When referring a client to an estate sale company, include their permission, preferred contact details and property deadlines. That gives the sale team enough information to arrange a first conversation without asking the client to repeat everything they have already told you.
The professional client handoff worksheet is a starting point. It covers the household, decision-maker, dates and access arrangements.
Ask what the client wants shared
Confirm permission to make the introduction and share contact details. Ask how the client prefers to be reached and whether they want to join the first conversation. Tell them who will be in touch and why.
Keep the introduction relevant: the general household situation, property location, timing, and requested help. Do not send legal records, financial documents, access codes, or private family details simply because they are in the transaction file.
Distinguish the coordinator from the decision-maker
The person handling calls may not be the person authorized to approve a sale. Identify both roles when they differ and ask the client who should discuss the agreement. Refer questions about legal authority to the appropriate adviser rather than resolving them in a referral email.
Flag unresolved family decisions in general terms. “The client is still confirming which furnishings stay with relatives” is useful context. The sale company does not need the history of a family disagreement in order to arrange a first discussion.
Share listing, moving and closing dates
List planned photography, listing, moving, repair, closing, and handoff dates. Mark unconfirmed dates clearly. Explain which furnishings are part of the current presentation plan and which rooms need to become available for other work.
Ask the sale company to review the proposed sequence after understanding the contents and access. Do not promise the client that the contents will be sold or cleared by a date the company has not accepted. Estate Greats can explain the preparation, sale and reporting stages in our estate sale management process.
Describe practical constraints early
Note whether the home is occupied, whether there are building or HOA restrictions, and whether movers or contractors will also need access. Mention stairs, limited parking, or difficult areas such as attics when they affect the work.
The walkthrough can establish the details. Where a sale at the home may be impractical, the client can ask about offsite estate sales without assuming the household qualifies.
Keep contents work and property work distinct
Ask who is responsible for belongings that remain after the sale and how the final property condition will be checked. Cleaning, repairs, donation transport, and cleanout work should have named owners and agreed scope. Do not treat an estate sale booking as confirmation that every remaining property task is included.
The sale company’s itemized reporting helps explain the contents sale. A separate property handoff plan keeps the transaction work clear. Confirm which updates the client wants you to receive.
Make the introduction easy to act on
Client: name, preferred contact method and permission to make the introduction.
Household: property location and a brief description of the contents.
Decisions: who can approve the sale, who coordinates calls and which belongings are staying.
Dates: requested sale date, listing photography, moving and property handoff deadlines.
Access: occupancy, stairs, parking and building restrictions. Share access codes separately.
Follow-up: who should contact the client and which updates the client wants shared with you.
After the introduction, confirm that the client knows who is following up. If a date changes, tell the people whose work depends on it.
For a Nashville-area client who needs help with household contents, explore working with Estate Greats as a referral partner and use the handoff worksheet to prepare the introduction.
More resources for helping an estate sale client.