How to have an estate sale: a step-by-step guide for families

If you've been left with a house full of belongings, there are two ways to have an estate sale: run it yourself, or hire a company to run it for you. This guide walks through both, so you can decide which fits your family.

First, decide: do it yourself or hire a company?

Doing it yourself makes sense when the household is small, you have a few people to help, and you have time. You keep everything the sale brings in.

Hiring a company makes sense when there's a lot of stuff, valuable items you can't price, a deadline, or nobody who can give up a week or two. Most companies charge 30% to 40% of what the sale brings in, with nothing upfront, and many have a minimum fee. See what companies charge →

A good company often brings in more than a family would on its own, because they know what things are worth and they have a list of buyers who show up. Whether that covers their commission depends on the house. A free walkthrough with two or three companies will tell you.

How to have an estate sale yourself, step by step

1. Take out what the family is keeping

Before anything else, let family members take what they want, and remove personal papers, photos, and anything you're not ready to sell. Lock those in one room or take them out of the house.

2. Check with your city

Some towns require a permit for a garage or estate sale, limit how many days you can run it, or have parking rules. A quick call to city hall avoids a fine.

3. Sort and group

Go room by room. Put like things together: kitchen, tools, linens, holiday decorations. Throw out true trash now; it makes everything else look better.

4. Research anything that might be valuable

Jewelry, coins, art, watches, collectibles, firearms and good furniture deserve a closer look before you price them. Search sold listings online for similar items, or have an appraiser look at the few things you're unsure about. This is where families most often lose money.

5. Price everything

Put a price tag on every item, and price to sell. Shoppers expect bargains, and the goal is an empty house. Plan to cut prices on the last day, often by half.

6. Advertise

Post the sale, with lots of photos, on estate sale listing websites, local community groups and classifieds a week or so ahead. Put signs up the day before, and check your town's rules on signs.

7. Staff the sale

You'll want several people: someone at the door, someone taking payments, and people watching the rooms. Decide ahead whether you'll take cards, and keep valuables near the checkout.

8. Deal with what's left

After the sale, donate what's usable (ask for a receipt), and arrange hauling for the rest. A cleanout company or junk hauler can empty the house in a day.

If you hire a company instead

Call at least three for a free walkthrough. On each call, ask what their commission is and whether it's on the gross or the net, whether there's a minimum fee, what else you'll pay for, what happens to unsold items, and when you'll be paid. Get it all in writing. The 10 questions to ask, and the red flags →

To see who works in your area and what they charge, start with our city lists: Denver, Phoenix, Tucson, Chicago, Houston, San Antonio, Kansas City, Cleveland, Northwest Indiana.

Common questions

How do I have an estate sale?

Remove what the family is keeping, check your city's rules, sort and price everything, research anything valuable, advertise a week ahead with photos, staff the sale for two or three days, and donate or haul away what's left. Or hire an estate sale company to do all of it for a commission.

Do you need a permit for an estate sale?

Some cities require one, and some limit how many days a sale can run. Check with your city hall before you advertise.

How long does it take to prepare for an estate sale?

For a family doing it themselves, usually one to three weeks of sorting, pricing and advertising, depending on the size of the house. Companies often need a week or two of setup, and some are booked several weeks out.

Is having an estate sale worth it?

Usually, if there are things people will buy. Even ordinary furniture, tools and kitchen items add up, and a sale empties the house at the same time. If the contents are modest and time is short, ask a company for a buyout offer and compare.

See every published estate sale rate → · Estate sale calculator →