There are no upfront costs to hold an estate sale! After a thorough walkthrough of the home, we will work with you to schedule a sale. All consultations are free, with no obligation to sign a contract. Our fee is commission-based and we only make money by making you money. All costs for the sale are covered by us — advertising, staffing, appraisals, and any necessary equipment are included in our percentage. If we feel there is not enough to hold a sale, we can offer suggestions for buyout customers and local charities. If we don't feel that an estate sale is in your best interest, we can refer you to the appropriate resources.

We attract customers by advertising in a variety of media. Subscriptions to estate sale marketing websites are our biggest tool, reaching thousands of people who spend their weekends frequenting estate sales. We have our own email list and Facebook page. We also post in local papers and on Craigslist. All advertising costs are included in our fees. We cultivate relationships with dealers and collectors who look for specific items.

We price our items as high as we can while still being confident we can find buyers. Our prices are lower than retail establishments to ensure we sell as many pieces as possible. For rare or highly collectible items, we work with several appraisers and experts to set the right price. Prices may drop as the sale progresses, but we do allow you to set reserves. We will collect any offers that come in below the reserve. Some previously expensive items now flood the market and fetch less than expected, while some collectors seek very rare items you might not know you have.

Most of the time, yes. We do require the house to be unoccupied for preparation and setup. The setup process can be messy and often gets worse before it gets better. Sorting and staging takes time, and we try to present items as neatly and cleanly as possible. An occupied house cannot be properly and safely staged, and you will make more money if we can put forth our best presentation.

We try to sell anything and everything. There are a few items prohibited by law, but most household items can be sold. We recommend that you only remove the items you wish to keep and let us make decisions about discarding unsellable items. Certainly some pieces will bring in more money than others, but we make a lot of small sales of regular household goods and tools.

Every family is different. Some families like to come in after the sale and take remaining items. We can help arrange donations or trash pickups for anything left at the end of the sale. All items in the home belong to the family and we do not keep anything that we do not sell. We can refer you to local companies to help remove any remaining items.

Within 10 business days of the sale, a cashier's check will be sent via certified mail or hand-delivered. We also provide an accounting sheet and copies of all receipts of items sold.

Generally, it is ill-advised to attend during sale hours. We very much prefer that families do not attend the sales. It can be emotionally difficult to watch strangers handle and comment on your family heirlooms. It can also be difficult for customers to realize that the family is present, which makes them less likely to purchase or ask questions. We welcome you to come at the end of every sales day to see what is left, and of course we can call you with daily updates on how the sale is proceeding.