Jaye Wilkinson & Associates - Estate Sales

This is my review of mine and my husband's experience using this service. I read the reviews on Angie's List and contacted who turned out to be the owner, Jaye Wilkinson. We spoke over the phone for about thirty minutes and scheduled a meeting. During the phone call of which I took notes, Jaye stated that she had been successful in business for over 25 years selling items for people. She said all the right things - that people are very pleased with her services that she attracts 300-400 people at each of her estate sales. That she advertises "extensively." She spoke generally and positively about her sales and her customer's satisfaction. At the time of the scheduled meeting Kevin, her employee, arrived 45 minutes late. I believe he had an issue with his car that he could not help. For all subsequent meetings at our home Kevin/the team were never on time. Of all that occurred that is the least of my issues but it is a fact worth mentioning. In contradiction to Jaye, Kevin was a bit more honest about the sales. He said to expect that oriental rugs, valued between 15k-40k, "I have seen them sell for a few hundred." He did however reiterate that they have a following and with their advertising we should expect 3-400 people. He said they would place paper on our hard wood floors - although we were hosting the event in our large and open basement, there would be staff using the facilities in the main part of the home, which was not discussed and we were not prepared - those floors were never covered and were scuffed and dirty. Again, not my main issue, just mentioning. So hearing that they have a large base and hearing that they advertise, we trusted this company and went about organizing movers to physically help us to move three passed loved ones' homes into our basement for the sale, in which proceeds would go to our church. Between oriental rugs and better quality furniture, we anticipated to cover the cost of their services, the movers and maybe close to 1k to donate. Certainly with the often repeated, "300-400 following" one would expect a hearty sale. We paid the required 150.00, for advertising. The week of the sale, the team showed to arrange and price the items. I happened to be home from work on that day and was positioned with a direct view of the steps leading from the basement to the entrance to the home. Members of the team were all over our house - I would find them and nicely ask them to move towards the bathroom if that was what they needed - they talked down to me and were not professional. Members of the team were in the main part of the house at least every 25 minutes. I sent an email to the owner asking her kindly if going forward when her staff is present at the home to please have them limited to the kitchen if they needed water or ice or the bathroom but not the rest of the house. The response from Jaye was not like anything I have experienced in the professional world. She attacked me verbally, she threatened to stop the process of the sale, she told me off basically. This seemed to be a "red flag." With only days to the sale and now three deceased loved one's homes, in our basement, and this supposed "advertising" that was being done - as much as we wanted to stop the process we felt we needed to keep going. So my husband had a conference call with the owner and Kevin. Kevin spoke rationally and with Jaye stating that she did not want to continue - because I had expressed a concern about her staff - he encouraged her to continue. So prior to the sale I went into our basement to review prices. At no time did I see these small tiffany lamps that I knew I wanted to price a certain way, based on my own research. I started to think we had given them away as I could not find them. On the day of the sale I saw Jaye's daughter Michelle packing a box that she pulled from under a table. In the box were the tiffany lamps. I asked her what she paid - she said 10.00 each. I would never have priced them that low amount. But I did not have a chance to price them appropriately because they were hidden. So I said to Michelle, "so I guess we made 23.00 (she had another item she had priced at 3.00, also hidden in the box)." She did not respond. Actually Kevin told us there would be an inventory of what sold and for what price but at the end of the sale they gave did not give us an inventory. They did not give us any type of list of what sold or prices. We asked, they said they had something and would send it, they have not. I gave my email and actually saw that Michelle was keeping a notebook but she would not allow us to view it - she turned it away from us - and closed the book, promising we would receive a copy. We have not. Michelle handles the money and though she counted it and labeled the amounts she would not answer us as to how the sale was going or what amount was collected until the very end, once all of their tables and items were packed in their van and they were ready to depart. With both of us present along with one other family member we estimated about 50 people and a bulk of them were our neighbors who saw the one and only sign they had posted at end of our street. Actually, with the location of our home near a parkway, we could have potentially attacked many more, but they only placed one sign close to our home. We made 299.50. Also pertaining to the pricing, we were told that we could set certain prices but in the end and without our permission, Kevin let us know that he sold the view items that did sell for significantly lower than what I had on the list and on the price tag for him to sell. My concern is not so much about the amount made, it is about the lack of a comfort feeling. We were told specific things and in the end nothing of what they said was true. I know that businesses can hire company's to write reviews. Whether that is the case here, I do not know. Maybe there are hundreds of satisfied clients. Our personal experience was the very opposite of professional or trustworthy. We feel very taken.

