General Service Terms

These general terms describe the framework Haul and Found uses for estate sales, cleanouts, downsizing, and direct buyouts. They apply to a project only to the extent they are incorporated into or consistent with the written proposal or service agreement signed for that project. The signed project agreement controls if there is a conflict.

1. Customer authority

The customer represents that the customer owns the property and contents or has legal authority from the owner, estate, trust, landlord, court, personal representative, or other authorized person to approve the requested services. The customer is responsible for resolving ownership disputes, liens, beneficiary claims, landlord-tenant issues, probate restrictions, or competing instructions before work begins.

2. Scope and change orders

Haul and Found performs only the work identified in the written proposal or agreement. Added rooms, added contents, changed deadlines, special handling, extra trips, restricted access, or work not reasonably visible during the walkthrough may require a revised price or written change order. Added charges require customer approval except emergency costs allowed by the agreement and applicable law.

3. Pricing, deposits, and payment

Fees, commissions, minimums, deposits, due dates, accepted payment methods, reimbursable expenses, and settlement timing are stated in the project agreement. Website pricing is informational. A deposit or reservation payment is refundable or nonrefundable only as stated in the signed agreement and subject to any cancellation right required by law.

4. Estate-sale commission and accounting

When compensation is based on a percentage of gross merchandise sales, “gross merchandise sales” means the total selling price of merchandise sold during the authorized sale period before commission deductions, excluding sales tax collected from purchasers unless the project agreement states a different lawful calculation. Authorized expenses, customer proceeds, commission, adjustments, and tax treatment are shown in the post-sale accounting under the signed agreement.

5. Merchandise pricing and discounts

The customer authorizes Haul and Found to research, tag, price, merchandise, group, discount, and negotiate sale items within the discretion stated in the project agreement. No specific selling price, sale total, or sell-through percentage is guaranteed. Informal resale observations are business estimates, not certified appraisals.

6. Michigan sales tax

Taxable retail sales are handled in accordance with applicable Michigan law. Sales tax collected from shoppers is not customer sale proceeds and is not included in commission calculations unless the signed agreement expressly states a lawful different treatment. Purchasers claiming exemption must provide acceptable exemption documentation.

7. Customer removals and excluded property

Before setup begins, the customer should identify and remove personal papers, medications, financial records, keys, family photographs, jewelry, cash, firearms, documents of title, and any item not authorized for sale or removal. After setup begins, customer or family removal of merchandise requires coordination because removals affect inventory, staging, advertising, staffing, and expected proceeds.

8. Regulated, hazardous, or specialty items

Haul and Found may refuse hazardous materials, chemicals, biohazards, regulated waste, controlled substances, prescription medications, illegal property, firearms or ammunition, titled vehicles, safes, fuels, asbestos-containing material, or any item requiring licensing, permits, testing, specialized disposal, or handling outside the approved scope. Lawful specialist arrangements may be required.

9. Cleanouts and disposal

A cleanout includes only the areas and materials stated in the proposal. Disposal, dumpster, landfill, recycling, donation, hauling, labor, and third-party charges are included only when the agreement says they are included. Work may stop when undisclosed hazardous material, unsafe conditions, structural concerns, infestation, utilities, aggressive animals, or unlawful property create a safety or legal concern.

10. Donations

Donation is subject to acceptance by the receiving organization. Haul and Found does not determine charitable tax value and does not promise a tax deduction. The customer should obtain tax advice about deductibility and documentation when needed.

11. Direct buyouts

A buyout is a direct purchase by Haul and Found, not a consignment. The customer is free to reject an offer. Unless the written buyout states otherwise, title to accepted items transfers when the agreed purchase price is paid and possession is transferred. Offers reflect condition, demand, expected resale value, labor, transport, storage, selling expense, and resale risk.

12. No online consignment

Haul and Found does not accept customer-owned property for online consignment under the standard service model. Any item purchased by Haul and Found through a written buyout becomes Haul and Found property under the buyout terms.

13. Public sale access and shopper rules

Authorized estate sales involve public access to designated property areas. Haul and Found may use reasonable entry limits, staffing procedures, restricted areas, signs, checkout procedures, and shopper rules for safety and property protection. General shopper policies are published separately and sale-specific posted rules control when they differ.

14. Access, utilities, permits, and property restrictions

The customer must provide lawful access and disclose known alarms, surveillance systems, building rules, condominium or association rules, parking restrictions, occupancy issues, utility interruptions, permit requirements, unsafe conditions, or other restrictions. Responsibility for a required local approval or permit will be identified in the project agreement when known.

15. Security and valuables

The customer should remove excluded valuables and sensitive materials before setup or public access. Responsibility for loss, damage, theft, or property protection is governed by the signed agreement and applicable law.

16. Photography and advertising

For an authorized estate sale, the customer permits reasonable photographs and descriptions of sale merchandise and the property areas necessary to advertise the sale. Haul and Found will avoid intentionally publishing private records or information not reasonably needed for the sale. A sale address may be published when needed to direct customers to an authorized public sale.

17. Third-party providers

Haul and Found may recommend or coordinate dumpsters, movers, recyclers, donation organizations, disposal facilities, licensed trades, appraisers, auctioneers, towing providers, or other specialists. Responsibility for third-party charges and contracts is identified in the project agreement.

18. Scheduling and cancellation

Any reserved date, cancellation fee, rescheduling fee, refund rule, or deposit term must be stated in the signed project agreement. Nothing in Haul and Found's terms limits a cancellation or cooling-off right required by Michigan or federal law.

19. Michigan home-solicitation cancellation rights

If a transaction qualifies as a home solicitation sale under Michigan law, the customer receives the cancellation notice and instructions required by law with the applicable contract. The website itself is not the statutory cancellation notice. Where the Michigan Home Solicitation Sales Act applies, the statutory right controls over inconsistent contract language.

20. Delays outside reasonable control

Weather, utility failure, government action, unsafe conditions, illness, casualty, building restrictions, road closures, third-party failure, or other events outside reasonable control may require rescheduling or modification. The project agreement governs resulting scheduling, costs, or refunds.

21. No legal, tax, probate, appraisal, environmental, or licensed-trade services

Haul and Found provides estate-sale, cleanout, downsizing, and buyout services. Unless separately stated in writing and lawfully provided, Haul and Found does not provide legal advice, probate representation, tax advice, fiduciary services, real-estate brokerage, certified appraisal services, environmental remediation, moving-company services, or licensed trade work.

22. Applicable law and nonwaivable rights

The parties' rights and obligations are governed by the signed project agreement and applicable law. A provision found unenforceable should be limited only to the extent necessary. Nothing in the agreement eliminates a consumer right or remedy that law does not permit the parties to waive.

23. Entire project agreement

The signed proposal, service agreement, incorporated exhibits, approved change orders, and any legally required notices form the project agreement. Oral discussions and website descriptions do not change signed terms unless the parties confirm the change in writing.

Contact

Questions about service terms may be sent to jamesmagee.48066@gmail.com.