A Dusty Old Bag

As a client of Lin and Bill’s of A Dusty Old Bag, I am writing this letter of recommendation on their behalf. I got their name from my realtor when I first put my home on the market. I was selling a two bedroom townhouse and moving to a furnished one bedroom apartment in New York City and couldn’t take anything with me. Understandably, as a single woman I was very anxious and concerned about how I would get rid of all of my furniture and belongings by myself. Putting each item on Craig’s List was not an option.

After contacting Lin, we set up a time to meet. The first time she came she looked over all my things and gave me a rough estimate of what she thought what my estate was worth. We went over the logistics of the sale: living in a townhouse association and some potential problems that could arise because of that. I could see right from the beginning that she was very experienced and knew what she was talking about.

On the second visit, Lin came with a camera and took pictures of the furniture, art and important items for her website. She even offered to sell my car if I wanted. During that visit a contract was signed so we both knew what each was to expect at the outcome of the sale, and Lin offered to bring in a reliable mover that she knew to clear out all the things that did not sell.

On the third visit, Lin and her husband Bill both came and they videotaped my entire home in order to better show my wares to her loyal web customers. At this time Lin put a price tag on everything and I asked her to price everything to sell as I knew I couldn’t take anything with me. She told me not to throw anything out including food as some customers bought that as well.

I moved out two days before the tag sale and, having met Lin and her husband three times already, I felt very confident that I was in good hands with Dusty Old Bag and that they would take care of everything for me without me actually having to be present. Lin, her husband and team ran the sale for two days and I returned to a completely empty and cleaned out house and didn’t have to do anything but collect the money left over from the proceeds.
At every step of the way Lin and Bill were very professional and knowledgeable about pricing and running the sale. I never had any hesitation that they were honest and upright in their business dealings. They were always on time for each appointment and treated my home and belongings with respect. Moving is never a good time because it is filled with stress and doubts and fears of the unknown, but Lin and Bill made it a pleasurable experience
CherylNovember 2015

Lin and Bill of Dusty Old Bag bring experience, know-how, and real professionalism to their work, and they get the job done. They conducted a two-day moving sale in our home: some furniture, lots of housewares and decor items, clothing, some collectibles, and a selection of my one-of-a-kind mosaic art. They set up the sale efficiently, priced the items to sell, and did an excellent job of marketing to their proprietary list of buyers and to the general public. Most importantly, they were dependable, easy to work with, and gave an honest and detailed accounting of the sales. I would definitely recommend Dusty Old Bag to anyone looking to downsize prior to a move.

Thanks again!

Rhonda Heisler
24 Alice Drive
Bloomfield, CT 06002
Home/Studio 860-969-6907
Mobile 609-731-6731
rhondaheisler@gmail.com RhondaSeptember 2015

Another successful sale by A Dusty Old Bag!
When I needed someone to conduct a tag sale, having attended dusty old bag sales, I knew they were the team I wanted.
Lin & Bill are professional, accommodating, knowledgeable and lots of fun!
I highly recommend them and will certainly follow their other sales.
Thank you so much for all your help and guidance. You are truly special people and may God bless you always.
Dee
PenningtonDeeSeptember 2015

Lin.... I would like to thank you for all the planning and effort you devoted to my estate sale.

Your previous experience in estate sales establishes you as a true professional.

I found you to be well organized and true to your word.

Every aspect of your effort was conducted “as promised”.

It was a pleasure working with you and Bill.

Please feel free to use me as a reference.

Dick
SomersetDick SomersetAugust 2015

I INTERVIEWED SEVERAL ESTATE SALE PROFESSIONALS BEFORE CHOOSING A DUSTY OLD BAG.

THERE WAS JUST SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT LIN THE DAY I MET HER.

BILL SAID “JUST LET ME DO MY THING” WHILE HE SET UP THE ITEMS FOR SALE AND WHEN I SAW HOW HE STAGED THE HOUSE, I KNEW I HAD MADE THE RIGHT DECISION.

