Frequently Asked Questions

*** WE'RE SORRY - THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION & DOES NOT APPLY TO CURRENT SALES  

What is a Demolition Sale?
Who shops at Demolition Sales?
How much do the items cost at the Demolition Sales?
How do I learn about Coastal Habitat's upcoming Demolition Sales?
Who is responsible for removing purchased items?

Is my home appropriate for a Demolition Sale?
What is the homeowner responsible for?
Can I donate a portion of my home?
What is the time frame for vacating the home?
How does a Demolition Sale work for the homeowner?
Who benefits from a Demolition Sale?
What does Coastal Habitat do in regards to the actual sale?
What happens the day of the sale?
What happens after the sale?
Why donate the home I plan to demolish to Coastal Habitat?

What is a Demolition Sale?
Coastal Habitat’s Demolition Sales - similar to yard sales - are one-day public sales in which items in a home immediately prior to its demolition (windows, doors, cabinets, appliances, floor coverings, trim, architectural details, landscaping, decking, pavers, piping, fixtures, lighting, etc.) are sold and removed by the purchaser the same day.  Sales exclude anything the homeowner has noted in advance.  Read the Asbury Park Press article about Coastal Habitat sales.
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Who shops at Demolition Sales?
Individuals repairing or renovating a home, architectural salvage fans, contractors and just about anyone else who can retrofit construction and landscaping materials into a new location. Sale sites have no electric power.
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How much do the items cost at the Demolition Sales?
Items are sold for pennies on the dollar.  One-hundred percent of the proceeds from the sales stay local and benefit Coastal Monmouth County.
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How do I learn about Coastal Habitat's upcoming Demolition Sales?
The most simple way is to sign up for the Demolition Sale email list.  Specific sale addresses are never published until the morning of the sale.  Photos of key merchandise for each sale will be posted on the Current Sale page at least a week in advance.  There are no private previews.  The sale is solely on the day scheduled.
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Who is responsible for removing purchased items?
Due to new insurance regulations, only Coastal Habitat employees or the homeowner's representative may disassemble items from the property.  Customers are responsible for carrying and loading purchased merchandise.  Sale sites have no electric power.

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Is my home appropriate for a Demolition Sale?
Most likely yes, if you are planning on tearing it down.  In rare cases, homes that are in exceptionally poor condition have little to salvage / sell and will be respectfully declined based on volunteer’s experience with these sales.  A Coastal Habitat Demolition Sale committee member is happy to discuss specific details further.  Review the Donate My Home or Kitchen page for more information.
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What is the homeowner responsible for?
Our volunteers make every effort to ensure the preparation for and the actual sale is as simple as possible for the homeowner.  That said, the committee asks that the homeowner (or contractor) return a letter to the organization confirming donation of house to CHFH, turn off all utilities (water, electric, gas), obtain demolition permit (not necessary for the sale) and identify items that will be excluded from the sale.  As well, the organization appreciates any an all assistance in advance disassembling items from the property. Review the Donate My Home or Kitchen page for more information.
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Can I donate a portion of my home?
In some cases, the Demolition Sale committee will conduct kitchen sales, which include cabinets, countertops, appliances, etc.  The homeowner is responsible for removing cabinets.  Please contact a volunteer committee member at DemoSales@CoastalHabitat.org to discuss how this type of sale is run.
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What is the time frame for vacating the home?
We suggest that homeowners vacate the home at least one to two weeks prior to the sale and that all utilities be turned off at that time.  The address of the home / sale site is never made public until the morning of the sale.  Advertising and promotion directs customers to this website for an address alert the morning-of the sale.
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How does a Demolition Sale work for the homeowner?
The homeowner will identify and list all items that will not be included in the sale.  The actual sale date (usually a Saturday) is determined between the homeowner and Coastal Habitat’s team.  Due to insurance regulations the homeowner or a Coastal Habitat employee are the only people allowed to disassemble merchandise from the property.
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Who benefits from a Demolition Sale?
Everyone, really!  Since 1994, Coastal Habitat has diverted millions of tons of debris from landfills and given a new life to almost-new and sought-after vintage construction materials.  Over the years, we have met many homeowners who tell us they could not have completed such beautiful and architecturally consistent renovations if it were not for the merchandise they purchased at Demolition Sales.  As well, homeowners who donate their homes for sales receive a donation confirmation letter for tax purposes.  Finally, the revenue generated from these sales support Coastal Habitat’s mission of repairing, rebuilding and restoring Coastal Monmouth County post-Superstorm Sandy and the construction of affordable housing.
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What does Coastal Habitat do in regards to the actual sale?
The organization’s volunteer Demolition Sale committee will:  price all items, promote / advertise the sale (at the organization’s expense), obtain a sale permit (if applicable), obtain liability insurance covering the day of the sale and manage the sale.
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What happens the day of the sale?
Coastal Habitat’s volunteer team’s work begins weeks prior to the sale with marketing and advertising.  The day of the sale, the address of the home is published for the first and only time on the organization’s website (CoastalHabitat.org/DemoSales) and an alert is distributed via email to more than 3,000 Demolition Sale customers.  The address is removed later the same day.  A sale usually begins at 9 am on Saturday. Homeowners are not present during the sale.
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What happens after the sale?
When the sale is over, the property reverts back to the homeowner and is ready for demolition.  In very rare cases the city or town may require doors and windows to be boarded until the actual demolition.  The building inspector will advise the homeowner of this when the demolition permit is issued.
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Why donate the home I plan to demolish to Coastal Habitat?
There are many answers to this question however the most simple is summed up in three words – “WIN-WIN-WIN”: less waste in landfills, items are recycled into new homes and there is a potential tax benefit for the homeowner. Revenue generated from Demolition Sales stay local and directly impacts the Coastal Monmouth County community through the organization’s Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative programs, construction projects, homeowner education and more.
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