What is an estate sale? How it works, in plain English
By Compare Estate Sales · Prices quoted here come from estate sale companies' own websites, as listed on this site.
An estate sale is a sale of almost everything inside a house: the furniture, kitchen things, tools, clothes, decorations, all of it. It's usually held in the home itself, over a few days, and it's open to the public.
The word "estate" makes it sound like something for rich people. It isn't. "Estate" just means everything a person owns, and most estate sales are in ordinary homes. They happen when someone passes away, moves into assisted living, or moves somewhere smaller and can't take most of their things.
Estate sale vs. garage sale
| Garage sale | Estate sale | |
|---|---|---|
| What's sold | Things you don't want anymore | Nearly everything in the house |
| Where | Garage, driveway or yard | Inside the house, room by room |
| Who runs it | Usually the family | Often a professional company |
| How long | Usually one morning or one day | Usually two or three days |
| Pricing | Quick guesses | Items researched and priced one by one |
A tag sale is another name for the same thing: every item gets a price tag. It's a common term in Ohio, New England and the Northeast.
How an estate sale works, start to finish
- The walkthrough. A company walks through the house, looks at what's there, and tells you whether a sale makes sense and what they'd charge. This is usually free.
- The agreement. You sign a contract that spells out the commission, any minimum fee, the sale dates and what happens to unsold items.
- Setup. The company sorts, cleans, researches and prices everything. This usually takes several days to a week or more.
- Advertising. They post the sale with photos on estate sale websites and their email list, often a week or more ahead.
- The sale. The house is opened to the public for two or three days. Many companies cut prices on the last day, often by half.
- What's left. Unsold items are donated, hauled away, or left for you, depending on the contract.
- Payment. The company takes its commission and pays the family the rest, usually with an itemized list. Several companies we list say about 10 business days; one Cleveland company says as little as 3 or 4 days.
What does an estate sale cost?
Most companies charge a commission, a percentage of what the sale brings in, usually 30% to 40%. Forty percent is the most common published rate. Many have a minimum fee, and some charge extra for cleanout or hauling. There's usually nothing to pay upfront; the company's share comes out of the sale.
For example, at 40%, a sale that brings in $12,000 pays the company $4,800 and the family $7,200.
See every published rate we've found → · Try the estate sale calculator →
Can you run an estate sale yourself?
Yes, and plenty of families do, especially for smaller households. You keep everything the sale brings in, but it's a lot of work: sorting, researching prices, advertising, staffing the house for several days, and dealing with what's left. How to have an estate sale, step by step →
Find an estate sale company near you
We list estate sale companies city by city, with what each one charges when they publish it: Denver, Phoenix, Tucson, Chicago, Houston, San Antonio, Kansas City, Cleveland, Northwest Indiana.
Common questions
What is an estate sale?
A sale of nearly everything in a house, usually held inside the home over two or three days and open to the public. They're held when someone passes away, moves into care, or downsizes.
Is an estate sale the same as a garage sale?
No. A garage sale sells things you don't want anymore, usually for one morning. An estate sale sells almost everything in the house, inside the home, over several days, often run by a professional company.
Why do people have estate sales?
To turn a household of belongings into money and empty the house, usually after a death, a move into assisted living, or a move to a smaller home.
What is a tag sale?
Another name for an estate sale, common in Ohio and the Northeast. Every item has a price tag, which is where the name comes from.
How much does an estate sale company charge?
Usually 30% to 40% of what the sale brings in, taken out of the proceeds. Forty percent is the most common published rate. Many companies also have a minimum fee.
See every published estate sale rate → · Estate sale calculator →