Call the Isles Girls & Guys
The purpose of this volunteer organization is to assist PGI residents who need to sell most of the items in their home, perhaps because they are moving to another location, entering a care facility, or disposing of an estate. The IG&G organization will help the owner by organizing, pricing and conducting a sale. Some of us are knowledgeable about furniture, antiques or collectible objects. Others can competitively price accessories, kitchen and dining items, linens, garage tools, and miscellaneous items.
We cannot assist with a typical “garage sale” though. We have a regular customer following that come to our sales because they expect a sale to include the bulk of a household. In season, we may have 200 people waiting in line on a Friday for the sale to begin.
Here's how a sale works:
- A few of our members will arrange to meet with you in your home when designated furniture and other contents of the house and garage can be evaluated for a sale.
- A contract stating these specifics is presented to the homeowner, who is asked to sign it. A date is then set for the sale. One provision in the contract requires that the home be insured for liability at the time of the sale.
- Five days prior to and during the sale, we will run a classified ad in the Charlotte Sun detailing items you have for sale. The homeowner pays for this ad. Advertised items cannot be sold prior to the day of the sale.
- On the Tuesday before the sale date, the IG&G van arrives at 8 a.m. with display tables and we go to work. This preparation could take three or more hours. We price each item, but the owner has the right to change any prices before the sale.
- We return Friday at 7 a.m. for the 8 a.m. start of the sale. Our Isles Guys assist with parking. Our members will be stationed throughout the house and garage to answer questions and for security reasons. We have a list of independent movers available that customers may contact to move larger items but the cost is the buyer’s responsibility. The Friday sale closes at noon. During the Friday sale all prices are firm – no negotiating. There is, however, a bid box for customers to place written bids on any item they would like to buy at a lower price. Following the close, we will present the bids to the homeowner. Customers whose bids are accepted will be notified to come Saturday morning to pay for and remove the item(s).
- We arrive again on Saturday about 7:30 a.m. before the sale opens at 8 a.m. Items remaining on Saturday morning that are marked for $20 or less will be sold on Saturday for half price. The price of more expensive items may be negotiated.
- At the end of the sale on Saturday, any remaining items will be boxed. The owner makes arrangements for disposition of these items. If the owner wishes to donate the remaining items, we offer a list of charitable organizations to call.
- Proceeds of the sale are given to the homeowner or agent; the owner then donates 25 percent of the gross receipts to the PGICA where this money is used to fund capital improvements. The donation is tax deductible. The homeowner will receive a written accounting of the entire transaction. With the sale over, we remove our tables and leave having expended close to 200 man hours in the planning and execution of that particular sale.
The Isles Girls and Guys have been in existence since 1982 and have helped many of our residents. Relocating can be a very trying time - we hope to make it easier for you. It would be our pleasure to assist you.