Find Estate Sale Companies Near You
Estate sale companies typically sell 60-80% of a home's contents in a single weekend. They handle pricing, marketing, staffing, and cleanup. Most charge 30-50% commission on total sales — you keep the rest.
Free to search · Local companies · No obligation
$5K-$50K
Typical estate sale revenue
30-50%
Standard commission
1-2 weeks
Setup time
2-3 days
Sale duration
Hiring an estate sale company is the fastest way to convert a deceased loved one's belongings into cash for the estate. Unlike an estate cleanout (which removes items), an estate sale sells the contents — turning furniture, jewelry, tools, and collectibles into proceeds the family can use to settle bills or distribute among heirs.
How much does an estate sale company charge?
Most charge 30-50% commission on gross sales. On a $15,000 estate sale, the company keeps $4,500-$7,500 and you keep $7,500-$10,500. Some charge a flat fee instead (typically $1,500-$5,000). Commission-based is standard and usually better value.
How much do estate sales make?
Average estate sale: $5,000-$15,000 in gross revenue. Well-furnished homes with antiques, collectibles, or quality furniture: $15,000-$50,000+. Modest homes with mostly everyday items: $2,000-$8,000. The company handles pricing to maximize total revenue.
How long does an estate sale take?
Setup: 1-2 weeks (company inventories, prices, photographs, and markets items). Sale: 2-3 days (typically Friday-Sunday). Cleanup: 1-3 days after sale. Total process: 2-4 weeks from hiring to completion.
How Estate Sales Work — Step by Step
- Initial consultation (free). Company visits the home, assesses contents, estimates total sale value, and proposes terms.
- Contract signing. You sign an agreement specifying commission rate, sale dates, what's included/excluded, and what happens to unsold items.
- Setup (1-2 weeks). Company sorts, cleans, prices, photographs, and stages every item — organizing the home like a retail store with pricing stickers, category tables, and high-value items prominently displayed.
- Marketing. Company advertises on EstateSales.net, EstateSales.org, Craigslist, local Facebook groups, email lists, and sometimes newspaper classifieds. Good companies have their own following of regular buyers.
- Sale days (2-3 days). Company staffs the sale with employees who handle transactions, answer questions, negotiate, and prevent theft. Day 1 is full price, Day 2 is 25-50% off, Day 3 is "everything must go."
- Settlement. Company totals all sales, deducts commission, and pays the estate. Unsold items are donated, hauled away, or left for the family per the contract.
- Cleanup. Company removes signage, disposes of unsold items per agreement, and leaves the home empty or near-empty.
5 Ways to Find Estate Sale Companies Near You
1. EstateSales.net
The largest estate sale directory in the US. Search by ZIP, see upcoming sales by local companies, read reviews, view photos of past sales. This is where serious estate sale companies list their upcoming sales — if a company isn't on EstateSales.net, that's a yellow flag.
How to use: Go to EstateSales.net → "Find Companies" → enter ZIP → browse companies with past sale photos and reviews.
Best for: Finding established, reputable companies with track records.
Search EstateSales.net →2. EstateSales.org
Similar directory to EstateSales.net. Some companies list on one but not the other. Worth checking both. Best for: Backup search if EstateSales.net doesn't have enough options locally.
3. Angi
Vetted contractor marketplace. Search for "estate sales" in your ZIP. Fewer estate-sale-specific companies than EstateSales.net, but contractors are background-checked and insured. Best for: If you want the vetting and insurance verification Angi provides.
Find Estate Sale Companies on Angi →4. Ask your funeral director or estate attorney
Funeral directors and estate attorneys work with bereaved families constantly. They know the reputable local estate sale companies. Best for: Personal recommendation from a trusted professional.
5. Local Facebook groups
Search Facebook for "[your city] estate sales" groups. Many local companies are active in these groups, posting upcoming sales. You can also ask members for recommendations. Best for: Small-town areas where formal directories have few listings.
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How Estate Sale Companies Charge
Commission-based (most common): Company takes 30-50% of gross sales. You keep 50-70%. Example: $15,000 in total sales × 35% commission = company gets $5,250, estate gets $9,750. Advantage: Company is incentivized to maximize sales. Disadvantage: High-value estates pay a lot in commission.
