References

Here is a small selection of some of the lovely emails and letters we have received from our clients.

"Dear Heidi and Ian:

We wanted to write this letter to express our sincere gratitude for your recent efforts on our behalf conducting a liquidation of some of our family possessions. From the moment that we met the two of you on a rainy Tuesday night in October, we knew that yours was a different kind of company. The individual attention that we received and your willingness to work with us even though our liquidation was not a “big one,” set you apart from your competitors and was much appreciated. It meant a great deal to us to know that a company with the knowledge and experience of Sweet & Harding was willing to take us on!

In addition, the level of dedication and professionalism that you showed in preparing and conducting the liquidation sale was truly a marvel. Your staging was impeccable (and quite creative) and the results of the sale exceeded our expectations. Then, following the sale, you not only arranged for the donation and/or disposal of any remaining items, but also left our property in immaculate condition, as if you had never been there!

Simply put, we appreciate the efforts that you made on our behalf and will not hesitate to recommend you to anyone looking for a company to handle an estate sale or liquidation. Thank you again for everything that you did for us. "

Sincerely
Mike and Lisa Lennon
Amherst, NY

"Dear Heidi

Thank you for the great job you did for me, I would never have been able to handle selling everything.

I was greatly satisfied with the outcome and would recommend you to anyone looking for an estate sales person.

God Bless you always for your kindness and sensitivity to my situation."

In Christ
Msgr. Len
Ransomville, NY

"My husband I recently took on the monumental task of helping our 82 year old friend sell his home and find him somewhere to live. Finding him somewhere to live was the easiest. Then we had to figure out what to do with a 90 year old home filled with 90 years of accumulation. We were definitely over our head as every step we took forward we took at least three backwards.

Fortunately an acquaintance recommended Sweet & Harding.

Trust us our lives and marriage were saved. Kudos to you and your staff at Sweet & Harding for the great job you did for us. The precleaning, setting-up, displaying and the final clean-out were nothing short of AMAZING. A plus, all on schedule to boot!

We are so pleased with the results and rest assurred we are already blowing your horn to anyone who will listen - we recommend you with great confidence.

Thank you so much,"

Bruce & Sara Kirchhoff
for the Urban brothers,
Buffalo, NY

"When my husband and I decided to downsize to a single-level home, we looked at the accumulation of years of our own and inherited "stuff" and the prospect of sorting, cleaning, etc. was truly mentally paralyzing. We honestly did not know if we could tackle such a project. Our realtor recommended Sweet and Harding and it was the best recommendation we have ever received.

Ian and Heidi are true professionals whose knowledge and experience is invaluable. As we were not selling everything, they were very honest in their advice on what to keep and what to sell, while realizing the personal sentimental value of some items. They also provided a great sense of relief when we realized that they truly take care of everything from sorting to staging. A written contract was provided which added additional peace of mind.

When the week of the sale arrived, we were absolutely amazed at how much they and their team accomplished in such a short period of time. Our items were priced well by Heidi and shown to their best advantage both in person and in the online video by Ian. Their website is most attractive and informative as well.

After the sale, we took advantage of offered cleaning services as well as trash removal. These services were reasonable and to us, returning to an empty, clean house was priceless! I would like to emphasize that we never felt pressured to add any services and that both Heidi and Ian were careful to check with us if there was any question regarding an item being for sale, etc.

We would like to thank Heidi and Ian for transforming our potential nightmare into a positive experience. They were a pleasure to work with personally, and their efforts resulted in an extremely successful sale. We have already recommended Sweet and Harding to others and will continue to do so!"

Carole and Gene Pantera
East Aurora, New York

"Dear Mr. Harding,

I want to thank you for the amazing job you did at my mother's estate sale.

Following the terrible problems we had a few years ago when we hired a different firm to hold an estate sale after my husband's father passed, we were understandably nervous about going through the whole 'estate sale' process again. But you and Heidi came very highly recommended, and when we met you we immediately felt that this was going to go well, and you did not disappoint us.

Everything you did exceeded our expectations, from the way you displayed and presented everything in the home, to your friendly and helpful staff, to the way you cleaned the house following the sale, to the (large) check we received with the paperwork.

We really appreciate the fact that you gave us your full attention and didn't try to just 'fit us in' as had happened with the firm we used before.

You made a very emotionally upsetting time managable for us.

I will tell everyone I know that if they are in a similar situation they should call you.

You are simply the best!"

Susan B
Orchard Park, NY

"Heidi and Ian,

I just wanted to thank you once again for all you did for me and offer a testimonial to ANYONE who is interested in hiring you.

As I told you, what initially interested me was your profile from your webpage. Ian's comments about this process being about so much more than just an estate sale rang true for me. I hope any prospective clients take that to heart because not all estate sale companies can say the same. Patty and I interviewed several companies before hiring Sweet & Harding and the moment we finished talking to you we were very comfortable. Between Heidi's vast knowledge on everything from high end antiques to knick knacks and combined with Ian's human touch and tough but fair dealing with prospective buyers, they are a formidable combination.

I strongly recommend to anyone interested that Sweet & Harding are the best choice possible.

