Fine Estate Liquidation, Inc.

Moraga Estate Sale

Los Angeles Estate Liquidation Stuff…

The Do it Yourself Estate Sales Guide

Wow, our last San Francisco estate sale at 377 Clipper was incredible, and for that I want to thank you my customers - you guys are spectacular…

Here is a recap:

We moved an estate from Nob Hill and folded its contents into a home on Clipper St. When I write that we moved an estate from Nob Hill to Clipper St., what I mean is that we moved almost two full 24′ trucks packed with Art, Books, Furniture, and Collectibles, and then attractively staged those contents into an already furnished home on Clipper St.

And when we were done this San Francisco estate sale looked great.

I want to thank my staff by name.

Valetta - Although a relative newcomer to the San Francisco estate sale business, she is a natural - in less than a year she has become a consummate estate sale manager. Thank You Valetta!

Ann - You know Ann, she has been with Fine Estate Liquidation for the last couple of years, and her efforts on behalf of our company are too numerous to count, lets put them somewhere at about 10,000. Thank You Ann!

Vina - Also a newcomer to the estate sale scene - and has she ever hit the floor running, she is doing great, and I am glad she is here. Thank You Vina!

Andy - Is Vina’s husband and a dynamic personality to boot. He is very personable, and if you are a shoplifter beware, cuz at our last San Francisco estate sale, he escorted two people out the door for such activity. Thank You Andy!

Katherine - You all know Katherine, of all my staff she has been with me the longest, in fact I have known her all of her life - she’s my daughter, and at 25 years old she has her head squarely on her shoulders, and she is very capable of managing an estate sale in San Francisco or any where else for that matter. Thank You Katherine!

I also want to thank:

Tom from got2move without his efforts, and the exertions of his very capable crew, we would never have stayed on schedule - If you are planning a move, and need someone who is reliable, and can get the job done, than these are your guys.

On a lighter and sweeter note, Fine Estate Liquidation and crew would like to thank the baking efforts of Gabrielle Feuersinger for bringing us some tasty pieces of delicious cake. Cake Coquette

The Do it Yourself Estate Sales Kit

Upcoming San Francisco Estate Sale

Fine Estate Liquidation

San Francisco Estate Sale

377 Clipper St. at Castro

Fri. 27 Sat. 28 Sun. 29

10:00am - 5:00pm

This estate sale is packed!!! It is a combination of two San Francisco estate sales brought together for sale at 377 Clipper.

Fine Art by Elizabeth Higgins, Goodnough, LeRoy Nieman, William Bence, Donald Haug, D. Kuo, Gerald C. Mead, Lois Polansky and Others…

Sterling flatware, Crystal Chandelier, Mid-Century Style Chrome and Glass Coffee Table, Large Granite and Chrome Dining Table, Hand Knotted Rugs, Beautiful Contemporary Furniture, Overstuffed Couches and Chairs, Magnificent and Large Cormandel Screen (18′ long and 7′ tall with 8 panels) Carved on Both Sides, Large Pine Hutch, Leather Club Chairs, Some China and Crystal, Dining Room and Bedroom Furniture - Stearns and Foster King Size Bed, Large Marble Statue of Female Nude, Nic Nacks and Collectibles, Large Chinese Porcelain Fish Bowls.

Many Many Books, Including 84 of the 100 Greatest Books Written, published by the Easton Press, Complete works of Shakespeare Published by the Easton Press - other Easton Press Titles - all of these books are in the best condition and are bound in leather.

100’s of Rock of the 80’s LP’s, and CD’s Star Trek Stuff, Full Kitchen, Full Garage With Many Hand and Power Tools,

The Do it Yourself Estate Sales Guide

When I first started in the estate sales business almost 13 years ago - hey, what did I know - not much…

My first estate sale was in Point Reyes Station, Ca. When I went to look at the estate, it literally was under tarps in the front and back yard of a small white clap board house close to the center of town. The heir had removed everything from her mother’s house to make it easier to paint the interior. I remember lifting an edge of the blue tarp and looking under it and seeing all manner of household items and collectibles…

So my partner and I moved everything back into the house, priced as much of it as we could, and then we made the premises ready for an estate sale.

I priced everything according to my limited knowledge of collectibles and antiques and my own raw instinct. The estate sale took place over a holiday weekend which I later learned is not always the best time to stage a sale - but like I said, what did I know?

I advertised the sale in two local newspapers and put up estate sale signs on utility poles around the neighborhood, and lo and behold they came. It seems that lots of people were looking for the perfect excuse to leave San Francisco, take a ride in the country and add to the trip the bonus of shopping at an estate sale in the country.

