Col. Dorothy Schaffer Auction, Estate Sale, and Appraisal Service Serving the greater St. Louis, Missouri area

About Me

    Hi, I'm Col. Dorothy Schaffer, I have been buying and selling antiques and personal property for the past 30 years. I have sold at antique shows, auctions, flea markets, and at estate tag sales. In 1998, after 14 years, I closed my antique store in Eureka, MO. I now devote my time to tag sales, appraisals, and auctions, including real estate auctions.

     I have been tested and certified as an Appraiser by the Certified Appraisers Guild of America (C.A.G.A.). I have graduated from the Missouri Auction School*. I am a licensed auctioneer in the State of Missouri License # 4952, and I'm also a member of the National and Missouri Professional Auctioneers Associations.

    What I can do for you :

•  Certified or verbal appraisals

•  Auctions including: estate, antique consignment, charity, real estate, and business liquidations

•  Estate or moving (tag) sales

•  I will also buy your complete estate, or just one item, if that is what you would like.

     Many people ask what the "Col." stands for in front of my name. During the Civil War period, and after, only Colonels in the army were authorized to hold auctions. This title of Colonel was continued long after the war by auctioneers and is a carryover yet today. Today the title is given to graduates upon graduating from auctioneering school.

 *People from around the world attend the Missouri Auction School. It is the oldest and ranked as the best.

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Certified Appraisals

The descriptions and values made by a certified accredited appraiser assures technical accuracy and appropriate market level valuation. There are many purposes and uses for an appraisal.

• Insurance: To prove irrefutable possession at the date of valuation, provide needed protection in the event of a loss, and to assist in establishing proper insurance coverage. 
• Estate Planning: To clarify questions of property value, facilitate the disposition of estate tax reporting requirements, assist heirs with distribution property; to assist financial planners and related professionals in establishing client net worth, and as a basis for judicious estate planning.
• Property Division: To assist attorneys and their clients in matters of equitable distribution. 
• Related Insurance Matters: To assist adjusters by properly identifying and valuing property in damage/loss matters to facilitate claim settlements and avoid disputes. 
• Donations: To assist the donor in obtaining accurate, documented valuations which meet Federal requirements and will be accepted by the Internal Revenue Service.
• General Use: To assist anyone wanting to know what a property is, and what it is worth.

Our Credo

We assure our clients of confidential, reputable, customized service that can be relied on. Offering years of client association experience, we are uniquely qualified to meet your appraisal needs. We stand by our work and invite your inquiries.

Service and Fees

Appraisers-Specialists are qualified to appraise all personal property: antiques, decorative arts, furniture, household goods, porcelain, silver and collectables.

Fees are charged at an hourly, per diem or fixed arrangement. Our fee includes inspection, a written appraisal, and research if necessary. Two complete written reports with pictures is given to the client. 

We also give verbal appraisals if you request it, that do not include written appraisal reports. 

A written appraisal by anyone should include:

• Type of value being determined

• Detailed description of the property being valued

• Analysis of the factors affecting value

• Date of valuation, inspection and report

• Adherence to a professional code of ethics: (C.A.G.A.) and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP)

• The appraisers qualifications

• Statement of financial disinterest and fee policy

• Any relevant limiting conditions

• Appraisers certification and signature

Basic Fact:

How can you protect what you own if you don't know what it is worth?

A written certified appraisal is a legal document as important as a will and is the only way to accurately value and describe the property. A properly prepared appraisal by a certified, accredited appraiser will clarify questions of property value in any circumstances. 

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Estate (tag) Sales

Click here for upcoming sale May 17 & 18

We hold complete estate sales that are held on the premises with all items individually tagged, priced, cleaned and repaired if needed, and attractively displayed.

 Extensive local advertising is done, along with e-mail notification to over 680 buyers who have requested notice of our sales.

We also offer our web page which includes a description of the estate contents, up to 50 pictures, the date, location, and time of the sale. 

We also conduct eBay auctions for outstanding and high end items when warranted.

We offer both public and private sales. Services are tailored to meet the need for the client. Our service is confidential, professional, and sensitive to the customer or family members. All sales are offered on a straight commission basis.

Besides the liquidation of an entire Estate, many of our sales are also held for people down-sizing or moving to another location.

   "Losing a loved one is a difficult time in everyone's life.  Leave the arduous task of liquidating the possessions of a loved one to a professional. Allow me to give you the information you need to help you decide what is best for you."

    We offer free, no obligation on-site consultations to help you with your decision. Please give us a call to set up an appointment at 636-938-1337 or  314-843-8479

TESTIMONIALS

   "I want to thank you for your invaluable assistance in holding the sale for my mothers estate. Your tireless efforts to research, arrange, display, and price the nearly endless amount of items in mom's house was greatly appreciated. The website was great and the pictures gave everyone a good sense of the enormous amount of items to be sold. The turnout was fantastic due in great part to your reputation, and marketing of the sale. Thanks again for all your fine efforts, and for being so pleasant to work with in such a trying situation for my family.".... Sam Craig

     "You did an absolutely fabulous job with my mom's sale!  Despite the sheer volume of items, everything was set up beautifully and priced properly - your knowledge base in that regard is remarkable.  Your marketing was exceptional which I know brought a lot more people to the sale than normal. Mostly I appreciated your energy and honesty throughout the process.  It was a great pleasure working with you - I give my highest recommendation for your services.".... Wendy Stout

   "Your expertise, knowledge of the market, publicity skills, and energetic preparation for the sale were outstanding! We are convinced we netted considerably more from the sale than if we had spent the hours and hours of hard work to conduct the sale ourselves. I strongly recommend your services to anyone who needs an estate or moving sale.".... Les Daniels

    "Dorothy showed particular skill in knowing the value of the wide range of items we had. The results of the sale were excellent. Every item was sold or donated to charity and moved from the premises-on the day of the sale-a critical requirement for us in the closing of the sale of our house. She sent the proceeds to us in Arizona by guaranteed check the next day. We heartily recommend her. This service is what we had hoped for, but frankly was concerned anyone could provide."......Connie and Steve O'Neill

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Contact Us 

     e-mail-schaff123@earthlink.net            

              Or call us at - 314-843-8479 or 636-938-1337.                 

Col. Dorothy Schaffer

St. Louis, MO.

Professionally serving all your Auction, Appraisal, and Estate Sale needs.

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This site designed and maintained by Jim Schaffer

copyright 1999