How MaxSold Works With Sellers During COVID-19

Link to the general announcement: 

https://support.maxsold.com/hc/en-us/articles/360045021073-COVID-19-FAQ-and-Updates

 Sellers

If I am looking to sign up (or am currently a seller customer) with MaxSold, what should I be doing to keep safe?

• Inform your MaxSold Operations Manager contact if you have concerns for your safety/safety of others regarding your auction so we can work with you to resolve your concerns.
• Sellers are asked to inform their MaxSold Operations Manager of any special and/or unique constraints and/or instructions related to the location for cataloging and/or pickup that are required as part of the COVID-19 operating environment.
• Use Pickup Categories: MaxSold’s process has a built-in function to support the social distancing of buyers via our pickup categories.  Using these effectively along with proper pickup resourcing and time windows will ensure buyers trickle in through the pickup instead of all at once.

What happens if there is a community lock-down during my auction?

Depending on the circumstances there are various approaches we can take, most of which would need to be done prior to the auction closing.  Each situation may require a unique approach, however, some solutions are:

• Take the auction down and either postpone or cancel it
• Adjust the auction to support its continuance in the lock-down environment
• Alter the online auction timeline
• Adjust the pickup schedule
• Change the scope of the auction (i.e. single lot auction selling to bulk buyers)

Can I take down/postpone my auction if it’s not closed?

If there is a way to adapt the auction and/or pickup to comply with the evolving community constraints, that may be a better option if your timeline is tight. However, yes, this may be the approach if the pickup is likely to be canceled regardless of adaptations.

What if I don’t want people walking through my house?

It always is the best practice to conduct the MaxSold event after everyone has moved out (with the items they wish to keep).  In this new environment, it ensures sellers remain unexposed to those involved in executing and supporting the event. 

• If a seller is remaining in the home, we strongly recommend having them be off-site while the cataloging and pickup shifts are executed.  Sellers may also wish to expense cleaners for after the event is completed to sanitize the location. 
• If a seller must be on-site, they should practice social distancing and/or confine themselves to an area of the home where others will not have to enter.
• Finally, if the seller needs to ensure the fewest number of people enter the home, this can be supported by scoping the auction to fewer lots and/or having them hire a moving company on pickup day to carry items to buyers who would remain outside during the pickup event. 

What are the other alternatives for pickup?

• Buyers could be provided the pre-published pickup time(s) depending on the flexibility offered by the seller  You may be asked to provide an alternative in case there is an issue with the buyer attending the published pickup date/time (typically rare, however, with COVID-19 a higher likelihood).
• Buyers who cannot attend pickup due to COVID-19 for everyone’s health and safety will be refunded

What if the COVID-19 affects the overall auction result?

In short; It might. Markets change over time and sometimes things like world events, weather, and location (to name just a few) affect the marketplace. Our goal at MaxSold is to deliver a reliable, consistent way to safely capture what the market is prepared to pay for the things our clients need to clear in a timely manner so larger events, like the closing of a house or end of a lease can proceed unhampered. The time limits our clients face are typically dictated by events larger than the value of the things they need to clear. Events choose the time frame, and MaxSold delivers the best results we can within that framework.

More questions? Please contact 1-833-MAXSOLD ext 9 for Seller Support or email MaxService@maxsold.com