Thanks again."

Chris Banning
Estate of Gloria Banning

"Dear Heidi & Ian,

We want to thank you both, as well as your staff for such a successful sale at 570 East Thompson Street in North Tonawanda.

George and I have never had any experience with Estate Sales. My daughter has been to several of your sales in the past and was quite impressed with the professionalism displayed. At her recommendation, we contacted you. You informed us on how things would be conducted. From the onset we knew that we had chosen the right folks for the job! Your compassion, understanding and honesty was greatly appreciated.

We saw just how much hard work is involved in setting up for the sale, the actual sale itself, as well as the clean up efforts afterwards. We are so gratified that everything was taken care of for us. There is no way that we could have EVER reached the volume of buyers that showed up on those two days. Your video of the items and your website presentation really help to draw the crowd! We reached a dollar figure that was quite impressive and totally surpassed our expectations.

Once again, we just wanted to thank you. You both (and your wonderful staff) helped to turn an overwhelming situation into two very rewarding and profitable days. Hopefully, you will share this letter with your web site following.

So in closing, we would like to let everyone out there know that if they are thinking about conducting an estate sale, whether it be out of necessity, or simply to restructure their current living situation, to contact Sweet & Harding ~ they will certainly not be disappointed!!

Two Very Satisfied Down-Sizers",

Gwen & George N.
Tonawanda, NY

"Our family retained Sweet & Harding to handle an estate sale on behalf of our mother. This was a delicate matter for our family, given my mom had lived in her home for almost 40 years and was understandably sensitive about selling her possessions. Heidi and Ian met with our family and thoroughly explained the estate sale process and what we could expect. They continued to be patient and helpful with our many questions throughout the process. Sweet & Harding treated my mother's home and its contents with dignity and respect which provided much comfort and reassurance to our mother.

Sweet & Harding's marketing efforts were very impressive. My mother's home is located in a rural area and we were skeptical about how much interest the sale would generate. Also, the sale was in February and weather and road conditions were a concern. In addition to the lovely on-line sale video, Ian even posted a video showing the roads leading to the house were clear. The sale was a huge success. Even my mother's neighbors commented on how busy the sale was and how much traffic was on the street.

After the sale, Sweet & Harding went above and beyond to help us with clean-up and removal of the remaining items. We were under a tight deadline to have the house ready for the new owner and we would not have been ready if it wasn't for Heidi, Ian and their staff. They kept in constant communication with us until the job was done.

I would highly recommend Sweet & Harding to anyone considering holding an estate sale. They are true professionals."

Judy Lucas
Lancaster, NY

"With Special Thanks

When you lose a loved one and need to sell a home and its furnishings, the task seems much larger than anything you are able to cope with while you grieve. Sweet & Harding (Heidi and Ian) understand this completely and shift a difficult task from your shoulders to theirs.

Sweet & Harding made the estate sale process easy for me and I am sure a lot of work for them. The sale went well and the home was treated with respect which was very important to me. And, when Heidi and Ian say they "clean up" after the sale, they really mean it. I went armed with vacuum, broom and dustpan a few days after the sale to just "tidy up" and there was nothing to do.

My sincere thanks to Heidi and Ian for the care and concern they gave me and I am sure other clients. When I need their services for my home, without hesitation I will call Sweet & Harding."

Sharon Falkowski
Williamsville, NY

"Ian and Heidi,

Just wanted to let you both know what a great job you did at the estate sale. You came out immediately when I first called and fully explained the process to me during a very difficult and emotional time.

All of the items for sale were cleaned and properly displayed, with prices clearly marked. The advertising of the sale on your web site was professionally done with clear pictures and an accurate listing of individual items that I know for sure brought in many prospective buyers. You also gave directions to the home and had signs displayed throughout the village at major intersections leading buyers right to the door.

The sale itself was very organized as you had a sign in sheet on the door, coffee and pastries for everyone to enjoy and a helpful and polite staff including Ann Marie, Edie, Joan and Tom, that were easily recognizable by their aprons and name tags. Ian even assisted buyers by the delivery of some items that they would not have otherwise purchased.

Your knowledge of the merchandise lead to both fair pricing for all and the ability to empty the home. You assisted in the removal of items that did not sell by contacting people to either buyout the remaining items, donate to charity, and the discarding of unsellable things. The house was then cleaned and left the way you found it.

It was very difficult to see my parent's belongings go up for sale and leave the home that I had lived in for many years but it was something that had to be done and you showed compassion in the process.

Thank you both again for a wonderful job well done!"

Randy Schultz
Hamburg, NY

"Ian,

I just wanted to say thank you to you and Heidi for a job well done! From the minute I met you both for the consultation, I felt like my life was going to be made easier.

Although nothing could make going through such a difficult time a "great" experience, you two did come close!

Never having gone through and estate sale or a liquidation sale before, I did not know what to expect. Saying that I was nervous would be an understatement. However, you put my mind at ease, and I believed you had my bests interests at heart. Watching your work from set up through the final merchandise pick up, you definitely proved that to be true.

I would definitely use you again and most certainly would recommend your services to everyone I know.

