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By Janice Lane Palko
We all know the adage, “Don’t get left holding the bag.” But what happens when you are left holding real estate, an estate, the contents of a home or business that you no longer or need or want? A good place to turn to is Hostetter Auctioneers.
Randy Klingensmith, who has been a licensed Real Estate professional for more than 30 years, recently joined Hostetter Auctioneers as an independent contractor who is also a licensed auctioneer.
“The modern auctioneer is a sales professional helping people navigate potentially negative situations respectfully and rapidly,” said Randy. “I thoroughly enjoyed working with landlords, real estate investors, out-of-state investors and placing tenants when I was in real estate. In 2020, I began serving on the Beaver County Board of Realtors with Sherm Hostetter, whose family founded the auction company back in 1955, and knowing my expertise, he suggested I give auctioneering a try,” said Randy, who joined the company this year and explains that auctions have changed from the traditional fast-talking, rural auctioneer in a white hat and string tie.
“Today, most of the selling and bidding is done online through our website,” said Randy, who notes that Sherman Hostetter Auctioneers specializes in residential and commercial real estate auctions, personal property/estate auctions, business liquidation auctions and heavy equipment/farm auctions.
Of particular importance for seniors and their families are residential real estate auctions, business liquidation auctions and personal property auctions.
“Often times we see older people who no longer can keep up with their homes and need to go into some type of assisted living, and they need money quickly to secure a place. A real estate auction is ideal for that situation,” said Randy. “With a traditional real estate sale, the seller may have to wait weeks or months for a property to sell or have to sink considerable resources into the home to get it into marketable shape. With an auction, you sell the property as-is and usually you have the proceeds within a matter of a few weeks.”
Real Estate auctions also work well for those managing estates who don’t have the time or who are living out of town to go for a traditional real estate sale. “In fact, with my expertise in real estate, we can advise you if a traditional real estate sale is feasible or you can give it a try and always then decide to opt for an auction.”
Randy can also help with the selling of personal property. “We help to remove the burden of having to remove these items,” said Randy. “Our professionals will categorize, write descriptions, and take pictures of your contents and then auction them on the website. It is beneficial for both the seller and the buyer. The seller receives income from things that they no longer need, and buyers usually get a good deal when compared to buying brand new items. “We provide a low-cost way for buyers to acquire things like collectibles such as books, china, etc. as well as larger items like cars, heavy equipment, and boats,” said Randy, who stressed that tools are always in demand.
“It is always better to dispose of the contents of a house before selling it,” said Randy.
Another service that is provided is business liquidation auctions. “Unfortunately, grandpa’s business may just not appeal to his grandchildren, and if there’s no legacy plan in place, we can help business owners, restaurant owners, etc. to liquidate their property and contents,” said Randy. “We even help schools and churches liquidate their assets.”
For those wishing to bid on auction, the process is simple, you register with the website, creating an account and link it to a credit card. Then you log in, bid on an item, setting a maximum bid price. You will receive email notices of the bidding.
For those wishing to auction their property through Hofstetter, you can contact Randy Klingensmith at phone: 412-889-4663, email: randy@hostetterauctioneers.com, or visit the website: www.HostetterAuctioneers.com
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