First, a Word about Estates........

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When a family member passes, it can be a very trying and emotionally draining time.  The many things that a family must contend with during this time can be quite overwhelming. The last thing many want to deal with is an entire household or farm and all of the personal property a loved one leaves behind.  You are faced with questions like What is valuable? What is an antique? Is this junk?  It would be so easy to just fill up garbage bags and be done with it! and not have to face dealing with all of the things left behind.

 

Wait!... Don't Throw that away!!!

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 First of all, our best advice to you is Don't Throw Anything away!  As the saying goes, one person's junk is another person's treasure!  Just remember, that no matter how insignificant an item seems to you, it may have great potential to someone else! Believe it or not, there are items which may seem like complete garbage that others would want to buy. So before you load up the garbage cans or dumpster, give our estate liquidators a call first!

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As it may well be very hard to root and filter through an estate for some, Franklin County Estate & Auction personnel are used to going into Estates, Farms and Homes and sorting it all out! Our complete auction service starts with going into the home and assessing what is there. Then giving you a rundown of what to expect. For those who have signed on for us to do home auctions, if you desire, we offer a complete service of going in and making sense of it all.  For clients who do not opt to do it themselves, we will separate and organize everything and make it ready to go for your online or live auction. We find that this option cuts down on the stress of the family members left to deal with real estate and keeps them from sometimes making the mistake of throwing away valuables that can be turned into cash.  If you prefer to do the main setup yourself to save on setup cost, we can guide you how to separate and organize things so they will be ready to go for liquidation sales. We will supply tables and display cases.  We can advise what items are safe to throw away or donate. So often families end up throwing away or donating valuables. We do our best to ensure this will not happen to you and that you have as stress free of a property auction experience as possible.  So before you think you may have nothing of value or just want to donate and throw away items, contact us.  Our consultation and evaluation are free of charge!​

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Be Weary of Estate or Household Clean out Services

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Some people, when faced with emptying a household or estate come to realize that there is a lot of stuff. And the stuff is not always neatly arranged and in order. Sometimes, there is just downright chaos, and the items appear to you to either be just junk, or the sellable items are mixed with a lot of garbage. And the idea of selling the good items is just not worth it to you because there is so much junk, garbage or clutter mixed into it all! Sometimes, this happens if the home owner was just too ill during the ending period of their lives to keep up with things. Other times it is due to the owner having been a pack rat, hoarder or obsessive collector and at some point it overwhelmed them! It happens a lot! If you are faced with this scenario you may not want to call an estate or auction company because you think they may not have interest in sorting through it, or you are embarrassed that your relative had let things go to that point. So, instead of an auction service, you consider the clean out company or individual to come in because it's their job to deal with these households or estates. Clean out services work a couple different ways: They often times will charge you to come in and clean everything out and take it away. Sometimes they will charge thousands for this service! Some will come in and offer you a small amount of cash to take things away and take the garbage in the bargain. One thing that is important to understand about these services is that they work on a much higher profit basis than an auction company. Most individuals who offer this service will not even perform it If they do not see a significant profit to be had. Meaning, they see things in your estate or household that they know will bring good money. Things that the seller often doesn't recognize as valuable at all! Many of these services are not at all forthcoming with pointing out the valuable items or hidden treasures that may be sitting right under your nose. They are not transparent and do not care if you lose out! We are by no means suggesting everyone in this business is unethical. But there are quite a few people in the clean out business that earn their living by you either paying them to take something valuable away to sell themselves, or paying you very little!

