When an AARP writer hired an estate sale company to help clear out her late parents’ home, she expected a straightforward process. Instead, unexpected inventory, a verbal agreement, and damaged floors turned the experience into a cautionary tale, one that led AARP to bring in Edward Susolik, our CEO and Senior Partner, for legal insight on how families can protect themselves.
Callahan & Blaine, PC, has spent decades handling business and contract disputes throughout California, and Edward’s experience litigating these matters made him a natural resource for AARP as it explored what can go wrong when a family hires a company to handle their loved one’s belongings. His guidance centered on two issues that come up again and again in these situations: verifying insurance and getting the agreement in writing.
Why Verifying Insurance Matters Before You Sign
Many families assume that any company advertising estate sale services has already met basic licensing and insurance requirements, but that is often not the case. According to Edward, most states do not regulate this industry closely, which leaves families responsible for doing their own homework before granting a company access to a home full of personal belongings.
“Bonding protects against theft, while insurance protects against property damage,” Edward explains. Without confirming both, families can be left covering the cost of damaged floors, missing valuables, or other losses with little recourse if a dispute arises.
Government agencies that oversee similar household services echo this advice. The California Bureau of Household Goods and Services advises consumers to confirm that any company handling their household goods is properly licensed and insured before work begins, guidance that applies just as directly to estate liquidation as it does to moving or restoration services.
The Risk of Skipping a Written Contract
Verbal agreements are common in the estate sale industry, but they leave families with little protection if a company fails to deliver on its promises. A written contract should spell out the commission structure, advertising plan, payment timeline, and responsibility for leftover items, details that are difficult to enforce when nothing is in writing.
Edward also cautioned that contracts are not automatically protective simply because they exist. Some agreements include broad clauses that attempt to shift liability onto the homeowner even when the company itself was negligent, a pattern he has seen play out in California contract disputes far beyond the estate sale industry. Reading every clause carefully and asking questions about anything unclear can prevent a family from unknowingly signing away their right to hold a company accountable.
When a Dispute Requires Legal Action
Most estate sales proceed without incident, but families sometimes end up dealing with property damage, missing items, or a company that refuses to take responsibility for its mistakes. In these situations, documentation becomes critical, including photographs taken before the sale began and any written communication with the company involved.
At Callahan & Blaine, PC, we regularly help clients pursue civil litigation when a business fails to honor its obligations or causes harm through negligence. Edward’s continued visibility in national outlets such as AARP reflects the same commitment to protecting consumers that has guided our firm since 1984.
Contact Callahan & Blaine, PC to Discuss Your Case
Callahan & Blaine, PC, has built a reputation over more than forty years for helping clients hold negligent businesses accountable and recover the compensation they are owed. Our attorneys, led by President and CEO Edward Susolik, bring decades of trial experience to disputes involving property damage, contract violations, and business negligence.
If you have experienced property damage or a contract dispute with a company you trusted with your belongings, we encourage you to reach out to our team. Contact us today to submit your potential case and learn how Callahan & Blaine, PC can help you pursue the outcome you deserve.
