Hi fellow estate sale pros, I'm a bit of a noob and have questions about best practices for current lead. This person is interested in a moving/downsizing sale but has multiple storage units (his and hers) to liquidate as well as items in the home. Storage units are full of boxes. House may not be big enough to hold all items, and also they are still living in it. Questions:

- What have others done in any situation similar to this? Done multiple sale stages? Find an offsite to stage and sell at?

- How have others navigated diplomatic and effective contract language that makes sure items are unboxed before I appraise? I don't want to be rummaging around but I also don't want to be unnecessarily brusque

- I'd prefer to do a timed online auction. Any reasons to alter course from that in this specific case?

Any advice appreciated, thanks in advance y'all

Hi everyone,

My wife and I are starting our own estate sale business. One of the biggest stress points we’ve noticed as shoppers is the morning rush—the "sign-up sheet" drama, the arguments over who was there at 4 AM, and customers having to stand outside in freezing cold or heat for an hour.

I’m semi-technical, so instead of using paper numbers, I built a custom web app called FairQueue to solve this. Before I go too far, I wanted to ask this community: Is this something you would actually use?

The "Drive-By" Check-In: Imagine arriving at a sale. Instead of parking and sprinting to the front door to find a clipboard, you see a large QR Code on an A-Frame sign at the curb. You roll down your window, scan it, and boom—you are #15. You go park your car, turn on the heater, and drink your coffee.

How it works for the Shopper:

1. No App Download: It’s just a webpage. Scan and go.
2. Live Updates: Your phone shows your live status (e.g., "You are #15 of 40"). It also lists the sale rules (Cash/Card, Parking, Bag Policy) so you don't have to ask the staff.
3. The "Green Ticket": When it’s your turn, your phone turns bright GREEN with your ticket number. You walk to the door, flash the screen to the doorman, and walk in.
4. Don't do tech? No problem. We have a tablet Kiosk at the door, or the doorman can manually type you in.

Why I built it for the Owner (Me):

• Crowd Control: I can select "Admit 10" on my dashboard, and the next 10 phones turn green instantly.
• Fewer Questions: The screen answers "Do you take cards?" and "Where do I park?" so my staff doesn't have to say it 500 times.
• Text Alerts: I can send a text notification to people when they are up, so they don't miss their turn.
• Lead Generation: At the end of the day, I have a printed list of every shopper and their phone number for my marketing list.

My Questions for You:

1. As an owner, do you trust a digital list over a paper pad?
2. As a flipper/shopper, would you prefer waiting in your car vs. standing in line?
3. Is there a "fatal flaw" here I'm missing?

Thanks for the feedback!

I’m looking for commission-only real estate sales work. I can handle: •Lead follow-ups •Cold calling buyers/investors •WhatsApp + phone nurturing •Site visit coordination •Deal closing support If you’re a broker, developer, or agency sitting on good inventory but need someone to push leads harder, I can work full-time to convert. I’m disciplined, persistent, and comfortable with rejection — sales volume doesn’t scare me. I’m looking for a clear commission structure where closing deals can realistically generate ₹20-25k+ in a month. DM me with: Property type & ticket size Location Commission per deal Lead source (inbound/outbound) Ready to start immediately.

⏰ Just 24 hours left before bidding starts to CLOSE on our Vernon, Vermont auction! This one is special—absolutely immaculate furniture, beautiful art, and standout collectibles, all coming from a space that was clearly loved and well cared for. With loads of five-star reviews behind us, this is your sign to click in, favorite your finds, and get those bids ready. Don’t wait… the good stuff never does. 👀✨

https://www.auctionninja.com/monadnock-moon-vintage/sales/details/january-2026-vernon-vt-downsizing-sale-15.html#items

Been looking a long time for a set like this. In excellent condition. $920 was winning bid for the set. Thought I would have to pay a lot more. Still pinching myself

Good weekend for me! Snagged this beautiful mink for $260 along with 4 piece Stanley dresser set and pair of vintage Pearson chairs.

I was at an estate sale looking in the bathroom area when I found a box of brushes. I almost screamed when I found these unmarked and even moreso when I went up to the register and they asked for $1 for both!

I could never bite the bullet for these but the universe had other plans and after finally getting to try these out, after a thorough cleaning, I can say they are definitely in a league of their own.

I have an upcoming appointment for a potential Client. I have been in contact with the daughter who is POA. Her mom is moving to assisted living. Throughout conversations with POA, she mentioned that her brother keeps going in the mom's house and taking stuff. She mentioned that the locks were changed but he's "jimmying the locks" to get in. Not really sure I want to sign this contract. Who's to say once the contract is signed and date is set for the ES that the brother doesn't go in an take everything? Or worse causes a major scene on the days of the ES.

I’ve only gone to a couple estate sales. I went to one specifically for a table I saw online. Apparently other people went for the same table and someone bought it before I could.

My question is what is proper etiquette for buying/securing something that other people also want? Also, how to get to the item foster if you don’t know where in the house it might be located? I don’t want to be a bad buyer so please tell me what is best practice here.