THEY DELIVERED MORE THAN PROMISED AND KEPT ME IN THE LOOP AS THE SALE PROGRESSED WHEN THERE WERE BIDS OFFERED.

I HAVE ALREADY GIVEN THEIR CARDS OUT TO SEVERAL FRIENDS THAT ARE THINKING OF DOWNSIZING.

IT WAS SUCH A PLEASURE MEETING AND WORKING WITH THEM.

IT WAS BITTERSWEET SELLING MY HOME AFTER 34 YEARS,

BUT TIME TO GO AND THEY MADE THE PROCESS SO MUCH EASIER.
THANKS LIN AND BILL, I’LL KEEP IN TOUCH
Tracy and Bob
MendhamTracyAugust 2015

Dear Lin and Bill,

Thank you so much for all your help and amazing work in making our Estate sale a success. From the initial visit you explained the process and made us feel at ease that everything would be taken care of. When you showed up for the preparation day to price everything and get us organized we felt we weren’t ready for you and you assured us that you would have us in shape by the end of the day, and you did.

On the sale days we literally went to the beach and left everything in your hands without a worry in mind. You kept us informed and updated throughout the day and the process couldn’t have been any smoother.

You and your team really helped us get down to a manageable size as we are downsizing and had way too much stuff. We are able to pay for our move and a few additional services with the money made from the sale.

Robyn and I couldn’t be more happy. We also really appreciate Bill fixing a chair for us that wasn’t part of the sale and had a broken arm, above and beyond!!

Thanks again,

Eric and RobynEric and RobynSeptember 2015

Manalapan
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Estate Sale March 13 - 14 2015

Dear Lin, Bill and your team,

Thank you so much for all the hard work you put into conducting my sale.
Even though I was living over 1,000 miles away in another state, you made the process to sell the entire contents of my home I owned for 40+ years so simple.
I am amazed at how much time and effort goes into the marketing, organizing and de-cluttering.
Your patience and attention to detail was unwavering.
Taking the time to make sure "special" items were priced accordingly and going the extra mile to make the sale as successful as it was.
I have already started recommending you to all my friends.
You deserve all the kudos you receive.

Best regards,
Jeff JeffMarch 2015

My best friend needed to hire someone to help her clean out her basement and attic of 40+ years of extreme clutter and, alas, many memories.

I was over my friend's house when "A Dusty Old Bag" came over to meet with her and explain the process of an estate sale. We were greeted by the sweetest people
(Lin and Bill). They explained the whole process with such care and reassurance, all the while being down-to-earth and friendly. The integrity, honesty, and understanding of the emotional aspect of the situation could not have been better.

I was so impressed by what they were able to do in setting up, researching values for pricing and networking. They were consistently reassuring that everything was going to fine.

The workers were respectful of the property, making sure not to nick walls, doors and mouldings, or let straying buyer wander into areas off limits. They were honest, neat, and 100% true to their word and contract. They made a very emotionally trying and daunting clean up as efficient and non invasive of privacy as humanly possible. Phenomenal job well done!

I would recommend this company in a heart beat to anyone who has to have, it is even thinking about an estate sale. You couldn't be in better hands than with Lin and Bill!
Great people who do a great job!
Germaine GermaineFebruary 2015

Lin and Bill,

I want to thank you for all the hard work you did to make my tag sale a success. You are professional, knowledgeable,
organized and turned an overwhelming situation into a pleasant and profitable event.

I would recommend the 'A Dusty Old Bag' to anyone who needs to have an estate sale.

Blanche BlancheFebruary 2015

It's been a day, now, since the completion of our house sale. We moved from a larger house to a smaller apartment and knew we couldn't take everything with us. I reviewed several 'house sale' experts and decided on a "Dusty Old Bag" after I spoke with Lin for the first time. I was impressed by the fact that she wouldn't simply take our job over the phone, but rather wanted to do an onsite visit - to make sure the contents to be sold made sense --- in other words, she didn't want to take a job on, that might be too small to satisfy her or her customer. I really appreciated that!

