Allison Armstrong, who has been in estates sales in the Austin area for 15 years, learned about the business from a woman with 30 years’ experience. This mentor taught her everything from researching items to running a sale. When the woman stopped doing sales, Allison and a friend opened an estate sales company, and they built a new business from the ground up. Today they both have thriving businesses. Allison typically services Travis, Williamson and Hays counties. When someone contacts her about a sale, her first step is a home visit to determine if there are enough items to hold a sale. Q: Do you give an estimate of what they might expect to net from a sale and let them know your charges for preparing for and conducting a sale? A: We do not give estimates of how much they will sell, but we are extremely transparent about fees and expectations. Our fee is a percentage of sales based on value in the home and the labor it will take to conduct the sale. We don’t make money unless our clients do, and have never had an unhappy client. Q: What's involved in preparing for an estate sale? A: Imagine moving a family member every month. This is basically what we do. We clean out ever drawer and cabinet, throw away trash, donate items that will not add to the value of the sale, stage the entire home, and price it like a store. We hold a two-to three-day sale and sell everything. At the end, we clear out the home for next steps by donating usable items to local non-profits. We generally sell almost everything, but if we have a dining table left, with the help of non-profits, we find families who need one! It’s the most rewarding part of the job. Q: Are there items that sell well at estate sales and others that don’t? A: Absolutely. Austin is a weird place and people love to buy unique things. I tell clients not to donate anything ahead of time, because things you assume no one wants are often the most popular! We often do sales for people moving out of the country, downsizing to a smaller home, and families who need help after the loss of a loved one, so we sell brand new things and extremely old antiques. As long as it’s in good condition, everything sells! Q: You've recently opened a shop in Austin. Why did you decide to open it? A: We get calls every week from people who have items in storage, or who don’t have enough for a full sale. Armstrong’s House of Vintage is a place for people to sell beautiful and interesting things on consignment. So far it’s been a great success. Q: In addition to someone consigning items, do you sometimes buy items to sell in the shop? A: We will purchase sterling silver and gold jewelry from clients. Other than that, we are 100 percent consignment. Q: What's the most rewarding thing about running estate sales and/or your shop? A: The people. I love humans. Most of my clients are grieving in one way or another. Often their lives are changing. Some are losing autonomy, struggling with the loss of a loved one, recently divorced, or just ready for change. Life is so short, and I’ve found people who walk through difficulty are the best people. They don’t care about the superficial and offer a clear perspective. It’s a gift to be in my position really. My dad is a pastor, and he taught me early on there is nothing more gratifying than serving others. Q: Is there any other information that would be important for someone to know? A: We often have special events at the store and they are super fun. For details and to find out what’s new in store, follow us on Instagram [@houseofvintageatx](http://www.instagram.com/houseofvintageatx). For estate sale updates, follow us at [http://www.instagram.com/armstrongestatesales](http://www.instagram.com/armstrongestatesales) and [http://www.facebook.com/armstrongestatesales](http://www.facebook.com/armstrongestatesales). Q: What's the best way for someone to contact you? A: If you’d like to consign in the store, email photos and a short description to [
[email protected]](mailto:
[email protected]) . If you need of an estate sale, send me an e-mail with your phone number and timeline anytime. You can also visit our website at [Armstrongestatesales.com](http://armstrongestatesales.com/) for more details. Visit Armstrong’s House of Vintage Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at 1805 W. 35th Street, Austin, Texas 78703.