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Franklin County Estate & Auction Service has been in business for 30 years and we can tell you that we have seen it all! We know that some homes and estates have a lot of clutter and refuse mixed in with sellable items. And we assure you that we are experienced with this and can help you find a solution to separating the good from the bad and reaching the end result. A cleaned out house and money in your pocket! We have dealt with a lot of hoarder homes over the years and houses where the owner was just too ill to keep up with their home. There is no need to be embarrassed or to perhaps assume that everything is low or no value junk.  We offer free consultations and inspections! We assure you that we are quite used to homes that are not in order or otherwise packed with stuff that is good and bad. We stress that it is so important to Not assume something has little or no value! We have seen people give away items worth thousands of dollars to cleanout services or other entities.  While we acknowledge that there are some estates that are minimal value, wouldn't it be wise to have it inspected for free by an expert? We are here for you! We will gladly make time to look at your estate or household, farm, etc and let you know what has value. We hear so many stories of regret... one notable story was about a person who was put in charge of selling their relative's estate contents and home. They were so focused on the real estate being the only item of value that they had a company come and charge them over $3,000 to remove everything off the property so they could get the real estate ready to sell. The 'service' that cleaned them out gave an undesired meaning to that term when it was later learned that the person who charged them to take all that 'junk' away made over $50,000 from it! 

So, Please! Take the time to give us a call first. We are happy to do a review consultation free of charge and will be happy to point out items of value and if an alternative to a clean-out would be to your benefit!

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 Why Do a Real Estate Sales and Personal Property Sales Using the Auction Method?

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When it comes to Real Estate we offer rates Lower than any realtor and our competition! This adds up to more money for you! We can assist in helping you establish the value of your real estate. But no matter what, your real estate will sell at a minimum value which you ultimately set at the beginning of the house action and are comfortable with!  It is important that we dispel the notion some have regarding real estate auctions. We always set a minimum opening bid or reserve in which the property must be bid at in order to sell! There is absolutely No danger of selling the real estate for less than you want it to sell for! For example, if you list your home with a realtor for $250,000 then that is the price you see and can buy it for. If you sell that same property through auction we will also list the opening bid at $250,000, which is the bare minimum price it can sell for. BUT, with an auction we give buyers the option to compete for the property. Having two, three or more bidders could turn that $250,000 price into $310,000! Giving buyers the option to compete and raise the price of your home translates into potentially more money in your pocket than if it is sold in a conventional real estate sale. Property auctions are a great way to get More for your house, farm or property.  Real Estate companies set a price and prospective buyers negotiate the price Down! When you auction real estate, we start at the set price and the prospective buyers make the price go Up!

 

With real estate auctions you can rest assured that the sale will protect you, the seller. Real Estate is auctioned "As-Is" and without buyer contingencies. What does that mean?  It means the buyer buys the property in the current state that it is in. The seller is not obligated to make improvements (unless they so choose) to sell the home. You can sell it in the current condition. Also, winning bidders at real estate auctions are required to put a nonrefundable deposit down the day of auction. They must complete the transaction or will lose their deposit. This means they will have their financing already in order. Unlike going through a real estate agent where there are often contingencies, buyers who buy homes at auction know they have to have their money in order before they bid. No buyer offers contingent upon if they sell their existing home, obtain financing, etc...  Many of our real estate sellers like this because it significantly increases their chances for a smooth sale that will make it through the closing process.

Please consider using us to sell your real estate when we sell your personal belongings.  We also do real estate auctions by themselves.​

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There are many ways to sell the contents of a home, farm or business. But it's hard to dispute the most effective and profitable way is by auction! When selling at a garage sale the seller has to set up the sale themselves. Then the seller often has to haggle with prospective buyers.  Worse yet, when all is said and done sellers often retain 50% of the items they had up for sale. This method can be especially problematic when sellers need to sell the estate contents.  

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Why Should I Pay an Auction Company when I can just have a big garage sale at keep all the money for myself?

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Many people tend to think that if they have a yard sale, they can make more money and won't have to pay a company to sell it. Others think they should hire an estate sale company to do a tag sale for them. The main reason they often choose going this path is that they feel by controlling the prices that they will yield more.  Well, if All the items sell then perhaps there would be some logic to that idea. But the truth is, when it comes to tag sales that either you or an estate sale service conduct, there are often a Lot of leftovers. The idea of selling a household or an estate is to sell All the items. And no other method comes closer to that than an auction. In fact, we can make 100% of your items go away if you desire.  Some people like the control of setting a predetermined value on an item. But the truth is, that when you have multiple parties fighting over your items, they will determine the absolute top price for any given item. And in many cases this amount is greater than the tag price you set!

