How It Works
How the Estate Sale Process Works, Step by Step
Five steps
From First Call to Broom-Swept Home
- 1
Free walkthrough and consultation
We visit the home, listen to what is going on, and do a walk through with the family to look at the contents. You do not need to sort or clean anything first.
- 2
A clear recommendation
We explain the options and help the family decide which one best fits their needs: Estate Sale, Estate Buyout, Online Estate Auction, Estate Cleanout, or a combination, and how our commission is determined for your estate.
- 3
Sorting, pricing, and preparation
Once the family decides what it wants to keep, those items are set aside. Then, for a sale, we organize, stage, price household contents, and conduct the sale.
- 4
The sale, buyout, or auction
We handle the work of selling, so the family does not have to manage buyers or crowds. If the family decides on a buyout option, we simply give them the money and we take care of the rest.
- 5
Broom-swept handoff
When an Estate Cleanout is part of the plan, the home is cleared and left broom-swept and ready for the next step.
Before we visit
How to Prepare for the Walkthrough
Leave things as they are. Please do not throw anything away yet, because items that might seem like clutter can still have value to someone else. Set aside anything the family is keeping, gather any hard dates/deadlines you are working around, and let us know who else is involved, such as an executor, attorney, or real estate agent.
Decision guide
Estate Sale, Buyout, Auction, or Cleanout: Which Is Right?
The right option depends on what is in the home, how much time you have, and how involved you want to be. Many projects combine two, such as a sale followed by a cleanout.
Not sure? That is what the free walkthrough is for. We will tell you plainly what we think fits.
Pricing, honestly
What Affects the Cost of an Estate Sale or Cleanout
When it comes to dealing with an estate, there is no "one size fits all" equation. We do not publish a flat rate because no two homes are alike, and a number quoted before anyone has seen the house would not be fair to you. Our commission is determined after a walkthrough, based on the estate. These are the things we take into consideration:
- Volume of contents
- A full house with decades of belongings takes more preparation than a partly emptied home.
- Types of items
- Furniture, collectibles, tools, and everyday household goods each call for different handling and pricing.
- Sorting and staging
- How much organizing, cleaning, and arranging is needed before anything can be shown or sold.
- House size and access
- Square footage, stairs, basements, outbuildings, and parking all shape the work.
- Timeline
- A firm closing or move date can change which approach makes the most sense.
- Cleanout afterward
- Whether the home also needs to be cleared and left broom-swept once the sale or buyout is done.
After the free walkthrough, we explain what we would recommend and why, so you can make an informed decision with the full picture. No pressure and no obligation.