71(011egateeale6.com Advertisement
Uncovering
idden rPasiires
Shannon Mackie { Contributing Writer
obin Cohen's loyal
Photos are vital to at-
clients often rave
tracting a large audience,
about the revenue
but so are other forms of
she was able to achieve
advertising. Cohen adver-
for them. After all, many
tises her clients' sales on
people significantly un-
AOMestatesales.com , her
derestimate the value of
website, which is visited
estate sales.
by collectors from all over
Cohen, the owner of
the world. Cohen recently
AOMestate sales.com ,
fielded a call from an art
knows people often place
collector in Amsterdam
estate sales on the same
who wanted to buy some
level as garage sales. But
paintings that were part
she also knows that estate
of a client's sale. Cohen
sale items can bring in top
managed the sale of the
prices — usually more
paintings and even shipped
Set of three Karl Appel lithographs
than they would earn at
them to Amsterdam. She
auction.
also advertises upcoming
With more than 20 years of experience as
sales to her network of thousands of loyal
an estate sales planner and antiques dealer,
customers and on www.estatesales.net .
Cohen knows just how to get top dollar
Cohen is the former owner of Antiques
for her clients. Many factors influence the
on Main, a Royal Oak antique store that she
success of an estate sale, including pricing,
closed in order to focus solely on estate sales.
presentation and advertising.
Her current team consists of many former
As a professional antiques dealer and long-
Antiques on Main employees, who are also
time collector, Cohen has become an expert
well-versed in antiques, art and collections.
on pricing merchandise perfectly.
With almost 60 estate sales last year,
"My clients usually wind up with more
AOMestatesales.com is undoubtedly a suc-
money in sales than they ever expected," she
cessful company.
said. "They wind up further ahead because
Although some of Cohen's clients fit the
we work hard to get them the best price."
estate sale image — those who are set-
Staging, or presentation, is such an im-
tling the estate of a recently passed family
portant part of a successful estate sale that
member — many are also simply downsizing.
Cohen and her team spend the entire week
She often works with individuals and couples
who are moving permanently into an existing
before the sale preparing. They spend hours
staging, cleaning, polishing silver and touch-
second home and have decided to sell the
ing up furniture.
first house and all its contents.
"We make sure the
As a former art and design student whose
place looks fabulous;
own house is filled with art deco and mid-
we're very diligent
century pieces, Cohen has clearly found her
career calling.
because it makes a
difference in how
"I love everything about it," she said. "I've
much gets sold and at
met so many wonderful people who have
what price," she said.
become my friends, and I've heard many
"And, we want the
fascinating stories. It's gratifying to hear my
photos of the house
customers tell me we've done our job well."
Cohen and her husband live in Bloomfield
to be outstanding
because that's what
Township. They attend Temple Shir Shalom in
brings people to the
West Bloomfield. Read more about
Tiffany lamp
sale."
AOMestatesales.com at its website.
R
■
8
BOOM Magazine • February 2015
ChoosingAn 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