Quick answer
What you need to know
An estate sale is a public sale of a large share of a household’s belongings, usually held over several days. Shoppers buy items such as furniture, tools, jewelry, and kitchenware at marked prices. A professional company often handles preparation and the sale. The house itself is sold separately, and you do not need a death in the family to hold an estate sale.
Why do people have estate sales?
Families hold estate sales when they have more belongings than they can keep. Common reasons include downsizing, moving, combining households, or settling a loved one’s estate. A sale brings buyers to the collection instead of requiring the family to photograph, list, and arrange pickup for each item separately.
After a death, confirm who has authority to sell the belongings before making arrangements. Sale proceeds may become part of the estate’s funds. Relatives generally do not owe a deceased person’s debts simply because they are family, although exceptions apply. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains those exceptions. Questions about debts and distributing proceeds belong with the estate’s attorney.
What can you sell?
Estate sales include everyday household goods as well as antiques and collectibles. Furniture, cookware, dishes, books, clothing, records, tools, garden equipment, artwork, and jewelry can all be part of a sale. You do not need a house full of expensive pieces.
Condition, buyer demand, and the amount available affect whether a managed sale makes sense. A few items may be better suited to individual sales, consignment, or donation. Let the company see what remains after you have identified what you are keeping. Avoid discarding things just because they look old or ordinary.
Can you keep some of the belongings?
Yes. You decide what is available for sale before agreeing on the inventory. Set aside family photographs, personal papers, keepsakes, and furniture you want to keep. If several people own or have a claim to the belongings, resolve those decisions before setup begins.
Show the sale company what is excluded and agree on how it will be removed or kept away from shoppers. Once the contract is signed, discuss any changes with the company before removing items; the agreed inventory affects its preparation, advertising, and expected sale value.
How does an estate sale work?
- Walkthrough and agreement. The company reviews the contents, access, parking, and deadline. You agree on the commission, services, sale dates, excluded items, and plan for anything left over.
- Preparation. The team organizes the sale items, researches pieces that need closer attention, sets prices, and arranges rooms so buyers can browse.
- Advertising. Photographs and a sale listing tell shoppers what is available, where to go, and when the doors open.
- Sale days. Staff manages entry, answers questions, takes payments, and follows the agreed pricing and discount policy.
- Reporting and remaining items. The company provides the agreed sales records and payment, then follows the written plan for unsold belongings.
The public sale may last a few days, but preparation takes additional time. Ask for the full schedule, including any pickup or cleanout after the sale, before committing to a house closing or move-out date.
What does Estate Greats handle?
Estate Greats manages pricing, staging, photography, advertising, sale-day staffing, and checkout for families in Nashville and the surrounding area. We record sales through digital checkout and provide an itemized seller report, so you can see what sold and for how much.
Our September 2026 Berry Hill sale shows the range one collection can contain: antique tools, mahogany furniture, stoneware, vinyl records, cookware, and Christmas decorations. The listing includes photographs of the items arranged for shoppers.
The property also affects the plan. If an HOA prohibits a sale at home, or the home cannot accommodate shoppers, we can assess the collection for an offsite sale at our Berry Hill event space. During the consultation, we review the contents and explain which location is practical.
How much does an estate sale company charge?
Companies commonly charge a percentage of the gross sale proceeds. The rate and included services should be written into the agreement before work starts. Ask about separate charges for card processing, unusual labor, or removal of unsold items.
For example, with $10,000 in sales and a 35% commission, the commission would be $3,500 and the seller would receive $6,500 before any other agreed charges. Those numbers illustrate the calculation; they are not an Estate Greats quote or a prediction of what your sale will bring.
Compare what each proposal includes and how much you would receive after fees. Our estate sale commission guide explains the costs in more detail.
What happens to items that do not sell?
Some items may remain. Agree on what happens to them before the sale: family pickup, donation, re-consignment, or separately arranged cleanout or disposal. Ask who handles the work, what it costs, and when it will be finished.
At Estate Greats, cleanout work is quoted separately from the estate sale commission. A sale ending on Sunday does not by itself mean the house will be empty on Monday.
How is an estate sale different from a garage sale or auction?
- Garage sale: Usually a smaller selection of belongings priced and sold by the owner.
- Estate sale: Usually a larger household collection, organized for public shopping with marked prices. Discounts or offers depend on the company’s policy.
- Auction: Buyers bid against one another, online or in person. Read the terms for any buyer’s premium or other fees.
- Buyout: One buyer purchases an agreed group of items for a negotiated total.
The contents and your deadline help determine which approach fits. Ask what each option costs, what work you must do, and what happens to anything the buyer or company will not take.
Visiting an estate sale as a shopper
Check the listing for photographs, dates, hours, entry rules, accepted payments, and pickup arrangements. Inspect items before paying and confirm how you will move any large purchase. Check the return policy before you buy.
For Estate Greats events, read our shopper guide and browse upcoming estate sales for the details of each sale.
Talk through the household
Not sure what your next step should be?
Estate Greats offers a free, no-obligation consultation for families, executors, and homeowners in Nashville and the surrounding Middle Tennessee service area. We will ask about the home, the sale inventory, access, and timing, then explain whether an in-home or offsite estate sale is a practical fit.