Boom AOMestatesales.com

Uncovering

Hictu" -)

Shannon Mackie { Contributing Writer

R

obin Cohen's loyal clients often rave
Cohen recently fielded a call from an art
about the revenue she was able to
collector in Amsterdam who wanted to buy
achieve for them. After all, many
some paintings that were part of a client's
people significantly underestimate the value
sale. Cohen managed the sale of the paint-
of estate sales.
ings and even shipped them to Amsterdam.
Cohen, the owner of
She also advertises upcoming sales to her
AOMestate sales.com , knows people often
network of thousands of loyal customers and
place estate sales on the same level as garage
on www.estatesales.net .
sales. But she also knows that estate sale
Cohen is the former owner of Antiques on
items can bring in top prices —
Main, a Royal Oak antique
usually more than they would
store that she closed in
earn at auction.
order to focus solely on
With more than 20 years of
estate sales. Her current
experience as an estate sales
team consists of many
planner and antiques dealer,
former Antiques on Main
Cohen knows just how to get
employees, who are also
top dollar for her clients. Many
well-versed in antiques,
factors influence the success of
art and collections.
an estate sale, including pricing,
With almost 60
presentation and advertising.
estate sales last year,
As a professional antiques
AOMestatesales.com is
dealer and longtime collector,
undoubtedly a successful
Cohen has become an expert on
company.
pricing merchandise perfectly.
Although some of Co-
"My clients usually wind up
hen's clients fit the estate
Set of three Karl Appel
with more money in sales than
sale image — those who are
lithographs
they ever expected," she said.
settling the estate of a recently
"They wind up further ahead
passed family member — many
because we work hard to get
are also simply downsizing. She
them the best price."
often works with individuals and
Staging, or presentation, is
couples who are moving perma-
such an important part of a suc-
nently into an existing second
cessful estate sale that Cohen
home and have decided to sell the
and her team spend the entire
first house and all its contents.
week before the sale prepar-
As a former art and design
ing. They spend hours staging,
student whose own house is filled
cleaning, polishing silver and
with art deco and mid-century
touching up furniture.
pieces, Cohen has clearly found
"We make sure the place
her career calling.
Tiffany lamp
looks fabulous; we're very
"I love everything about it," she
diligent because it makes a
said. "I've met so many wonder-
difference in how much gets sold and at what
ful people who have become my friends,
price," she said. "And, we want the photos of
and I've heard many fascinating stories. It's
the house to be outstanding because that's
gratifying to hear my customers tell me we've
what brings people to the sale."
done our job well."
Photos are vital to attracting a large audi-
Cohen and her husband live in Bloomfield
Township. They attend Temple Shir Shalom in
ence, but so are other forms of advertising.
Cohen advertises her clients' sales on her
West Bloomfield. Read more about
website, AOMestatesales.com , which is
AOMestatesales.com at its website.
visited by collectors from all over the world.

■

8 BOOM Magazine • February 2014

Choosing an Estate Sale Company

• Inquire about a company's knowledge,
background and insurance. Remember
— don't choose a company based only
on its commission rate.
• Visit some of the company's sales
unannounced — take note of the
sale's attendance, the staffing and the
condition of the house. Are all items
clean and priced? Is there adequate
staff to provide proper assistance and
security? Are they friendly, courteous
and helpful?
• Talk with some of the company's
staff — learn more about their
qualifications and expertise.
• Interview some customers about their
experiences.
• Ask for and check references!

Testimonials

"I have to compliment you on the
outstanding job you did for my parents'
estate sale. Your professionalism was
obvious from the minute you came to
the house to evaluate their belongings.
I had interviewed other companies and
no one knew the value of items like you
did."

— Sheryl

"I wanted to compliment you and your
staff on the estate sales you hosted in
Novi and Northville this past weekend.
It was a pleasure to shop for treasures
in such beautiful homes. The sales were
well organized and the staff was efficient
and cordial."

— SR

"We want to thank you for the extraor-
dinary job you did with our estate sale.
From the initial consultation to the final
clean-up, you were courteous, profes-
sional, patient, and incredibly successful.
Thank you again and again."

— L and RG