A reputable estate sale company can clear an entire household in a single weekend, professionally and with dignity. A bad one can leave you with a half-empty house, a confusing settlement statement, and missing items you cannot prove existed. The choice is consequential.
1. What percentage do you charge, and on what?
Industry standard is thirty to forty percent of gross sales. Some companies charge a flat day rate plus a smaller percentage; others charge a setup fee. Ask whether the percentage is calculated on gross before or after credit-card processing fees. A clear, written answer is the minimum bar.
2. Are you bonded and insured?
Yes is the only acceptable answer. Ask for a copy of the certificate of insurance. A bonded company provides recourse if items go missing. The trade association directory is the fastest way to verify a company's bond and standing.
3. How do you handle pricing decisions?
The right answer involves the seller, at least at the top. You should be able to designate a small number of "do not sell below X" pieces. The company sets pricing on everything else; second-guessing every price tag is a recipe for missed deadlines and a strained relationship. Ask whether they research each piece individually or rely on category-level pricing — the answer should be both, depending on item value.
4. How do you advertise?
A serious company posts on at least three regional directories (Estate Haul, EstateSales.net, and at least one local Facebook group), runs a dedicated email list, and places yard signs on Friday morning. Companies that advertise only on their own website do roughly half the foot traffic.
5. What is your settlement timeline?
You should receive a written settlement statement and payment within fourteen days of the final sale day, with itemized totals (gross, fees, charges, your net). Anything longer than thirty days, or a settlement statement that lacks itemization, is a problem.
6. Who handles the leftovers?
The company should manage the donation pickup and broom-clean of the home as part of the contract — usually included in the percentage. Confirm this in writing and confirm what gets thrown out (mattresses, opened consumables, garbage) versus donated.
Red flag: cash-only, no contract
Any company that operates on a verbal agreement, refuses to provide insurance documentation, or insists on a cash-only relationship is not a real business. Walk away. The friction of finding a different company in the moment is far smaller than the friction of resolving a dispute after the fact.
Keep reading
- Estate Sale Etiquette: A Buyer's Code — How to behave at a private-residence estate sale so you get first looks at the next one.
- How to Price Items for a Moving Sale — A practical, room-by-room pricing framework that gets your home empty by Sunday.
- The Senior Downsizing Checklist — A six-week, room-by-room plan to move from a long-time family home to a smaller residence.
- What Sells Fastest at Senior Estate Liquidations — After two thousand sales, a clear pattern emerges. These categories empty the room first.