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Writer's pictureCathy Borg

How MaxSold Online Auction Works: Sell the Things You Don't Want to Move!

Updated: 10 hours ago


Happy senior couple using laptop to manage online estate sale

Never move what you don't want or need.


Are you moving, clearing an estate, downsizing, aging-in-place, or just plain sick and tired of living with too much stuff? MaxSold's online auctions offer a solution for those looking to downsize, clear estates, or engage in major decluttering projects.

Whatever your endgame MaxSold may be the answer to the dilemma of how to responsibly and quickly disperse items you no longer need or want and still get some of their value back.


MaxSold is the best way to dispose of all the items you no longer need or want. And you get some of the value back from them?


What is MaxSold?

MaxSold is the Leading Online Auction Marketplace for Estate Sales

Hand writing 'auction' on whiteboard, representing MaxSold's services



  • MaxSold helps sellers to sell and buyers to find local estate sales near them with online auctions.

  • MaxSold's online platform allows users to sell a large volume of content quickly, whether it is downsizing, decluttering, estate sales, or excess inventory.

  • As an online auction house, MaxSold connects you the seller to an existing huge pool of interested bidders and buyers. The bidders/buyers are preregistered with MaxSold. To be able to bid, they must give MaxSold their credit card information.

  • If they are the highest bidder on an item, then they have bought the item - end of discussion. The beauty of this system is that you do not have to collect any money. MaxSold handles that for you. They give you a full accounting of who bid and what the end bid was.

  • And you don't have to remove one single thing from your space yourself. The online bidder is responsible for packing and moving the item during a set period of time that you establish.

  • MaxSold keeps statistical evidence that they sell 98% of all items listed in an auction. That's impressive!


The MaxSold Online Auction Process

From Listing to Sale: Estate Auctions Made Easy


The MaxSold Online Auction typically helps you sell your items in two-three weeks. Here's a breakdown:

  • Recommended number of lots: 50 - 100

  • Almost everything can be included: from a powerboat to a box of plastic hangers from the cleaning supplies under the sink to the car in the driveway.

  • Auction catalogue is posted online for 10 days

  • 40%-60% of bids are placed on the last day, often in the final minutes


In addition to earning cash through the auction, you won't have to remove your unwanted belongings.

But fair warning – preparing for the auction does require some elbow grease!

Caveat:

Temper your expectations – Your dark brown dining room set likely won't sell for anything near what you paid. (As you probably have heard, the market has changed, and younger people often don’t have the space or taste for furniture that you prize.)


You can manage your expectations by keeping your end goal in mind. Which is to:

  • Quickly get rid of excess stuff that you don't want

  • Not spend extra money to have unwanted items removed

  • Make some extra cash on things you were getting rid of anyway


Caveat: Everything starts at $1 - so be sure you agree to that prior to putting anything on the auction list. (The dollar minimum bid may be why MaxSold is so popular.)

Computer keyboard with 'bid' key highlighted, illustrating online auction process

This is the logic behind the $1 minimum bid strategy:


Every time you increase the minimum bid, you reduce the potential of selling all of the things that you have to sell. And if you find yourself with a whole lot of items after the sale, then we didn't do our job. So, by offering everything with a $1 start, it means that virtually everything is going to attract a bid. On the lowest modest end, things may sell for lower prices, but buyers will buy them and take them away so that it reduces your cost of disposal. On the high side, we've sold paintings for 10,000, jewelry for 15,000, cars and boats for 25,000. Our experience is people bid what the item is worth to them and we attract as many bidders as possible. And all of that is tied to starting everything at a dollar. - Barry Gordon MaxSold's Founder

Pricing Options for MaxSold Online Auction Services

What it costs depends on how much of the work you want to do yourself.


MaxSold-Managed vs. Seller-Managed Online Auctions


MaxSold-managed:

  • MaxSold covers photography, cataloging, hosting the auction on maxsold.com, marketing, handling invoicing and payments, and managing pickup

  • 30% of profits + $2000 flat fee

Seller-managed:

  • Seller is responsible for photography, cataloging, and supervising pickup;

  • MaxSold still hosts the auction on maxsold.com and handles invoicing and payments

  • $300 or 30% of profits, whichever is greater


Caveat:

In either case, you must set up your space for cataloguing and photography.



So if your space is a white-hot mess you're going to have to fix that or get someone else to do it like us.


98% sells within 2 weeks.

Benefits of Using MaxSold

Using MaxSold for your estate sale or downsizing project offers several advantages:


  • Quick turnover: 98% of items sell within 2 weeks

  • No need to deal with individual buyers or handle money

  • Transparent process with detailed reporting

  • Environmentally friendly: extends the life of possessions and reduces waste

  • Cost-effective: Saves on removal costs for unwanted items.

  • Wide reach: Auctions advertised on multiple platforms including social media, Craigslist, Kijiji, eBay, Auctionzip, and Estatesales.net.

  • Additional exposure: MaxSold's bi-weekly email newsletter gives bidders access to your auction.

  • Flexible bidding: 40%-60% of bids are placed on the last day, often in the final minutes


How to Prepare for Pickup Day

Do you live in a condo or apartment? Check in with management to make sure you get permission. Get it in writing. Arrange for elevator access if you’re in a high-rise building.

Day of Pick-Up

Signs will direct people to your home or parking lot. We check the list of auction winners with the buyer's receipt and ID as soon as they enter the home. Every lot has a number, and we guide the winner to where to go to get their prize. In the catalogue description, we note if an item is very large or heavy and if the winner needs to bring help to move it out. The buyer is solely responsible for this.


Why You Should be Congratulated for Using MaxSold

  • It's better than recycling because you are extending the life and love of your possessions.

  • All of the goods are bought and sold locally, so, you've again helped to reduce the carbon impact of packaging and transportation.

  • Your goods have been saved from ending up in landfill.

  • You've also avoided the cost of having unneeded/unwanted things removed from your home. Particularly in the large quantities common to downsizing or estate liquidation. An online auction saves you this cost, and has the added benefit of turning your treasures into cash!


This is the best way to sell decades of possessions whether you're downsizing or clearing an estate. Practically everything can be sold quickly and transparently.


Tips for a Successful MaxSold Auction:

  • Start early: Begin sorting and organizing well in advance

  • Group similar items together for easier lot creation

  • Clean and present items attractively

  • Provide detailed descriptions and measurements for larger items

  • Consider timing: Avoid major holidays or events that might affect bidder participation


Potential Challenges in the MaxSold Process:

  • Organizing and photographing a large number of items

  • Setting realistic expectations for item values

  • Preparing your space for the auction and pickup

  • Managing the auction day process


How In and Out Organizing Can Help:

At In and Out Organizing, we specialize in making your MaxSold experience smooth and profitable. Our services include:

  • Pre-auction sorting and decluttering

  • Expert item selection and lot creation

  • Professional photography and cataloging

  • Auction day management and support

Our team's expertise ensures you get the most out of your MaxSold auction, without the stress and hard work.


Contact In and Out Organizing today for professional assistance with your online estate auction. Our team of experts will guide you through every step, from initial decluttering to final pickup. Let's turn your unwanted items into cash and create the clutter-free space you desire. Call us now at 416 859-0518 or email to get started on your MaxSold auction journey! Find out how we can help you.



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