Being an estate liquidator is not just walking into an organized home and selling things until the place is empty. Sometimes, it is one small step above being a coroner. Many times, the appraiser is the first one to enter an estate where someone has just died. Appraisers National Association member David Brownlee has never officially broken the coroner’s seal, but he has seen some things he would rather forget. Recently, he had to suffer through the stench of a long dead body as he was analyzing a household of items. ”The corpse had been there for so long that his body started breaking down and turning into liquid,” recalled Brownlee. “It dripped into the floor boards and you can’t get that smell out. They had to cut the floor boards out and replace it and they still couldn’t get the smell out.” There is much more to being a residential contents appraiser than looking in a reference book and deciding on a value. Appraisers are cleaners, scourers, mediators and even grief counselors. ”Your half way between a therapist and an anthropologist,” said Ellen Antler, president of College for Appraisers. One time, Brownlee was paid $75 an hour for six hours by a lawyer to just listen to his client. Basically, she was giving him the tour of the house and explaining in great detail the importance of each and every item. Something that helped her through the grieving process, but was of no help to Brownlee. ”It was stressful,” he admitted. Brownlee conducted his first estate sale about a decade ago. As a novice, he admitted to making many mistakes. ”Like letting the family stay in the house,” he said. He has since learned that the family is often the biggest obstacle. Walt Miller, CEO of College for Appraisers, says that the contracts address and mitigate most of these problems. However, other appraisers feel that Samuel Goldwyn (one of the founding members of MGM Studios) had it right: “A verbal contract isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.” Well, a written contract isn’t much better. When it comes down to it, there are real people and emotions involved, which is why “contracts” are primarily honored by officers of the court, and disrespected, abused and ignored by everybody else. ”Most of our clients are very appreciative of what we do,” clarified certified appraiser and furniture specialist Mike Aversa, also a longtime member of ANA. “Yes, many are going through a life changing crisis, death of a loved one, divorce, or a relocation to a retirement home. And in some cases, it may be the most difficult time in their lives.” Aversa claims that a positive attitude on the part of the estate liquidator can work wonders. ”We have learned to stay out of family squabbles. We allow the family or their legal council to work through those issues, while we stay focused on our job…which is to get the most money we can out of their family’s treasures,” said Aversa. “Once we present them with their proceeds check, those other issues seem irrelevant, and they are grateful for our help.” Despite his cheery optimism, things can get a a little sticky sometimes. While the families agree to remain pretty hands off in the “contract,” not all family members abide by the rules, especially when they feel that have some valuable insight. ”They often believe that something has more value because they have an emotional attachment to it,” admits Brownlee. One way estate sale organizers are able to keep the peace, is by allowing the family to attend a day early. This way they get the first pick and if they feel something is priced too cheap, they can buy it. Sometimes, family squabbles can complicate things. Siblings can battle it out for one single item. Estranged family members can show up at the day of the sale and demand something that they claim belonged to them. When the family is not the problem, sometimes it is the estate liquidator. ”We all know that some estate liquidators are unfortunately out and out crooks,” said Nancy Johnson, new promoter of the Hillsborough Show. People in need of an estate liquidator can protect themselves from scheisters by hiring somebody who is a member of the Appraisers National Association, like Brownlee or Aversa. The ANA was founded in 1982 by the late David Long, former president of the College For Appraisers. The objective was to provide graduates of the College with an association that would ensure continued emphasis on the principles and ethics of personal property appraising. They continue to work closely with the College For Appraisers, which is now run by Walt Miller. Judy Waddell is the current president of ANA. Members of ANA are very concerned with continued education and sharing their knowledge with others. Diana Sanders Cinamon, who served as the ANA president from 2003 to 2006 just completed her second book entitled “Estate Jewelry: 1760-1960,” which was published by Schiffer. The hardcover coffee table book with more than 680 color photographs, features descriptions of more than 500 items made during a 200-year time period. It also discusses many of the major design periods: Georgian through Victorian, Belle Epoque, Art Deco, and Modern periods. Along with jewelry, Cinamon is an expert on antique silver and authored “All About Antique Silver with International Hallmarks.” Cinamon is typical of ANA members who tend to have a couple of specialties, continually educate themselves, and share their knowledge. It is common to see ANA members, like Brownlee (President 2006-07) and Cinamon conducting free verbal appraisals at antique shows. There are four levels of membership based on the training and expertise of the member. To find an ANA appraiser, specialized or general, call (562) 697-3797. The main ANA office is located at 921 N. Harbor Blvd. #174 in La Habra.
Category Archives: Estate sale
Hughes first to join Collector Network
Todd Hughes was the first estate sale liquidator to join the Collector’s Network. Hughes, a regular at the outdoor flea markets, spends the week setting up estate sales from Hughes Estate Sales, located 711 W. Woodbury Road in Altadena. He conducts sales of personal property and entire estates. His family has been in the estate sale business for 30 years and he grew up immersed in the world of antiques and collectibles. In 2006, Todd took the business over from his father, Larry, in 2006. Todd is very knowledgeable about values and knows how to sensitively help families in their hour of need by lowering stress and handling everything. Todd was recently featured as one of Collector Magazine’s sexiest men contenders. For more information, contact Todd at (626) 791-9600.
