Seattle Estate Sale Bidders
A Guide For Seattle Estate Sale Bidders
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How bidding works
Welcome, and thanks for bidding. Our online auctions are a treasure hunt, and we are glad you are here. Here is everything you need to bid with confidence and take your finds home without a hitch.
Every auction is made up of lots, and each lot holds one or more items. Browse the photos and read the descriptions closely. We research, measure, and photograph every lot, so you always know exactly what you are bidding on. Check the measurements against your vehicle before you bid, so your win fits when you come to collect.
AuctionNinja keeps you posted, telling you when you are the high bidder and when you have been outbid. One thing worth knowing so the finish does not catch you off guard: when we counted every bid across five of our own auctions, 59 percent came in on the final day, and most lots were won in the final hour. The closing hours are where the fun is, so keep an eye on your lots as the auction winds down.
Picking up your finds
When you win, AuctionNinja emails you a link to book a pickup time.
Three things make pickup easy:
Bring your supplies
Boxes, bags, packing paper, and any tools you need to take something apart or off a wall. Come ready and you will be out the door in no time.
Give yourself time
Picker’s lots and big lots, a shelf of books, a closet, boxes of dishes, take a little while to gather. Leave room in your schedule.
Bring a friend
An extra pair of hands, or two, makes furniture and awkward pieces simple.
Pickup times, and what to do if plans change
Can I pick up my item at another time?
Pickup happens during the scheduled window for each sale. We wish we could offer early, late, or all-week pickup, but our time on-site is short, so please only bid when you are confident you can make the posted pickup time.
Something came up and now I can't make the pick up appointment. Now what?
Life happens, though, and there is always a way through:
• The easiest fix is to send someone else to collect for you.
• Some items can be shipped. Just ask.
Can I choose to forfeit the items I won? Are there any consequences?
If neither works, you can let the items go. There is no penalty for missing a pickup, and a quick heads-up is always appreciated.
What do you do with items that do not sell or are not picked up?
Items that go unsold or uncollected usually go back to the family, which is part of how we keep every sale respectful.
Late Pick-up Policy
Running late on the day? Text us at 206-705-3545 to say you are on your way. We close pickups right on time, so anything not collected and packed by close is released, and we would far rather hear from you and help you make it.
A few things to know before you arrive
These keep the day easy for you and kind to the family whose home you are visiting:
• You move your own furniture and heavy items, so bring help if you need it. We are not able to refund items you cannot collect.
• Please check in with a staff member outside the house rather than walking through the property on your own.
• Our clients are often on-site, and many are saying goodbye to a family home. Please do not ask whether someone has passed, or comment on the home or its contents. Even a kind remark can land hard in a hard moment. This is the one that matters most to us.
• There is no public restroom at the property, so make a pit stop before you arrive.
