Front, property at 68th and Dune Drive, Avalon sold for $14 million and will be demolished. Left, Residents Lynn and Lee Spangler, left, buy a mug from sales extraordinaire Lois McClure who liquidates the contents of buildings slated for demolition. Photo

AVALON — Imagine buying a decadent beachfront home, selling everything down to the walls, then demolishing it to build an even larger double-lot home.

On Feb. 16-17, Lois McClure, a woman of many talents including the ability to speak backwards, held a “whole-house sale” selling everything imaginable from 68th and Dune Drive.

It was much more than a yard sale. Visitors were able to walk through and select furniture, decorations, appliances and even kitchenware.

Large items are marked as sold until the end of the sale but most was taken immediately. The home looked like a place most people would love to own, not tear down. During the sale rugs, drapes, patio furniture, windows, doors and numerous items are sold to strip the house before demolition. The double-lot property sold for $14 million.

Code Enforcement Official Paul Short said it is not unusual to see homes here sell for double-digit millions. Short said the owner is able to build as long as there is a demolition permit, plans conforming to setback, height, coverage and the like, and a CAFRA permit. Once the demolition permit is issued, and gas and electric turned off, there is a three-day window when McClure literally sells everything and the kitchen sink.

“This is recycling on a major scale for those who are not able to afford these things at regular price. Uneducated consumers are paying until the year 2020 with compound interest,” McClure said. “I feel like a vessel between the haves and the have nots.”
Previous owners who include the items with the property leave the contents. The owner already prices most items however if McClure thinks the asking price is too high she will take bids for the owner to decide upon.

“I watch the interest of the consumer but I never want to disadvantage the person who has hired me,” McClure said.

McClure works directly with Realtors who inform her of houses in need of liquidation. The owner may not share the previous owner’s taste so McClure creates an estimate and clears the house out within two to three days.

“I can liquidate a three story house within 24 hours,” McClure said.

Resident Pat Galante said she has been to many of McClure’s sales and has bought beautiful items. Some of McClure’s regular customers bring her bottled-water and bags.

“She is very fair and she understands the value of things. She sells high-quality items at a fair price and she moves things quickly,” resident Lee Spangler said.

“We can find everything from a Boston Whaler to stocking stuffers,” he said holding a Garfield (the cat) mug.

Spangler and wife Lynn have been to countless sales and bought a set of antique furniture through McClure.

McClure said she advertised through nine area papers and contacted people from far and wide to buy secondhand.

McClure has been in business for herself liquidating houses for 34 years. Her first sale was done as a favor for a friend.

She said the sales are popular in California and she brought the idea to Cape May County. McClure said her reputation is very important to her. She has lectured on collectibles to the U.S. Coast Guard, Italian American Club, and Riverford Renaissance Club in Millville.

Her knowledge of antiques and collectibles combined with her integrity make her an ideal seller.

“There isn’t a town in Cape May County I haven’t been to liquidate,” she said.

McClure said the leftovers usually go toward charities at the owner’s discretion.

As two movers carried a dishwasher out the front door McClure said, “Watch the door: it's already sold.”

Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 Ext 24 or at: ltruluck @cmcherald.com.