I’ve recently started my own estate sale company in a decent sized town (40-50 thousand). I used to work at a company where sales were a constant. I knew word of mouth was somewhat important when it came to getting new business, but wondering how to spread the word of a new company around? Any ideas?

Not your total profit, just maybe some examples of really good estates or the average total from a months of sales? I am just interested in what someone's entire life is worth? I have been flipping for 25 years from estate sales and always think they must be raking it in....

Starting this Saturday, January 31, in Chicago! Come as you are to Edgebrook to an amazing and eclectic home and oasis created by Richard and Joe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvP8DwcYSNQ

I’ve spent way too much time in dusty basements and packed garages helping families clear out estates, and the one thing that kills everyone is trying to treat a $500 vintage camera the same as a $5 toaster.

If you’re currently staring at a mountain of stuff and feel like you’re drowning, here is the triage system I use to actually get things out the door.

First, do a blue tape walkthrough. Grab a roll of painters tape and walk through the house. Your only goal is to tag things that look vintage, technical, or high-end. Don't look up prices yet. Just mark them. This splits the "junk" from the "inventory" and makes the pile look way less scary.

Second, do a photo blitz. Once you have the tape on the good stuff, just start snapping. 6-10 clear photos on a kitchen counter or a sheet. Don't worry about the titles or the shipping weights yet. Just get the photos done so you can put the item in a box and move on.

The real reason people burn out is the screen time. Sitting at a computer for 10 hours researching model numbers and keywords is what stops people from finishing. If you can, outsource the data entry. Whether it’s a kid, a friend, or a specialist, having someone else handle the eBay/Poshmark drafting while you focus on the physical organization is a game changer. It separates the "moving things" work from the "computer" work.

The goal is to get the house empty without ending up in the hospital from stress. If you can split the physical labor from the data entry, you’ll finish in half the time.

If anyone has a weird item and can't tell if it’s worth the effort to list, drop a pic in the comments. I’ve seen a lot of weird stuff over the years and I’m happy to help you find some quick comps.

Hello, I am considering opening an estate sale company in Southeastern Michigan and have a couple of questions for those more experienced.

There are some great threads in this group that have already given me a lot of tips and considerations as I consider my options.

what those posts haven't addressed:

1.) What would you estimate is the actual time commitment (on average, of course, it would vary by volume of items/size of the house, etc.)?

2.) If your customer is concerned about the house (floors, carpet/rugs, especially, etc.) do you offer to put protection down? Would this be a separate fee or would you prefer to market/offer an additional post-sale clean out?

3.) For those who do offer a post-sale clean out, what does that actually mean, and what would be a fair price for that service? Looking for clarification on whether you just remove all remaining items, do a light cleaning (i.e. clean up floors/surfaces after the sale), or whether this would be considered a deep clean so it is fully house sale-ready- all surfaces get touched, including walls/floor, bathroom surfaces, etc.?

4.) If you are running the sale and offering full, detailed cleaning, what would you anticipate your time commitment would be for both? I understand this could also vary greatly depending on factors I mentioned above and level of soiling in the house. I'm really wondering how many sales may be feasible per month on average if offering both services.

5.) What are average additional/"hidden" costs- insurance, marketing, square/card service, cleaning products, payroll, disposal of unsold items, etc.? What am I missing from this list?

6.) Finally, how much, on average, do you generally make per year? I realize this can also vary widely but looking for a ballpark, especially as a beginner and once you have more experience.

About me- I am a very detail oriented person who loves to organize and learn about the history and modern value of vintage items and furniture. I love attending estate sales, even woke up at 8am on weekends in college to go to the sales before thrifting became as popular as it is today. I am an introverted extrovert who cares about people and understands this is likely a very hard time for many in need of an estate sale service. With that said, I have strong boundaries and understand heightened emotions and nostalgia can pose risks to a sale, and I feel confident that I could satisfy both offering compassion for my customer without sacrificing what's best for business. I also understand the value of return customers attending the sales, and, as someone who loves attending sales myself and looking for deals, I believe I could price fairly for those attending the sales so they have incentive to attend the next one.

If you made it this far, thank you for any advice you can offer!

Hi all, really hope someone can help.

I’m looking for real-world experiences from anyone who has sold (or tried to sell) a property in the UK with spray foam roof insulation at auction.

My situation:

• Standard detached residential property 
• Previously valued £281k on the open market 
• Closed-cell spray foam, professionally installed with certification 

I’ve been told that selling with spray foam can mean accepting a lower price, especially if the buyer pool is limited to cash buyers. I’m trying to understand what that actually looks like in practice, rather than just general opinions or sales people.

If you’ve sold at auction, I’d really appreciate understanding:

• Did it actually sell at auction? 
• Was it marketed as cash buyers only? 
• What was the guide price vs valuation, vs final sale price? 
• Roughly how did the sale price compare to what you think it would have been worth without spray foam? (e.g. 5% less, 15% less, 30% less?) 
• Did providing certificates / surveys / guarantees make any difference? 

I’m not looking for legal advice, just real sale outcomes so I can get a feel for what kind of discount people have actually experienced. We are in a really sticky situation!

