Closing the Deal

So you're at an estate sale and you're ready to make a bid on a piece of property you've always dreamed about? But do you know how to make a bid? And how do you ensure that your bid effectively closes the deal?

The first thing you need to understand is how bidding works at an estate sale. Just like an auction, people who want to buy a specific item will need to make a bid for it. The person prepared to make the highest bid will be awarded the sale.

Naturally, the way in which bidding proceeds at an estate sale depends on the company managing it. You may be encouraged to raise your hand in front of the auctioneer or to make a verbal bid. Other times you may use a special bidding card that has a number on it, which you will have collected before the selling takes place.

One thing you should be prepared for is the deposit. The policy of taking a deposit from customers is becoming more commonplace in the industry. This is because many companies insist that sales are settled straight away after a bid has been successful. If you are bidding on several different items, it can be distracting to have to make multiple payments while the estate sale is in progress. For this reason, many companies now request that a deposit is left with its representatives which will cover any bids you make. This is usually in the form of a check, which will be returned to you if you decide not to bid.

When you are closing a deal, you must be prepared to pay for it straight away and to settle the difference between the deposit and the item's price with the seller. Most companies that manage estate sales will accept cash and card as payment methods. You should also be prepared to move your goods immediately following the sale. So if you're planning on purchasing large or heavy items, make sure you come to the estate sale with an appropriate means of transportation.