking for their next treasure.
Your sale is also featured on EstateSales.net, where it can potentially reach 6,000 to 10,000 buyers locally, regionally, and nationally.
We also promote each sale through Craigslist in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, our established White Hat buyer network, and targeted outreach to our reseller and collector communities.
And then there is our signature Tiffany blue signage.
The night before the sale, we strategically place our signs throughout the neighborhood to let people know something good is happening nearby. Those signs typically generate at least 25% of our sale traffic.
Because sometimes the best advertising is simply telling the neighbors, “Hey, you might want to come see what we found.”
What Sets White Hat Apart?
The Gold Bows. The White Gloves.
With 30 years of combined experience, we have learned that an estate sale does not have to feel like an estate sale.
We believe your home and the belongings inside it deserve to be treated with care, respect, and a little bit of flair.
Whether we are handling your mother’s treasured belongings, helping you downsize after decades in the same home, or assisting with a major life transition, our job is to make the process as easy, efficient, and expeditious as possible.
And yes, we really do love what we do. That passion shows up in the details.
The White Hat Touch
We add a few personal touches that are not necessarily required, but are very White Hat.
Hand delivered letters to neighbors letting them know about the upcoming sale.
Blue cones placed in driveways and in front of mailboxes during sale days to help with traffic and parking.
A vase of fresh flowers at every sale to add a little beauty, warmth, and ambience.
An endless supply of chocolate for shoppers, because shopping is better with chocolate.
And because atmosphere matters, we like to add a subtle aroma of cinnamon and vanilla to the space. It is a small touch, but it helps create a warm, inviting environment that feels more like home and less like a sale.
These details may seem small, but together they create an experience that feels thoughtful and personal.
The White Hat Way
We do not believe an estate sale is simply about putting price tags on someone’s belongings.
It is about people, memories, transitions, and trust.
You may be saying goodbye to a home you have lived in for decades. You may be helping a parent downsize. You may simply be ready for a fresh start.
Whatever brought you to us, we will handle the process with professionalism, compassion, and, when appropriate, a little humor.
The White Hat way is simply different.
And we would love the opportunity to show you why.