On the morning of the sale my partner and I made our final preparations to the staging of the house; having no idea what was in store for us. It was just the two of us, we never thought we would need extra help.

The house was set back from the street surrounded by a tall hedge in front of which was a white picket fence. You could not see the street from the house, it was private and cozy back there. I left my partner in the house and I walked towards the gate to let the people in - I was kind of excited. As I got closer to the gate I could hear the sound of many people talking, and when I arrived at the gate I saw that there was quite a crowd of estate sale shoppers there.

But like I said, what did I know? I let them all in at the same time…it was like a stampede - 50 or 60 people intent on finding bargains descended upon and entered the house.

I followed them all in, and standing at the front door, I can still remember looking across the front room, over the tops of their heads, to my partner, both of us with puzzled faces and shrugging shoulders as if to say, who knew?

People loved this estate sale, they snapped up arm loads of dishes, linens, collectibles of every shape and size, and then proceeded to my hastily arranged cashier’s station in the front yard. It was incredible. There was a line at times as long as twenty or thirty people, and the holiday shoppers just kept on coming all day.

I learned a lot about the estate sales business during this sale, and the first thing I learned was that people will buy the most surprising things. And the second thing I learned was that I had to do much better homework, and learn how to properly price things.

One of my fondest memories of this sale was when the owner of the largest estate sales company in San Francisco arrived. She and her family had a second home in the Point Reyes Station area. I had shopped her sales many times in the city, so I knew her fairly well. She asked me if I had any costume jewelry for sale, and I said that I did, but that I had not put it out because I did not know how to price it. She asked if she could see it and I set her up in the bathroom, away from the clamoring masses to look at it. Every once in a while I would check on her, and there she was, the undisputed queen of the San Francisco estate sales business sitting on the edge of the tub, in the bathroom of my first estate sale, going through a mound of costume jewelry…which she of course she bought for a song…but like I said, what did I know?

My name is Martin Codina and I am an estate liquidator who loves his job…

The Do it Yourself Estate Sales Guide

Upcoming San Francisco Estate Sale

Estate Sale

610 Clipper St. #4 San Francisco

Sat. Feb. 16 and Sun. Feb. 17
10:00am – 5:00pm

3 Persian rugs, Antique tiger oak serpentine breakfront, Regulator wall clock, Victorian mantle clock, Large tree panel Japanese woodblock print, Water buffalo horns, Vintage reverse glass painted shade with original bronze base, Vintage wicker side or what-not table, Maxfield Parrish print with original blue and gilt frame, Antique oak dinning table with 6 oak press-back chairs – original finish to table, Spoolwork clerk’s or students desk, Large tabletop pieces of pink or red coral, Heart shaped white coral, Antique carved church pew, Many collectibles, Books, TV, Stereo, Tools, Kitchen, Trunk…and more.

Two Items of Special Interest:

1.) Painting By Snowflake: Here is a brief Bio excerpted from an email sent to me by the executor.

Snowflake was part of a group of very talented post-hippie-era gays who spent much time at the Ambush, which was far more of a cultural institution than it was a bar. They had art exhibits openings every two weeks. Chuck Arnett, who I referred to in my email to Gayle, was another regular and his gay leather mural at the old Tool Box appeared in Life magazine’s Gay in America special issue back in 1964 (I believe), and has become an icon.

Snowflake was the most artistic of the crew. He was also the consummate showman. His openings were always an event. One time he came dressed as Toulouse-Lautrec with top hat and monocle, and shuffled around on his knees all evening.

Descriptions of this painting:

Name Rainbow Cash Register:

The Ambush had a transom window over the door that the afternoon sun came thru’, & someone hung a crystal in that window. As time passed, other people added crystals, then it became a bigger deal, & someone built a frame to hold all of the hanging crystals, & then the frame was moved in front of the transom throughout the year so that the crystals always caught the sunlight. Jim said that when you stepped into the pitch black establishment (don’t know if the interior was painted black [YES], or just seemed that dark after coming in from the daylight), the bar would be bathed in rainbows from the sunlight hitting the crystals — hence the Snowflake painting ‘Rainbow Cash Register’ (can’t remember if that’s its ‘official’ name, or just what we call it). Jim said that from the place where Snowflake sat at the bar, that’s the view he would have had of the cash register, etc.

2.) Gay Viet-Nam Protest Poster – Protesting the Mai Lai massacre.
http://www.finesf.com/

The Do it Yourself Estate Sales Guide

Upcoming San Francisco Estate Sale

FINE ESTATE LIQUIDATION INC.

