A sale of personal property conducted at the decedent's home, typically over one to three days. Items are priced with tags and sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Unlike auctions, there is no competitive bidding — buyers pay the marked price or negotiate directly.
How It Works in Practice
Estate sales are the most common method of estate liquidation in the United States. Professional estate sale companies charge 30–35% commission on gross sales, handling everything from sorting and pricing to staging, marketing, and sale-day management. The business requires minimal startup capital ($300–800) but significant time investment — 40–60 hours of preparation for a typical house. Companies market primarily through estatesales.net (the industry's dominant listing platform), Facebook groups, and local advertising.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does an estate sale work?
How much do estate sale companies charge?
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