| Estate sale | Cash buyout | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get paid | Your share of what the contents actually sell for, after the 35% commission | One offer for the lot, quoted at the walkthrough and paid on removal |
| Cost to start | $0 out-of-pocket — every cost is settled out of the proceeds | $0 out-of-pocket — nothing is billed to the estate |
| How long it takes | Usually 7 to 14 days: staging and pricing, a 3-day weekend sale, then clearance | Days, not weeks — scheduling the removal is most of the timeline |
| Who does the sorting | We do. Nothing needs cleaning, boxing, or hauling before we arrive | We do. Same rule: leave it where it is |
| Best when | The home holds furniture, collections, tools, jewelry, or anything an appraiser should look at | The timeline is short, the family is out of state, or the contents are ordinary household goods |
| Downside to know | It takes a scheduled weekend, and the final number depends on what buyers pay | A single offer for everything will not beat a strong sale on a home full of valuable contents |
| Small estates | A minimum threshold guarantee, typically $2,000, protects the smaller estate | Often the better tool when there is little of resale value |
| What you get in writing | An itemized written settlement, reconciled within 14 days of the sale | A written offer before anything is removed |
| Condition at handoff | Emptied and ready to photograph and list | Emptied and ready to photograph and list |
How we tell you which one fits
We do not decide this from a phone call, and we do not ask you to. The free on-site walkthrough exists precisely so the recommendation is made against the actual contents of the actual house. We look at what is there, flag anything that needs a specialist appraisal, and tell you plainly whether a staged sale is likely to out-earn a buyout on that property. When the answer is the buyout, we say so — signing a family to a weekend sale that will not clear its own weight helps nobody.
What does not change either way
Nothing needs sorting, cleaning, or moving before we arrive. Pull out the items the family is keeping and leave everything else exactly where it is. You never pay in advance, you get the terms in writing before anything is removed, and the property is handed back emptied and ready to photograph and list. You keep access to the home the whole time — you are the executor, you carry the duty to maintain it, and we will never charge you to walk into a property you are responsible for.
Questions families ask before they sign anything
What commission do you charge, and what does it cover?
35% of gross sales. That single number covers the appraisal-aware research, pricing and tagging, staging the home, marketing to a regional buyer list, staffing and supervising the sale, and the post-sale clearance. There is no separate setup fee, marketing fee, or staffing charge added afterward.
Do I have to pay anything before the sale?
No. $0 out-of-pocket. Every cost of running the sale is absorbed and settled out of the proceeds, so an estate with no cash on hand can still be liquidated properly.
What if the estate is small and does not sell for much?
A minimum threshold guarantee, typically $2,000, protects smaller estates so the sale does not leave the family behind where it started. If a walkthrough shows a sale is the wrong tool for the property, we say so and outline the alternative rather than signing you to one.
Can I still get into the house while you are setting up?
Yes. You are the executor and you carry the legal duty to maintain the property, so locking you out of it would be indefensible. We coordinate access rather than restrict it, and we never attach a penalty to an owner or executor entering their own property.
How long does the whole process take?
Most estates run 7 to 14 days end to end: staging and pricing, the 3-day weekend sale, then final clearance and the accounting reconciliation.
What happens to everything that does not sell?
It leaves the property. Unsold contents are routed to donation or recycling with documentation where a receipt is available, and the home is emptied and ready for photographs and listing. Clearing the leftovers is not a separate job you are handed back.
I live out of state. Can this run without me there?
Yes. Remote executors are the common case, not the exception. One lead runs your sale start to finish, sends the walkthrough assessment and the sale results in writing, and coordinates access with whoever holds the keys locally.
Nothing has been sorted or cleaned. Is that a problem?
No. Sorting is the work, not a prerequisite for it. Do not clean, box, or haul anything before the walkthrough. Pull out the items the family is keeping, and leave the rest exactly where it is.
Find out which one your Kirkwood estate should use
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