Awesome Estate Sale This Weekend!!!

Fri. Feb. 1 – Sun. Feb. 3

10:00am – 5:00pm

2944 Scott St. (at Union) San Francisco, Ca.

Sterling, Lenox China, Good Glassware, Antique Dragon Scroll, Series of six Yaacov Agam Prints, Other artwork , Yamaha studio upright piano (black lacquer), Two Bronzes, Many collectables – Nic-Nack – Figurines – Teddy Bears - Pillows, Furniture, Danish Modern Drop-leaf Table, Maguire Style Chairs, Almost New Queen Bed, Nice Lamps, Many Books, LP’s, Bedroom Furniture, Kitchen Galore, Huge Chalk Board, Great Woman’s Clothing (size 6-10 and shoes size 5 ½ – 6 ½) Guys Clothing size 40 reg., Nice Camping Equipment – Some Fishing, Tools, and Basement…

The Do it Yourself Estate Sales Guide

This Sale is taking Place This Weekend!!!!

Estate Sale

1626 Diamond St. SF, Ca.

Fri. Jan 18 – Sun. Jan. 20

10 am – 5 pm (note new opening time)

Some China, Antique Carved Bookcase w/ glass doors, George Jensen Sterling Flatware (Block or Arcadia Pattern) 3×5 Silk Prayer Rug, Other Knotted Rugs, Cobalt Glass, Furniture –Some Antique, Old Andirons – One Pair Of Which Is In The Shape Of A Ships Anchor, Collectibles, 2 Ten Speed Bikes – Free Spirit FS19 and Motobecane Mirage Made In France, Ben Hogan Gulf Clubs, Christmas Stuff, Train Set, Horn, Stereo and 2 TV’s, Murano, Shabby Chic, Records, Books, Tools, Kitchen and much more…small house that is packed…

Website: www.finesf.com

The Do it Yourself Estate Sales Guide

Awesome Estate Sale!!!

This is one of the nicest ones we have done this year…

Fri. Oct 12 - Sun. Oct.14

64 Grand View
San Francisco
9:00am - 5:00pm

2 sets of Sterling Flatware, Other Flatware - some sterling hollow ware, 3 Vintage Plated Tea Sets, Baby Grand Piano, Prints, Antique Furniture, Limoge China – other china, Pier Mirror, Books, Bedroom and Dinning Room Furniture, Pottery, Baccarat Crystal Stemware, Much Vintage Linen, Vintage Clothing, Nicely Carved Camphor Chest, Lamps, Furs, Rug, Collectibles – House Is Packed

This is an unpicked through 40 year accumulation of personal property – no items have been added to this estate…

Website: www.finesf.com

The Do it Yourself Estate Sales Guide

Fri. Sep 7, Sat. Sep 8, Sun. Sep 9
9:00am-5:00pm
176 Merced Ave.
San Francisco, Ca.

3 Clocks, 1940’s Dinning Set w/ six chairs, 2 Lay-z- Boys, China, Art, Large Bronze by Emile Laporte, 18 pieces of California, Glass, Prints, Persian Runner, LP’s, Collectibles, China Cabinet, Bedroom Set – other furniture, Collection of S.F. Shriners Memorabilia, Pool Table, Kitchen, Garage…

Which will be your weekend’s main event?

In the corner on my left, wearing the purple trunks and claiming to contain all the treasure collected over the lifetimes of several generations, is the Estate Sales Bomber.

And in the corner on my right, wearing the yellow trunks, looking lean and thin, is the hurriedly trained, Yard Sale Scrapper.

Folks, these two fierce opponents have squared off countless times, over countless weekends, and neither of them seems to be a clear winner.

So before you get ready to rumble this weekend, please read the following public service announcement.

Estate sales are two or three day in-house sales events. They are for lack of a better description, windows into peoples’ lives. Generally speaking what you find at an estate sale is everything that was wanted by the people who lived in the house where the estate sale is being conducted. In other words what you find in an estate sale is “stuff” that was wanted.

Yard Sales are more or less disorganized sales events merchandising the unwanted cast off “stuff” of its sellers. But don’t let that description fool you, they can contain treasures of significant value. Remember, these sales are usually being conducted by people who, because they are not professionals, often don’t know the value of what they are selling.

So where do you the consumer go to find gold? Well, in the words of a miner, I once met as a young man “Gold is where you find it.”

My name is Martin Codina and I am an estate liquidator who loves his job.

The Do it Yourself Estate Sales Guide