Has anyone ever held a whole-house furniture sale?

[GLC1968]

If so, how did you handle it, logistically?

We left pretty much all of our furniture in our old house to stage it for sale. Now that we are a couple of weeks from closing, we want to sell it all. I put an add in craigslist in both the 'garage sale' and 'furniture' sections. I listed the main furniture pieces and asking prices, said it would be for one day only (this coming Saturday) and that I wouldn't take pre-sales. I included some photos from the listing.

We are doing the one-day thing because it's just too much furniture to try and keep track of ahead of time and since we don't live in the house, coordinating pick ups or showings would be a nightmare. We plan to be around on Sunday as well if someone needs to leave an item and pick up the next day (though I did not advertise that).

I was going to head over to the place on Thursday and put a sign out front about the sale on Saturday, too. (The house is on a busy road) I did this for our yard sale a few months ago and it worked out well. Now, I'm not so sure it'll be a good idea.

The problem is that I've already gotten a ridiculous amount of emails about the sale. I'm afraid it's going to be a mad house! One person even asked how it would work because they are elderly and do not want to have to physically fight for anything. Eeek!

So, any ideas you all have on how to manage it on the day of, would be extremely welcome!

[Penny4]

I have not attended one...

Do you have some sort of tag system in mind? Maybe google Estate Sales to see how they should be run? Do you have some friends who could help out...maybe post one person in the major rooms to control the madness?

Hey...maybe it will be a good thing...maybe there will be bidding wars

[shootingstar]

wish you lots of luck, GLC. Let us know how it goes and anything we should learn.

[malkin]

No fighting!

No holds.
Cash only.
Specify a reasonable pick up deadline including time and date.
Mark items "SOLD" when they have been paid in full. If they are small move items to a designated area otherwise, mark them in an obvious way.