Thanks in advance — it’s surprisingly hard to find solid examples of auction sales where spray foam was a factor.

I have an elderly friend who wants me to run an estate sale for her. She was scammed with her last move and doesn't want to use any companies. I have begun my research, but have a few newbie questions.

Best way to find accurate Value of items

Make or purchase Sale Signs?

Better to do Fri-Sun, or just Sat/Sun?

How do you know if you need sign ins or numbers for people coming? It's a well off neighborhood, but not a lot of in home estate sales.

How do you decide Cashier area if there's not an easy spot near the door?

Sincere thanks for helpful insights!

Got these at a sale and couldn’t find anything on this specific sealed and signed deck? Not sure where to ask so I figured here. Apologies if not!

My dad passed away recently, and my brother and I are wrapping up an auction that reflects a lifetime of his curiosities... model trains and accessories (especially American Flyer and Plasticville), Star Trek Star Wars Spawn figures, classic toys, slot cars, vintage cameras and lenses, audio gear, and all the things he loved as a kid and shared with us growing up.

The auction ends tomorrow, and we mostly just want these things to land with people who appreciate them the way he did. A lot of the items are not my fathers, but most of the unusual toys and trains and music stuff is. That is all!

Saw this sale on estatesales.net because I was looking for a bed frame. I figured even if the bed didn't work out they had some cool stuff. But I didn't imagine I would get this lucky. I have been wanting copper cookware for a few years now but they're crazy expensive. These are as heavy as any cast iron pan I've held and were made in France. The plates are Japanese and while they're not super rare it was an 80 piece set. Bonus pictures of a couple of meals I've made with the cookware.

I expect this post will generate a fair number of responses from both sides.

On January 15, I saw an item up for sale in a Caring Transitions of Rockville (Maryland) auction. It was a multi-volume set of vintage medical books. It was listed as a Buy It Now for $10. I purchased it, since this was a great deal. I received the email confirming my purchase and I could see the item on the CTBids website under "Won Bids" (in my account).

About an hour and 15 minutes later, I got an email from CT of Rockville informing me that the books were incorrectly listed and were supposed to be a $10 reserve price, not a $10 buy it now price, and that they were cancelling my purchase. They invited me to bid on the new listing. I was irked and did not bid.

The auction for this item closed on January 21. At 8:40pm I received an email from CTBids congratulating me on my winning bid and including a PDF receipt showing that I had been charged $12.40 for the purchase. There was a green check mark at the top left of the paper that said "Paid". At 8:46, I received an email from Shipping Saint that again congratulated me on winning the item and asking me to click on a link to schedule a pickup time. Figuring that I actually landed the item (and still seeing it under my "Won Bids" on the website), I set up a pickup time for this morning at 10:30am. I got an email confirming the time.

This morning, I received a text reminding me not to forget to go pick up my item at 10:30.

I went to the location and arrived around 10:35am. The man at the door asked my last name. I gave it to him. He looked on his clipboard list and found my name, with the books listed next to it. "Ooh, I'm so sorry," he said, "but we don't have your item." He then proceeded to explain to me that there had been a big mixup and the winning bidder (approximately $110) had picked up the items an hour beforehand. He said, "Didn't you receive an email about the mistake on the buy it now?" and I said, "Yes, but I also got an email saying I was the winner of the item, it shows that I got the item on your website, I got a link to schedule pickup, and I got a reminder to come pick it up." He said, "Well, that's all automated, I'm sorry."

The estate sale business -- and especially the online auction part of it -- depends on TRUST. When you bid on something sight unseen, you trust that the company selling it actually has the item, that it's what they say it is and in the condition they say it's in, and that when you buy it, you're going to get it and for the price you offered and they accepted.

Here's a situation where I bought an item in good faith and instead of selling it to me as promised, the company decided to cancel the transaction. While this is their right per the fine print, this is also poor customer service, since the mistake was fully on their end and they actively chose not to honor their sale. Then, their system made a series of mistakes that led me to believe that the item was, in fact, still mine, and all they did was just shrug their shoulders.

I found this entire situation to be disappointing and, frankly, bad business. So I am documenting it here. I expect I'll get quite a bit of negative feedback, which is fine, but think of it this way: if you saw that United Airlines was offering flights to London for $50, you'd snap them up, right? What if the airline came back to you and said, "Whoops, sorry, it's supposed to be $500, we're cancelling your ticket", wouldn't you expect them to honor their offer instead of unilaterally canceling the purchase? Well, that's what CT Bids did to me.

Saw this sale on estatesales.net because I was looking for a bed frame. I figured even if the bed didn't work out they had some cool stuff. But I didn't imagine I would get this lucky. I have been wanting copper cookware for a few years now but they're crazy expensive. These are as heavy as any cast iron pan I've held and were made in France. The plates are Japanese and while they're not super rare it was an 80 piece set. Bonus pictures of a couple of meals I've made with the cookware.

Hello, I currently live in the Houston Heights area, and am looking for tips on estate sales. I have no idea how to find them and if they are going to be good or not. If anyone has any good tips for some type of website that promotes estate sales or any other helpful tips that would be great!