Thank you again."

Carla T.
Lancaster, NY

"I highly recommend Sweet and Harding for your estate sale.

I recently held such a sale and it was a pleasure to work with Ian and Heidi from start to finish. I found them to be friendly, professional, punctual and they return phone calls promptly, folks. Most important to me was the empathy they displayed for the difficulty of my task, namely selling my (departed) mother's furnishings and household items. Their sensitivity made a hard job a little easier.

The sale was a success and I appreciated that they will recommend charities to pick up items that do not sell."

Teresa M.
Tonawanda, NY

"When my husband got a job in England, we were very excited and very nervous. We had a toddler, just three months to move, and too much stuff! We knew we would be moving into a much smaller space, so one of our biggest worries was what to do with all of our things. A garage sale just wasn't going to cut it.

Enter: Sweet and Harding. From start to finish, Heidi and Ian were the consummate professionals - calm, when we were spastic; reassuring, when we were nervous; organized, when we were anything but. Not to mention all the other things: trustworthy, reliable, eager, flexible, and good-humored too!

They met with us multiple times before the sale to go over the logistics and all of our concerns from the financial to the sentimental (including, yes, making sure all the baby clothes went to really nice people!)

Our sale happened after we moved, so when we left, we handed the keys to them. They came in, organized everything, cleaned everything, and sold everything! And they always went above and beyond our expectations - sending us pictures and videos of the sale and the empty house, coordinating things with our relator when necessary, even mailing us keepsakes we had accidentally left behind.

Honestly, when all was said and done, we couldn't believe they handed us a big check. It felt like we should be paying them! For all these reasons, and many more, we wholeheartedly recommend Sweet and Harding..."

Ashley S.
London, England.
(Formerly of Buffalo, NY)

"Dear Heidi and Ian:

I want to thank you for the estate sale services you provided our family. It was a very difficult and emotional decision to have an estate sale of our childhood home. However, your professionalism and caring nature made this decision the right decision.

We truly appreciate all the hard work you put into the sale. I felt very comfortable leaving it in your hands. You both did a wonderful job before, during and after the sale. I appreciate you making arrangements to have the few items that did not sell donated to charity. As promised, you left the house empty and clean.

Again, I thank you for a job well done. It put us all at ease."

Sharon O.
Hamburg, NY

"I recently retained Sweet & Harding to handle the liquidation of our family possessions after my mother passed away and my father relocated to California.

Handling the liquidation sale from 3,000 miles away could have turned into my worse nightmare, but thanks to Sweet & Harding, every detail was handled beautifully.

Circumstances changed by the minute, and Ian and Heidi were always available and knew what do to. For instance, after a week of haggling with prospective buyers, the decision was made not to sell my father's car. Then, two days before I was to return to California, we reversed that decision. After very early morning phone calls to Heidi and Ian at their homes, they jumped right on it and we sold the car!

On several occasions, Heidi and Ian went beyond the scope of their contract at their own expense. They made an extra trip to the post office to obtain the proper mailing boxes for personal pictures and returned to the post office to mail personal pictures to my sister in Arizona. They made all the arrangements with Habitat for Humanity to pickup donations at the house. They brought left-over items and clothing to the Salvation Army. When the weather didn't cooperate, they arranged with the City for a special garbage pick-up.

The house was to be broom-cleaned when the sale was finished. Once again, Ian and Heidi took extra time to remove stains from the kitchen floor, polish the counter tops, and vacuum the entire house.

Heidi was very knowledgeable on what items would sell, and she knew how to price to sell. I believe we received fair prices for items that sold, and I believe they charged a fair commission.

After I returned to California, Ian was kind enough to send me pictures of the house over the Internet so I could see what was done and how the house looked when everything was finished.

I am very pleased with the work Sweet & Harding did for me. The estate sale was a success. I highly recommend them - they will do a wonderful job for you.

Sincerely,"

Diane K.
Irvine, CA

"Moving out of the house that I had lived in for 10 years was a very overwhelming and emotional experience! When I decided that I was going to have an estate sale I spoke with a few different estate sale agencies and found the most pleasant and knowledgeable business was Sweet & Harding.

I instantly felt at ease with Heidi and Ian, they thoroughly explained the process and details of holding a sale to me and answered all of my questions. They assured me that most of my items would sell and that they would assist me in donating and/or disposing of the items that did not sell. Before the sale they sorted, displayed and priced everything for optimal sale potential. They publicized my sale in the local papers, on their website and sent out an email to their very large customer database.

The sale was well attended and the majority of my items sold. After the sale I was very anxious about what I was going to do with the items that did not sell, as I needed everything out of the house in the next 3 days. Both Heidi and Ian were very reassuring and kept telling me not to worry, they would help me out and make sure everything was taken care of. As promised, within 3 days my house was totally empty and ready for the new owners to move in!

I highly recommend Sweet & Harding to anyone holding an estate/liquidation sale. They are honest, reliable and a pleasure to work with. Thank you Heidi and Ian for making the daunting task of moving just that much easier with your professional and compassionate handling of my estate sale."

Laura Y.
Amherst, NY