Flat fee: Company charges $1,500-$5,000 regardless of how much sells. Advantage: Predictable cost. Better value for high-value estates. Disadvantage: Company has less incentive to maximize sales.
Hybrid (commission with minimum): Company charges commission OR a minimum fee, whichever is higher. Example: 35% commission with $2,000 minimum. If the sale only generates $4,000, company gets $2,000 (not $1,400). Advantage: Protects company on low-value estates while keeping incentive alignment.
Buy-out: Company offers a flat amount to buy the entire contents outright. Example: $8,000 for everything in the house. You get $8,000 guaranteed. They resell items for whatever they can get. Advantage: Instant cash, zero risk, fastest option. Disadvantage: You'll get MUCH less than items are worth (typically 20-40% of retail value).
For most families: commission-based at 35% is the industry standard and usually the best value. The company works harder to sell more because they earn more. Only consider flat fee if the estate is very high value ($50,000+) or buy-out if you need immediate cash and don't care about maximizing proceeds.
What Sells Best (and What Doesn't)
High-value items that sell well:
- Antique furniture (pre-1960s solid wood)
- Jewelry (especially gold, silver, diamonds)
- Art and framed prints (signed originals, lithographs)
- Collectibles (coins, stamps, baseball cards, vinyl records, vintage toys)
- Quality tools (power tools, hand tools, workshop equipment)
- Kitchenware (cast iron, Le Creuset, copper, quality knives)
- China and crystal (Waterford, Lenox, Royal Doulton)
- Firearms (if legally handled)
- Musical instruments
- Vintage clothing and accessories
Items that sell moderately:
- Modern furniture (IKEA and similar: low resale)
- Electronics (low value, depreciates fast)
- Books (unless rare/first editions)
- Linens and bedding
- Holiday decorations
- Garden tools and equipment
Items that rarely sell:
- Mattresses (health regulations prevent resale in many states)
- Old TVs (CRT/tube TVs — no market)
- Encyclopedias and textbooks
- Worn clothing
- Opened personal care products
- VHS tapes, old DVDs
A good estate sale company knows what's valuable and what isn't. They'll price hidden gems correctly (that ugly painting might be worth $500) and group low-value items into bulk lots rather than pricing them individually.
10 Questions to Ask Every Estate Sale Company
- "What's your commission rate?" (Industry standard: 30-50%)
- "How many estate sales have you done in the last 12 months?" (Look for 20+ per year)
- "Can I see photos from recent sales?" (Professional setup = better results)
- "How do you market the sale?" (EstateSales.net listing, social media, email list, signage)
- "What happens to unsold items?" (Donation, haul-away, or left for family)
- "Are you insured?" (Liability insurance protects you if a buyer is injured)
- "How do you prevent theft during the sale?" (Staffing, cameras, high-value security)
- "When do I receive payment?" (Typically 7-14 days after the sale)
- "Do you provide an itemized accounting?" (Detailed report of every item sold and its price)
- "Can the family exclude items from the sale?" (Yes — always. Remove sentimental items first)
⚠️ Red flags:
- No insurance
- Won't provide references
- No photos from past sales
- Commission above 50% with no justification
- Cash-only payment to you (should be check or bank transfer with documentation)
- Won't provide itemized accounting
- Pressure to sign immediately
Estate Sale vs Other Options
| Method | Best For | Typical Return | Timeline | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estate sale company | Homes with sellable contents | 50-70% of items' value | 2-4 weeks | Low |
| Online auction (MaxSold, EBTH) | Tech-savvy families | 40-60% of items' value | 2-3 weeks | Low-medium |
| Garage sale (DIY) | Low-value items, simple estates | 10-30% of items' value | 1-2 weekends | High |
| eBay / Facebook Marketplace | High-value single items | 60-80% of items' value | Weeks to months | Very high |
| Consignment shops | Furniture, quality clothing | 40-60% of items' value | Months | Medium |
| Donate everything | When speed matters most | $0 (tax deduction) | 1-3 days | Low |
For most estates with a mix of valuable and everyday items: hire an estate sale company for the bulk, sell 3-5 highest-value items individually on eBay/Facebook Marketplace, and donate what doesn't sell.
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