Lots of good news the past few days. Social distancing seems to be working. The number of new cases of the coronavirus is down or at least flattening. Businesses may be allowed to reopen (slowly) sometime in May. Which means estate sales will rev up again with weeks worth of backlog.
Fred and I have been asked what we think will happen when communities do reopen. Will customers shop estate sales again or stay at home in fear? Personally, we don’t think many will pass up the opportunity to get out of the house, mix with friends and neighbors, and pick up a treasure or two! Yes, people will continue to practice social distancing at sales; maybe even wear masks. But no one is going to stay at home unless they’re sick. Texas weather is too conducive to being outdoors.
What type of sales can you expect in the weeks following a loosening of restrictions? Already Sellers are telling us (and sending pictures) of what to expect – Janelle Stone has a huge sale ready and waiting; Millchell Estate Sales is waiting in place with one that personifies spring; Art Rousseau starts preparing one Monday in Dallas – his biggest of the year; Dallas Estate Sellers (José and Stephen) have one in the Design District filled with incredible furnishings. Cottage Classics contacted us earlier this week about their sale (the home of an antique dealer) that will have shoppers hitting the road early to be in Fort Worth when the sale opens. Other Sellers we know have sales waiting in the wings – Fox Estate Liquidators, Estate Sales by Anthony, Roger Harrell Estate Sales, FairMarket DFW Estate Sales, The Jewel Box, Help Me Ronda, JLA Treasures, Harriett Martin Estate Sales, Futures Past, Discovery Estate Sales, ELS Estate Sales, Ralph Willard …. Everyone is lined up ready to race out of the starting blocks.
Of course, DFW Estate Liquidators (Cory Crites and Crew) haven’t missed a beat since the lock down began. Instead of estate sales, Cory is doing his own on-line auctions. The Showroom is in Weatherford and he’s putting all his sales On-Line. The man never stops expanding his business – even in hard times.
What we want all the great Estate Sales Professionals, Antique Shops, and Auction Houses we work with to know – Good Times Will Come Back. Maybe not tomorrow, BUT SOON!