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Estate Sale Pricing Guide
Every estate sale is different, with each estate representing an individual’s or a family’s lifetime collection of personal items. This presents a wide variety of possible inventories from estate to estate, requiring varying approaches as to how these items are evaluated.
The majority of time spent preparing an estate sale is focused on pricing. This is why it’s important to rely on professionals like the Estate Pros, who can provide you with the services of a qualified appraiser. The Estate Pros have pricing down to a science. Our qualified appraisers will quickly review and evaluate your items and estimate how much they will sell for.
If you’re considering trying to price items on your own, there are resources you can draw from. Most importantly, you must understand “fair market value” when pricing items for an estate sale. Never price your estate sale items according to current retail, online, consignment, or antique store prices. The goal is to achieve a fair sales value. If you have rare or highly desirable estate sale items, you may be able to price them at a higher-than-normal prices.
With these estate sale pricing tips, you’ll be off to a good start:
HOW TO PRICE ITEMS FOR AN ESTATE SALE
Estate sale pricing is based on current “fair market value.” Fair market value is defined as “a selling price for an item in which a buyer and seller can agree.”
Accurate pricing and realistic final sales price estimates are key to a successful estate sale.
In general, expect to have item pricing equivalent to that of final sold prices on eBay or other auction sites. Realistic final sale prices should come in around 30% less than the max prices you will find on these sites. Achieving the final sale prices on these auction sites may take months or even years. In most cases, your estate sale will only be a three-day weekend. The goal is to sell as much as possible on the first day and have all of the items sold by the final day.
You must also consider the condition of the items. Is the item like new? Good condition? Bad condition? Broken or destroyed? Each item’s condition will have a big impact on price. Items in poor condition might not be worth selling at all and may bring down the overall appearance and perceived quality of your estate sale. It is always better to be properly priced than priced too high or too low.
DISCOUNTING PRICES AT ESTATE SALES
Estate sales typically occur over the course of several days. The highest sale prices are most often achieved on the first day. The goal is to price your items fairly. Most shoppers don’t want to miss out on their picks by waiting a day or two for the item to be discounted.
Common Discounting Schedule:
Day 1
- Full price
- Negotiate as needed
Day 2
- Small price reduction across the board
- Negotiate as needed
Day 3
- Larger price reduction across the board
- Negotiate as needed
ESTATE SALE PRICING MISTAKES
A collection of items might all look the same but be aware of slight differences. Limited editions and collectible versions might be mixed in with the lot. Be sure to carefully examine all items and do your research. If pressed for time, hire an appraiser like those available through the Estate Pros.
ESTATE SALE PRICING RESOURCES
- Google (free)
- eBay (free)
- Live Auctioneers (free)
- Google Lens (free)
- Worth Point (paid)
- 1st Dibs (free)
- Replacements.com (free)
- Art – AskArt, Live Art, Art Price
- Antiques Road Show Archives (free)
- TheSpruceCrafts (free)
- Facebook Groups (free)
- Specialty Sites
WHAT SELLS BEST AT AN ESTATE SALE
Best-selling estate sale items can vary depending on your location and what time of year it is, but we’ve often found the following estate sale items always tend to sell quickly no matter what the scenario:
- Vintage items
- Collectibles
- Unique or rare items
- High-end furniture and decor
- Fine art
- Sports memorabilia
- Mid Century Modern items
As you can see, there is much to consider when pricing an estate sale. Estate sale pricing approaches are not all set in stone.
Using your good judgment, experience, and resources such as this guide will assist in making sure you are thorough and well-prepared!
Need help pricing your estate sale items?
The Estate Pros are the most professional estate sale company in the area serving homes like yours all across southeast Michigan. We are consistently ranked amongst the top estate sale companies in America, recognized by EstateSale.com and other industry authorities.
We pay meticulous attention to every detail as we handle each aspect of the estate sale process from start to finish. Our experts will work with you from the initial free consultation to the complete execution of your event and everything in between. You don’t need to lift a finger; the Estate Pros will take care of everything for you!