Jaye goes the extra mile to be helpful. She took time with me and responded back even though I am too far away for her services. Selling everything you own is a very scary thing especially if you have no idea what you are doing. Jaye's calm honest demeanor help to soothe my fears and made me feel so much better about the whole process, and I'm a worrier. I had some questions and she actually took the time to return my call on a Sunday. AND she wants to know how everything works out for me. If you live in her area don't go to anyone else. Call Jaye FIRST.

Jaye and Kevin handled the entire sale efficiently and honestly. I received a healthy percentage of the sale monies and was more than pleased with the results. Neighbors were complimentary about the set up and said the sale was very well attended.

This company did an EXCELLENT job setting up, pricing, selling, payment.  They were honest and efficient.

I was extremely well pleased with the results and I would recommend this service to others. Payment was done very honestly and fairly.

Extremely well. Jaye and her team were very organized and efficient from set up, pricing, selling, cleanup, and payment. Kevin was a great asset in handling all the details and he's a big teddy bear of a great man.

It went very well.....the sale was very successful, and many people came to the house sale!? I was surprised and pleased at the total made at the sale.? Everything seemed to go well, and items left were picked up afterwards.? I would highly recommend Jaye and Associates!

Extraordinarily efficient. Delighted with results.

It was very successful. The crew was very punctual, efficient and polite. They did everything as promised. When they say they sell everything they mean it!!! We had a huge turnout. I never thought we would get the amount of people that they talked about. We got more!!! At the end of the sale they cleaned up their things and helped me put my things back that were not part of the sale.

unknown

I found the proprietor imperious, kind of scattered in her communication--saying one thing one time and changing the facts the
next.

She did set up the sale well and attracted an enormous crowd of potential buyers.

I wish more stuff had been purchased and subsequently removed from the premises, but I was surprised at how much money was made on the stuff that did sell. We sold a total of about $3200. Jaye Wilkinson's services cost about $1500, they take a smaller percentage after you make more than $4500. Kevin and Jaye are fantastic people to work with. Kevin really knows his antiques and valuables. For all the stuff that doesn't sell, they have haulers they recommend that will leave your home broom clean.

The owner's partner, a very personable man, came to our home to evaluate our furniture and home furnishings. As was our experience with "Before You Move" after paying upfront fees, advertising and cleanup we would have made little or nothing. Jaye and her partner were very honest about this and we agreed that it was not in our best interest to use their services.

They were able to help me find options to sell my wedding dresses. It was great.

Estate sales can be very emotional. In this case i was selling the contents of my mother's house. Jaye's team was informative from the beginning. She was very relaxed and understood my reluctance on certain items. She advised me and worked with me on all pricing. Her team was fantastic. hats off to kevin! They set up a very large house in one day. Their marketing was very effective. the sale was a great success and the house was left in order.

Jaye was efficient, helpful and very honest about the contents of the house.

Experience was outstanding. Jaye and her crew came to the house and did a wonderful job organizing and pricing all the items in the house, which was an overwhelming task. She pointed out some items that I thought were worthless but which proved to be quite sought after, much to my amazement. She was extremely knowledgeable about a wide range of items, and anything she was unsure of she researched thoroughly. The sale was well advertised in a variety of media, and the turnout was amazing. Almost everything sold, and the crew cleared the remaining items from the house. All in all, it was a great experience.