Consignment Dealers Are Awesome! Here's Why

What if you don’t have enough stuff to have an estate sale? You still have lots of options, and consignment dealers are a large part of why you should be excited.

Let’s back up. What is a consignment dealer? It is someone who sells your stuff and takes a commission. I know you’re thinking, wait, isn’t that the same as an estate seller? Nope, not quite. An estate seller sells all the stuff inside your home. They usually conduct the sale actually in your home. A traditional consignment dealer takes your stuff and sells it in their store. You will find those who specialize in antiques, art or books, clothing or furniture, and household goods. They take a commission and send you a check after your stuff sells. Consignment dealers typically charge somewhere around 35-50% to sell your things. They also often have a limited amount of space in their store, so you may need to be patient. Some dealers drop the prices of items 10% or more each month they are in their store, so you need to be aware of how they run their business before you leave your things with them. Some will even donate the stuff that does not sell within a specific time or let you come and retrieve them. Some consignment dealers send you a check within a week, but most pay monthly, or even quarterly.

Find out how quickly you can expect to be paid once your stuff sells. They all have different policies, so know what to expect before you leave your stuff with them. Another form of consignment dealers is an online auction. eBay, the largest, is one of many auction services that sell almost anything, and it is excellent for rare or highly collectible items. However, many people get confused because they do a search on their item and see it listed for a high price. What they don’t understand is that the seller can set any price on that item, but it doesn’t mean a buyer will ever purchase it for such. If you only look at the listed price, you aren’t getting the whole picture.

If you’re doing your own research on eBay, look at the left-hand column for options to see ended listings and the price items actually sold for. Look for “Completed Listings” and “Sold Listings.” You can sort these search results using the drop-down menu at the top. Use “High to Low” to see the top end of the range of prices items were listed for. Items with prices in green indicate an actual sale. Our online consignment expert says eBay is the “best place for people to look to see what price their items will actually sell for.” She also mentions there are hundreds of online auction sites and places where you can sell your stuff. Some you’ve heard of, like eBay and Craigslist, but many you haven’t. There is a reason that people flock to the bigger-named sites: they are often more reputable and definitely have more traffic. The other cool thing about working with an online consignment seller is that they:

1. Store your stuff

2. Do the marketing

3. Take professional photos

4. Ship your stuff, and pack it correctly

5. Let you stay anonymous

We love our consignment dealers! If you need help with your downsizing process, get in touch with us: https://bettybrigade.com/contact-us/.

Or give us a call Toll-free 1-888-742-3889 or 734-994-1000 Until next time – Keep It Simple!

Article based on my most recent book, "Downsizing the Silver Tsunami." This book is a practical resource for anyone who is facing the task of downsizing—moving from a larger family home to a smaller house, condo, or multi-family living situation. Find much more here