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Marketing an auction is something we specialize in. It's our business! We have thousands of bidders in our database who have purchased from us and attended our auctions in the past. When we announce an auction, all of these people are immediately informed that there is an auction and it's time to bid!  We also market through many various forms of advertising. If you have specialized pieces requiring special attention, we will make sure those buyers out there know your item is for sale.  We know that there are times when an item may not sell at auction for the price you had hoped. But the thing to consider is that for any item that doesn't perform to your expectations, there will be 20 others that will sell for several times what you expected them to! The auction business is a business of averages. It is most important to understand that overall, the average auction will make a seller 40-60% more than if they had decided to sell using a tag sale method. In every auction we conduct there are lots which far exceed expectations. Knowing there are multiple people competing to own any item you have for sale is a comforting thought.

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Still, there are some sellers who can be quite hesitant to enter into an auction agreement because they have some items which they know hold a certain value. Our company understands this and within reason, allows the seller to set a minimum price on a high dollar item. Reserves are available for specific lots which meet the requirement of being a big-ticket item. So you see, there really isn't much of a gamble involved! You are afforded protection from giving away a high-end item. While we do not offer reserves on general merchandise, we can offer a seller a limited amount of reserve placements for high dollar items!

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The auction method is clearly superior to private or estate sale company tag sales!

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When choosing the auction method you gain many benefits: 

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1. Franklin County Estate Sales & Auction Service will set up your auction completely.  This includes sorting, appraising, organizing, and proper placement of your merchandise for auction day. If you are looking to save money on setup, we can also guide you and your family on how to set up and organize the items to be sold. We provide the tables and display cases!

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2. Franklin County Estate Sales & Auction Service will properly advertise the auction to reach the largest audience of perspective buyers who are interested in your merchandise.  

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3. Franklin County Estate Sales & Auction Service will conduct your auction quickly and efficiently.

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4. Buyers Come Prepared to Buy. Auction goers come with money in their wallets, pockets and hands and are prepared to come home with property. It’s a seller’s delight. For real estate auctions this is especially advantageous because buyers must qualify to buy through a deposit of a certified or cashier’s check.

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5. We guarantee your merchandise will have a 90%+ sell through.  This means that on average you will sell over 90% of what is put up for sale. In many instances this number is close to 99%!  We also will be happy to offer options which ensure by the end of the day All merchandise is gone.

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6. The Auction method ensures that you get the highest price for your merchandise possible! Auctions motivate buyers to perform. People get caught up in the competitiveness of the bidding and many times this drives the price of items higher. To some it’s like a game, and they want to win at all costs (or hopefully for you, at high costs!) And did you know that 9 times out of 10, an auction brings in the fair market value, if not more, for any item put across the auction block?

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7. Auctions Work Well in Both Good and Bad Economic Times. 
People love local auctions, because they love sales. Statistics show, in a good or bad economy auctions remain a steady force. When the economy is bad, the auction industry does not feel the impact: people still flock to auctions.

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Rates

Franklin County Estate Sales & Auction Service offers very competitive rates. 
Rates vary based on merchandise type. Rates for Real Estate, Machinery and vehicles are lower than general merchandise. Please email us or call to schedule a consultation and rate quote.

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LOWEST RATE GUARANTEE!

Before you sign with any auction service, please allow us the opportunity to give you a free consultation and quote. Chances are we can offer you the lowest rate and overall cost!

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NO UP FRONT COSTS!

Most of our live and online auction clients advance no money to make an auction happen. With very few exceptions, we front all of the costs to advertise, set up and conduct your property auction. All expenses to be incurred are explained to you beforehand and then taken from the end proceeds of the auction.