How the Pros Do It.
The Estate Pros tailor every estate sale to fit the specific needs of each of our clients. Our process is comprehensive and easy. Once your estate sale is scheduled, we will: professionally photograph and advertise your items, provide boutique-style staging, evaluate and price your valuables with one of our qualified appraisers, professionally manage and execute your sale, then donate and clean-out the remaining unsold items. It’s that simple!
Free Consultation
The Estate Pros process begins with a free consultation in which one of our team members will tour your home to determine the viability of an estate sale. We will carefully examine your items, discuss our process and talk about your needs as it relates to your goals and expectations. Additionally, we can assist you in determining what to sell and what to keep. With over 15 years of industry experience, the Estate Pros have the expertise necessary to help guide you with your valued possessions.
Pre-Sale
Prior to the estate sale, the Estate Pros will meticulously and carefully sort through the items being considered for sale. All of your items will be staged, merchandised and set up in the various shopper approved areas of your home. Our boutique, retail approach to staging will really set your estate sale apart! From there, our qualified appraisers will evaluate and price each estate sale item. When pricing estate sale items, our appraisers complete a thorough search of all comparable markets and online auction “sold” listings.
Day(s) Of Sale
On sale days, your dedicated Estate Pros sales team monitors all aspects of your estate sale including: providing five star customer and sales service to all guests in attendance, making sure your home is secure, managing shopper traffic, recording all transactions and payments, and making arrangements to have all sold items removed from the premises.
Post-Sale
Once the estate sale is completed, the Estate Pros will: issue settlement payment, provide a detailed sales report of all items sold, schedule customer pick ups, and schedule charity donation & trash removal of any unsold items (if requested). From there, the estate sale home is left broom / vacuum clean and empty – ready for the new residents. Our estate sale process is easy and hassle-free, that’s the Estate Pros difference!
The Estate Pros Difference
Experience
Over 15 years of service with more than 5,000 successfully completed estate sales, liquidations, donations & clean outs.
Professional
Our team has the qualified appraisers and industry leading liquidation experts needed to get the job done right.
Safe
We are licensed, bonded & insured. You can feel confident knowing our services are private, safe and secure.
Results
Ranked in the top 50 estate sale companies in America, delivering millions of dollars in estate proceeds to our valued clients every year.
Southeast Michigan Estate Sale Service Area
The Estate Pros have been proudly serving Oakland, Macomb and parts of Livingston, Genesee, Lapeer & Wayne counties for the past 15 years. No matter what your situation calls for, the Estate Pros are here to help!
What Our Clients are Saying
Go With The Pros!
Estate Sales FAQS
What services do you provide?
We provide estate sale, cleanout and donation, and appraisal services.
How do we start?
It’s easy! It all starts with our free phone consultation where we explain the entire estate sale process: beginning with our free on-site consultation all the way through the post-sale wrap-up. From there, we will schedule a free on-site consultation.
What is the cost for the on-site consultation?
The initial consultation is free. And we mean absolutely FREE! Both our phone and on-site consultations are FREE of charge.
What happens after the phone consultation?
We will visit your home for a free on-site consultation where we determine whether there are enough items in the residence to have a sale. If so, we then determine the marketability of the merchandise and whether you need a traditional in-house sale, online sale or a combination of both. If not, we will provide alternative solutions to liquidate the contents of the home.
Our Recent Liquidations
Property
Rochester, MI 48307
Liquidation Value: $18,750
4/8/25 00:00
Property
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301
Liquidation Value: $33,450
April 1, 2025
Property
Pinckney, MI 48169
Liquidation Value: $15,100
3/28/25 00:00
Schedule Your Estate Sale Today!
The Estate Pros are here to help! No matter what your situation is – big or small estates, estates with older or outdated items, estates with location restrictions, etc. We can handle any situation, location type, or size – GUARANTEED!
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