Our Approach
Before we recommend anything, we walk through the home with you and tell you the truth about what we see. What happens next depends entirely on what your situation calls for.
Before Anything Else
We visit the home, assess its contents, and discuss the options with you. You will have a clear understanding of our recommended approach and what to expect, with no cost or obligation.
We have walked into homes where the contents exceeded four million dollars in value. We have also walked into homes where the honest advice was that a traditional estate sale was not the right path, and that a managed removal would serve the family far better.
Both conversations happen during the free walkthrough. We would rather give you an accurate picture upfront than a number that does not reflect reality.
An honest assessment of the contents and their realistic market value
A clear recommendation for which engagement type fits your situation
A realistic timeline for setup, the sale, and final cleanup
A clear picture of what you can expect to receive
Time to answer the questions you have, no matter how many there are
What Happens Next
The outcome of the walkthrough determines which path makes most sense. Every engagement is different.
Path One • Most Common
The contents support a public sale. We handle everything: sorting, pricing, staging, marketing, and running the sale.
How the finances work
You pay a retainer upfront and receive a percentage of sale proceeds. Your share of the proceeds offsets the retainer; the final net cost depends on the results of the sale.
After the sale, we arrange removal of remaining contents according to your agreement. Professional final cleaning is optional; we discuss its scope and cost with you in advance.
Path Two • When a Sale Isn’t the Right Fit
Sometimes the most honest advice is that the contents would not generate enough revenue to justify a full sale. We recommend a managed removal instead.
How the finances work
There is a charge for this service. We discuss the scope and cost with you in advance so you can decide whether it fits your plans for the property.
We tell you during the walkthrough if this is the right path. We never run a low-yield sale just to earn a commission.
Path Three • High-Value Estates
When contents include significant fine art, antiques, or collectibles, the right approach involves coordinating with specialist auction houses.
A recent example
We managed a Chadds Ford estate with contents valued at over $4 million. We provided detailed cataloging, coordinated a structured allocation among the involved parties, and provided coordination oversight for the disposition of remaining contents through auction.
Compensated on time-and-materials. We always tell you during the walkthrough when this path is appropriate.
For Full Estate Sales
We work at your pace. Some engagements have been completed in as little as two weeks; others have unfolded over six months. Whether you need to move quickly or want time to make decisions, we agree on a realistic schedule around your priorities, the scope of the work, and your comfort.
Here is what a full estate sale engagement looks like, start to finish.
01
We visit the home, assess the contents honestly, and give you our recommendation. No cost, no commitment.
02
We agree on scope and timeline. You write a retainer check to cover upfront costs. We schedule setup and sale dates.
03
We go through every room, research and price everything fairly, and stage the home beautifully. Photography and marketing across EstateSales.org, EstateSales.net, Facebook, and Instagram.
04
We staff and manage the full sale, typically one to three days over a weekend. We handle buyers, payment, and everything on the day.
05
We arrange removal of unsold contents, donating suitable items where possible and disposing of the rest responsibly.
06
If you choose optional final cleaning, we coordinate it according to the agreed scope. You receive an itemized accounting of your share of the sale proceeds, typically within a few days of the engagement closing.
What We Handle
We sell, remove, or donate everything in the home. You do not need to presort, decide what is valuable, or remove anything before we arrive. Leave everything. We handle it.
The most common thing clients tell us is that they assumed certain things were worthless. More often than not, they are surprised by what sells well.
We come to the home, assess everything, and give you an honest picture. No cost. No commitment.