What is an Estate Sale? A Complete Guide for First Timers

Curious about estate sales? Whether you’ve never been to one, or go to them frequently, this blog serves as a complete guide to the estate sale process. From tips for buyers and sellers to how an event comes together, you can find it all here. For starters, what is an estate sale? It’s a comprehensive sale of the contents within a residential or commercial space, most often held within a home during a transition in someone’s life. An estate sale goes beyond a traditional yard sale; items are carefully valued, the space is staged and it can be conducted in either a sale or auction format. Every item is tagged with a price or assigned to a category with corresponding signage, and the goal is to liquidate items as quickly as possible.

Why Hold an Estate Sale?

Downsizing, relocation, divorce or managing the estate after the death of a loved one are all examples of when an estate sale is the most efficient way to recoup money and rehome items on a larger scale. This allows people to sell the contents of their home or business much quicker.

Is an Estate Sale the Same as a Garage Sale?

Estate sales differ from garage sales in a variety of ways. The level of careful examination, intentional pricing and marketing that precedes an estate sale makes it much more substantial and comprehensive than a standard yard/garage sale. Items are expertly priced, photographed and staged. Almost the entire home, room-by-room, is accessible to the public on sale days with professional staff on hand to manage inventory questions and execute the sales.

How Does an Estate Sale Work?

The estate sale process is done through a professional estate sale company, like the expert team at Blue Moon Estate Sales. Once someone reaches out to inquire about hosting a Blue Moon estate sale, the process is straightforward.

1. An expert comes out to the home for a consultation and tour to determine if there’s enough valuable inventory to host a sale.

2. Pick a date, sign the contract and you’re good to go.

3. Your estate sale company markets your sale with staged photographs and digital event listings.

4. A week prior to the sale, a team comes out to review the inventory, conduct accurate price research and stage any final items.

5. Our professional staff will oversee and run the event. You won’t need to be on site.

6. Once the sale ends, you are paired with solutions to donate or remove items in a responsible manner.

7. Approximately 5—7 days after the event, you’ll receive payment and an inventory breakdown.

What Are the Most Desirable Items at an Estate Sale?

Estate sales can draw massive amounts of customers and potential sales, but which items typically have a higher chance of being purchased? The answer: vintage. From clothing, jewelry and accessories to furniture, collectibles and even tools—vintage or antique items are highly sought after at estate sales.

What to Expect as a Buyer at an Estate Sale

Estate sales usually get a ton of traction, which leads to busy crowds at the house or even long lines before the sale opens in the morning. By checking out the inventory beforehand, you can get a good idea of what to expect. The professionals at Blue Moon tend to publish the items available on the Blue Moon website ahead of time. If a particular item is high on your list, show up early to give yourself the best chance at getting it. Buyers can browse room-to-room while our helpful staff can hold onto any items until you’re ready to purchase. Plus, you can join our exclusive Shopper Rewards to earn points and get rewarded.

“It’s Sale Day—What Do I Do as a Seller?”

Absolutely nothing. Once you hire a professional estate sale company to host the event, you can relax knowing the professionals have it covered. You won’t even have to be at home.

Choose Blue Moon Estate Sales

Organizing an estate sale can be stressful and overwhelming, but with the help of a professional service like Blue Moon Estate Sales, the entire process becomes worry-free. Whether you’re interested in shopping one of our sales or hosting one of your own, our expert teams are professionally vetted and passionate about helping people navigate the estate sale process.