Lin and Bill were consummate professionals - they showed up when they said they would; they did what they said they would and they were a a delight to work with! Bill even spent an afternoon with me, as we sold our dining room set prior to the sale -- he wanted to be there when the buyers showed up and didn't leave until after the buyers had figures out how to get everything in the van they brought!

I would recommend Lin and Bill, without reservation, for anyone that needs an estate or house sale professional. Honest, trustworthy and they definitely know their business! And, I found their prices to be very reasonable, besides.

Thank you, Lin and Bill - it was a pleasure working with you. We so appreciate all of your efforts on our behalf....and are delighted with the outcome of the sale!

----Stephanie and Michael
Short Hills NJStephanieJune 2016

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Dear Lin, it was such a pleasure to work with you on my recent estate sale. You were wonderful, caring, and efficient. You took care of everything from start to finish and made my transition to my new home so much easier because of this. The results you realized on my behalf were far and above my highest expectations! Thank you so much and I highly recommend anyone looking for a professional and caring person to handle the sale of their estate belongings to consider you FIRST!

Nancy
MetuchenNancy MetuchenSeptember 2016

A Dusty Old Bag estate sales came to me very highly recommended.

I felt at ease with Lin the first time we spoke.

She was honest and wanted to actually see the estate before agreeing to do our sale.

Lin and Bill did an amazing job and they are both very knowledgeable about pricing!!

Lin kept me involved with the preparation of the sale and the sale itself even though I lived out of state.

I would highly recommend them to anyone needing help with getting rid of an estate or downsizing.

They are simply the best and I wish they worked outside of New Jersey!

Julie

Belle MeadeJulie Belle MeadeDecember 2016

The prospect of downsizing from our five bedroom home to an already furnished FL home was daunting and keeping me awake at night! The entire process became streamlined once I contacted Lin and Bill. From our initial meeting, we were confident they would get the job done and I enjoyed a solid nights sleep for a change! Lin and Bill are consummate professionals and bring with them a team of enthusiastic and friendly workers. My husband and I were amazed at how much of our stuff sold, our end profit, and the fact that it was accomplished while we spent the sales days enjoying each other's company visiting some favorite sights.

We highly recommend The Dusty Old Bag without reservation.

Cindy and Andy

East Windsor, NJ
CindyNovember 2016

We had an excellent experience working with Linda, the President of
DUSTY OLD BAG, home estate sales. Linda and Bill provided a
professional and stress-free service to our family in helping our parents
sell the contents of their home. Linda is knowledgeable and gives a
realistic, estimated assessment value on both furniture, housewares, and personal items. She is honest and reliable.

We highly recommend Linda and her staff to come to your home and help you sell your treasured items. Linda will provide a safe and secure estate or content sale setting for your home.

Sincerely,

Joanne
Josephine
Kenilworth, New JerseyJosephineJanuary 2017

Brian & Jo

If you’re selling an estate or downsizing, these are the people to use. Lin and Bill are great to work with and relieve any anxiety you may have. They organize, research, and oversee every aspect of the sale and make sure they are fully staffed on sale days to get the job done right. They are also careful to handle your or a loved one’s possessions with care and respect.

They are extremely knowledgeable about pricing and bring a wealth of experience with them. The videos and photos are well organized and reflect what prospective buyers can expect at the home. And, while they run the sale, they work with you through every phase, consulting and listening to suggestions. They are also accessible, promptly returning calls and letting you know if there is anything that requires special attention. They can even suggest people to help clear out a home, if necessary, after a sale is completed.

Lin and Bill came very highly recommended and lived up to their reputation. We recommend them wholeheartedly.

Brian & Josephine

Rocky HillBrian & Josephine Rocky Hill NJOctober 2017

Dear Lin and Bill,

I write this email as a personal thank you and a testimonial to making my estate sale process easy, profitable and dare I say, fun?
I especially appreciate your business savvy and your direct approach to getting the job done in the best way possible. You delivered on every promise you made.
And, most of all, I appreciate you sharing your vast knowledge with me and expecting nothing in return except for mutual happiness and positive results.

