15 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Estate Sale Company
By the Empty the Home TeamUpdated November 2026
Not all estate sale companies are the same, and the differences show up in the contract. These are the questions that separate a professional you can trust from one that will cost you. Ask every one before you sign.
The checklist
- 1. How long have you been running estate sales, and do you work in my area?
- 2. Are you licensed, insured and bonded?
- 3. What is your commission, and are there any other fees?
- 4. Is there a minimum sale value you require?
- 5. How and when do I get paid after the sale?
- 6. Who prices the items, and how do you set prices?
- 7. How do you handle items the family wants to keep?
- 8. How do you advertise the sale and attract buyers?
- 9. How do you handle security and cash during the sale?
- 10. What happens to items that don't sell?
- 11. Do you provide an itemized list of what sold?
- 12. Can you work with an out-of-town family, or by video?
- 13. Do you belong to a professional association (such as NAEL or ASA)?
- 14. Can you share references or recent reviews?
- 15. Can I see the contract before I sign anything?
Why these matter
- Commission & fees decide what the family keeps. Get the rate and any extras in writing (see what an estate sale costs).
- Insured & bonded protects you if something is damaged or goes missing during the sale.
- Payout terms — a good company pays within one to two weeks with an itemized list of what sold.
- What doesn't sell — confirm whether leftovers are donated, hauled, or bought out before the sale, so there are no surprises.
- A written contract you can read first is non-negotiable. Walk away from anyone who won't provide one.
Common questions
What is the most important question to ask an estate sale company?
Ask about the commission and any extra fees, and get it in writing. The commission (usually 30–50%) determines what the family actually keeps, and undisclosed fees are the most common surprise.
Should an estate sale company be insured and bonded?
Yes. A reputable company carries liability insurance and is bonded, which protects you if something is damaged or goes missing during the sale. Ask for proof before you sign.
How do I know an estate sale company is reputable?
Check how long they've operated, whether they're insured and bonded, their reviews and BBB record, membership in a professional association, and whether they'll provide references and a written contract.
More guides
- How to clear out a deceased parent's house — A calm, step-by-step guide for families and executors — from securing the home to the final clean-out.
- Estate sale vs. buyout vs. clean-out — The three ways to empty a home, what each pays, how long it takes, and how to choose — with a side-by-side table.
- What does an estate sale cost? — Commissions, what the family keeps, minimum sale values and real examples. (Short answer: free to start; the company takes 30–50%.)
- Executor's guide to selling a home's contents — What an executor or personal representative needs to know before selling estate property — authority, probate and the court in DC, Virginia and Michigan.
- Senior downsizing: what to do with the house — Helping a parent move to assisted living or a smaller home — what to keep, what to sell, and how to clear the rest without the stress.
- Estate sale taxes, donations & appraisals (Form 8283) — How estate sale income, charitable donations and appraisals work at tax time — including the $5,000 appraisal threshold and IRS Form 8283.
- What sells best at an estate sale — The items that reliably sell — and the surprises that add up — plus what sells well in DC, Richmond and Metro Detroit, and how value is set.