HOUSTON – Houston homeowners are out thousands of dollars and missing valuables after they hired a local estate sale company.
KPRC 2 News first reported about the business in 2013.
Consumer expert Amy Davis has an update.
Cindy Wertz's Tomball home is a wreck. Her furniture is stacked up, shoved into rooms and piled high. Wertz hopes that she'll ever see the money from an estate sale she had at the house are low.
"I couldn't tell you what's missing, what we have, because it doesn't make any sense what they've done," Wertz said, referring to the mess left behind.
Wertz hired Rena and Phil Head, of An Elegant Estate Sale, to help clear out the home she once shared with her ex-husband. But after three days of sales, instead of revenue, Wertz said she saw red flags.
"This is where they camped out," Wertz showed Davis in the master bedroom. "This is my mattress, but they slept here."
Wertz said the Heads moved workers into the house. They ran up an $800 electric bill and made themselves at home.
"It was just full of beer," Wertz said, opening the refrigerator. "They were having a party at night."
It was enough to make Wertz change her mind and her locks. Eight months later, she hasn't seen a dime. She's also missing keys to furniture and even the doors to her kitchen cabinets.
"I have no idea where they're at," she told Davis.
Channel 2 Investigates discovered Wertz is not alone.
"She took it all. She took everything," said Linda McSwain.
McSwain contracted with the Heads to sell her aging parent's belongings in August. What was their cut of the proceeds five months later?
"Nothing," said McSwain. "My parents didn't receive a dime. They haven't received anything."
Virgina Brown hired the Heads after her husband died.
"She said, 'I think y'all have about $40,000 to 50,000 here,'" Brown recalled of her conversation with Rena Head.
But Brown said she's only received $3,000.
"This is probably the most egregious one in recent memory," said Susan Schade, of the Houston Better Business Bureau.
Schade said Rena Head used to give the same response to every customer complaint.
"Everything is 'Check the contract. It's in the contract.' But when you look at the cases that we have, we find that some of the things that are supposedly in the contract were pieces that were never listed," Schade explained.
There are no regulations or laws governing estate sales and no licensing requirements.
KPRC 2 News told you three years ago that both Rena and Phil Head have criminal records. Rena Head was convicted of running an illegal game room in 2006.
Phil Head is on parole until 2039 for selling bogus annuities and trusts to senior citizens, taking more than $200,000. As part of his parole, he is required to tell any potential employers about his crimes if applying for a job with any kind of financial responsibility.
In 2013, KPRC 2 News asked Rena about that.
"Should he be here helping with this business?" Davis asked Rena Head.
"Why not?" Rena Head asked.
"I'm just asking in light of his crimes dealing with money," Davis said.
"He's not dealing with the money. I'm dealing with the money," Rena Head responded.
But several customers said Phil Head does handle the money. They have filed complaints with the parole board.
Rena Head refused to talk with Channel 2 Investigates for this story. She told Davis her attorney would be calling, but no one ever did.
Before hiring an estate sale company, consumers should inventory everything in the home of value. And if the homeowner can't be there, always leave someone who is trusted at the home during the sale.
For those who have seen Rena or Phil Head, let KPRC 2 News know. We'd like to talk with them on camera.
Anyone who is missing money or belongings from an estate sale with Heads' company, the Harris County District Attorney's Office would like to hear from you at 713-274-5555.