Thank you again. I wish you and your family all the best and anytime you need a reference, do not hesitate to give my name out. It would be my pleasure, especially to be able to help other families in need!

Warm regards,
Stacie, Allie and Stef StacieNovember 2017

My father was a hobbyist, loved history and Americana, lived alone and... his home was full of stuff. Stuff that mattered deeply to me, but mostly stuff.
I painstakingly went through it all and was still struggling to find my way when I found Lin and Bill. The minute I met Lin, I knew her demeanor was perfect for the job. We worked together to get the home in order for a very successful sale. We had a few bumps, a few laughs, and I
couldn't have moved on without them. Lin and Bill were trustworthy, reliable and comfortable folks with whom to work. If you are looking for the people to tackle a tough job, who care, are realistic and "down to earth" - choose A Dusty Old Bag. Genevieve. South Plainfield

GenevieveOctober 2017

Hi Lin-I was so impressed by your professionalism and honesty that I just had to write you a note. I am going to take your advice and sign up with those websites you shared and have a "do it myself" type of sale. You could have easily pressured me to sign up and not share info to educate me-and yet you were so very open as to how the whole process works and what a client would need in order to make a sale worthwhile. I so appreciate that I met you. I told my mother and father about you and our talk and they wished they could have met you. I hope you are blessed with good health and happiness in the years ahead on behalf of your kindness towards families like mine.

I wish there were more people like you in business-I would love to work with someone like you. I know for sure ethical business owners are far and few between as I have been looking for part time work and I have turned down several offers as I could tell that the person was not a business person with heart like you!

I am glad our paths crossed Lin and I wish you, and those you love all good things ahead,
PamPamOctober 2017

Loved working with Lin, Bill & their whole team. All were professional, respectful and kind in our dealings with them. Our estate was multifaceted, with tools, farm equipment, antiques and household goods. Everything was handled very capably with little or no stress for me and excellent results of the sale. My highest compliments on Dusty Old Bags' communication with us, experience and honesty. Joanne, Freehold

JoanneSeptember 2017

It is always a challenge allowing anybody, let alone a stranger, come into your home, look at your possessions, and assess their value. Any hesitation I may have felt with this process quickly disappeared when I met Lin, who never felt like a stranger. Her honesty, her down-to-earth nature, and her ease with people made what could have been a difficult process very easy. Lin accommodated our relatively short time frame, organized our items, determined values, and personally handled every aspect of our sale. While she does not do "clean-outs", her referral to a trusted company, made things even more simple for us. I would, without hesitation recommend Lin and her husband/partner Bill (who also assisted in the process) for your Estate Sale needs. It is really like having a friend in the business!
Linda

Linda

LindaSeptember 2017

We had no idea how to go about holding an estate sale. Our loved ones had many collections and vintage items that they had enjoyed for decades. We knew it would be difficult to part with them and all the furniture and household items. In fact, it was overwhelming! We didn’t even know where to begin. Luckily, we found the website for A Dusty Old Bag on the internet. From the minute we met Lin, we knew would be in good hands. She and her husband Bill took their time, examined everything, and told us exactly we could expect. They made many suggestions, but never pushed. The sale was scheduled for a holiday weekend, which made us a little skeptical, but they were right! Then they posted a video and photos of most items on their website and sent announcements in their newsletters. They have a great team that organized and set up everything before the sale. During the sale, the team rearranged items and kept the sale moving. The entire process ran smoothly. It was amazing! Lin and Bill are knowledgeable and reliable professionals who are also relaxed and friendly. They even suggested ways we could dispose of items that were left after the sale. We highly recommend A Dusty Old Bag for estate sales and downsizing needs. They’re a great company to work with!

Donna and John - Milltown, NJdonna and john milltownJanuary 2023