Treasure Finders help people with grieving process

When a loved one dies, grieving takes time.

So does going through that loved one’s possessions. Treasure Finders, a regionally based Estate and Tag Sales business, helps people in Newton and Jasper County with the grieving process in their own way.

Jeff Settell, who started Treasure Finders, said a lot of his clients are from out of state, people who have loved ones who have passed away but don’t have time to take care of their possessions.

“It’s a step up above a garage sale,” Settell said. “Sometimes I tell people if there’s a small household, you can do better by your own garage sale and having us come in and do the work for you. But a lot of people say, ‘I’ve done garage sales and it’s too much work.’”

Settell said an estate sale usually means entering the home and cleaning it up. During this process they pull everything out of the cupboards and closets and sort out items that can’t be sold. They then price all the items and place them on display.

“As opposed to people going to an auction, where they have to stand all day to wait and bid they can just pick up something and not overpay,” Settell said.

After 1 p.m., all the items in the sale go down in price. Settell said customers run the risk of the item being gone if they wait for the bargain, though.

Settell said they do about six sales per year. He got the idea for the business from attending similar sales in the Des Moines area. Settell said he enjoys operating the estate sales more than he does his first job.

“The public’s a challenge from time to time, you know, working with the public,” Settell said. “Families are a challenge from time to time because they have a hard time giving things up that were their parents or they have a hard time seeing things walk out the door.”

Settell said his business has a steady following online and they have regulars who attend their sales. With the season of sales coming to a close this fall, Settell said he’s ready for next season.