What is your plan for this specific property?
A real answer accounts for the home, volume, condition, timeline, valuables, access, family priorities, and what happens after the sale—not just a generic promise to ‘sell everything.’
How to choose an estate sale company.
You are not just hiring someone to move items. You are choosing who will help carry a sensitive, financial, and often emotional responsibility.
Look for clarity, not pressure.
The best professional for your situation will listen before prescribing, explain the process in plain language, put the financial terms in writing, and make it clear how each item and decision will be handled. No company can promise a specific return before understanding the work—but they can promise a transparent process.
Take this checklist to every consultation.
Which sale paths are you considering—and why?
Ask whether an estate sale, auction, consignment, direct sale, donation, or a blended plan is being recommended. A trustworthy professional can explain the fit and the tradeoffs.
How are items identified, priced, and protected?
Ask about inventory, valuation, research, security, photography, handling of jewelry or documents, and how price reductions or bid decisions are made.
What will I pay, and what will I receive?
Get the commission or fee structure in writing. Ask about deposits, labor, advertising, transport, cleaning, donation, disposal, minimums, buyer premiums, and when you receive settlement.
What happens to unsold items?
Do not leave this until the end. Agree in writing whether items may be offered another way, donated, bought out, recycled, returned, or removed—and who approves each decision.
How will I stay informed?
You should know who your contact is, what updates you will receive, how questions are handled, and what records will be provided after the work is complete.
Make sure the agreement answers the hard questions.
KEEP
Your priorities
List family keepsakes, documents, deadlines, access needs, and anyone who needs to be consulted.
COMPARE
The full cost
Compare the complete service model—not just the headline commission or promised result.
CONFIRM
The final record
Know what inventory, sales, donation, cleanout, and settlement records you will receive.
YOU DESERVE A CLEAR PLAN
Start here