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ONLINE AUCTIONS

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Online estate sales have become quite popular in recent years, and for good reason! For some, it is the ideal solution to liquidating an estate or household. We started Online Auctions back in 2020 when events caused the live auction industry to find solutions to deal with liquidations without having large in-person gatherings that were typically associated with live auctions. To many auctioneers it was an option done more out of necessity than desire to change how we had conducted sales for so many years before. What we, and most auction companies determined was that in many cases Online Property  Auctions made more money than live auctions. While we still conduct live auctions today, we cannot deny that in many situations it is more profitable and less expensive to conduct the online auction!  Our online auction team can quickly evaluate if your estate or household is a good candidate for an online auction.  If it is, we can handle everything from start to finish!  It is important to note that since online estate auctions have gained in popularity over the last few years it is increasingly important that sellers beware of the company they hire. Many 'Auction Companies' have surfaced during this time. Companies created by individuals that only see $$ and do not have proper training in this business. Most long-established auctioneers have had to go to auction school and learned important parts of the business such as ethics and being able to operate in accordance with the Uniform Commercial Code. Some of these new upstart companies have owners who have never gone to auction school or have any formal training. They also may not have proper auctioneer or brokers licenses which are very important in this business! Auctions, no matter what style, take a lot of planning and must be conducted in accordance with the laws of the state. It is much more than just sticking inventory lot stickers on items and taking their picture and uploading them to an auction host or online auction sites. We advise that no matter which company you use that you ensure you are doing business with someone who is properly credentialed and has extensive experience. Make sure they have the ability to conduct both live and online real estate sales. Make sure they are licensed! Franklin County Estate Liquidation Sales & Auction Service is licensed in the state of Missouri. Our auctioneers have over 50 years combined experience and can conduct both live and online auctions. Please contact us for additional information on the possibility of making your auction an online sale!

Estate/Household Buyout Option

Need Cash Immediately or don't want to deal with an auction?

Instant Cash for your Household, Estate, Coin Collection, Gun Collection, UTVs, Gold/Silver, Cars, Machinery, Antiques/Collectibles and Much More! 

Sometimes sellers find themselves in a position where they need to sell now! or they just want to be done with it! This is often the place some sellers find themselves when they are in the position of estate liquidation after a person’s death.  This time can often be difficult emotionally and financially.  Sometimes a situation calls for simply needing the cash now.  In this case we are happy to review the contents of the household or estate and make a cash offer. This puts money in your pocket now.  We also offer Instant Cash Payment for your Coin collections, gun collections, antiques, machinery, vehicles and much more! We still recommend to our clients that an auction is usually the way to go for an optimal return.  But if the need is immediate due to time of year, or not being able to get on the auction schedule in a timely manner, or whatever reason, we are here to help!  If a client accepts our offer for outright purchase, we can have them paid immediately and property removed quickly! Feel free to contact us for a free consultation. ​

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Additional Services

Online Auctions. When a live auction is not the ideal solution for your needs, we are happy to use the online auction method. More and more, some sellers have opted for selling their home or estate in an online auction style. We are happy to offer this option to our clients.

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Concession Services.  Auction goers get hungry!  To ensure continual attendance we work with many charitable organizations and concessionaires who regularly set up food services at our auctions. This is at no cost to our clients.

 

Restroom Services.  When restrooms are unavailable for any variety of reasons at the auction site, we ensure portable facilities are available on the day of sale. 

 

Appraisal Services.  When you are selling art, antiques and collectibles, and are unsure of their values, we are happy to offer general appraisals of merchandise to our auction clients so that they may be aware of the value and to ensure the best chances of high auction return.  We are also happy to perform appraisals for a flat fee to our non auction clients.  

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​Unsure if you have enough items in your estate or household to have an auction?

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When you don't quite have enough for an on-site auction, we can still help!  We work in conjunction with a partner auction company who deals in smaller households and estates.  We can get your merchandise to their auction facility for fast liquidation!  Please feel free to inquire if you feel your household or estate may fall into this group.  We offer a free consultation!

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Are you a charity in need of an Auctioneer?

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Franklin County Estate & Auction Services is happy to help community charitable organizations with Free and discounted services to those who qualify.  It is important to us to offer assistance to many of the local charities which serve the community.  Please do not hesitate to contact us if your organization is in need of our service!

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If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Thank you!