Since this is an estate sales company, the assumption would be that one would consider hiring this company as someone has passed away, and the heirs would like to liquidate any remaining items in the estate after they have removed any items that they wanted, or were entitled to. Then an estate team, like Catherine's, would be contracted to sell the remaining items left in the home/estate. Catherine's reputation and knowledge in antiquities is vast, but what she gains in the expertise in inatimate objects, she severly lacks in professionalism, integrity, respect and honesty in dealing with people. If you are considering hiring her and her team because you are the heir to an estate, and have no intention of occupying the deceased 's residence, make sure that the items you or the other heirs want, or are entitled to, have been removed from the premises BEFORE Catherine ever comes to review the remaining contents. Once you are under contract with her she has total control on the contents of the estate.
If you are considering hiring Catherine and her team because you are downsizing, moving etc. make sure to remove ALL items from the estate/residence PRIOR to Catherine coming to review the contents that you want sold. Also do not even consider hiring her if you are going to still be occupying the residence a month prior to the sale while they are staging your home, and during the several days of the sale. Fair warning....She will want to bring in her own inventory items that have not sold in other estate sales to add to your sale, which means that she will be utilizing your home/estate with her inventory, along with your possessions. This will obviously take away from the sale of your possessions, making her more money and you less as her items may sell and yours may not. If you are not ok with that, add a clause to the contract that very specifically states that she cannot bring in her own inventory to be added to yours. Review the contract with other family/friends for their input prior to your signing it. A contract with Catherine is ironclad and she will be very difficult to deal with after the fact if you do not put your intentions in writing on the contract. I have seen her rudeness, abrasiveness, dishonesty, lack of tact and integrity first hand as she cares nothing more than making money.
These warnings come from a recent unfortunate contractual estate sale in which Catherine was hired, and the client was not able to get out of the contract when Catherine's true colors came into full view. read more