Twelve of the questions we hear most often from families considering an estate sale in the St. Louis area. If yours is not here, we will happily answer it — just call.
There is no upfront cost. We work on a commission basis, typically a percentage of gross sale proceeds. The percentage varies depending on the size of the sale, the complexity of the contents, and any cleanout or logistics services you request. You receive a written, itemized settlement within 7–10 business days after the sale.
Most St. Louis estate sales fall between 30% and 40% commission. Very small sales may be higher due to fixed costs, and very large or unique estates may be lower. We will quote your specific situation at the free consultation — no guessing.
A typical sale is three weeks from first walkthrough to final check: one week of setup and staging, one week of advertising, a three-day sale, and then settlement. Larger or more complex estates may take four to six weeks. We build a clear timeline before we ever touch the first item.
No. Please do not. One of the most common mistakes is families throwing things away before an appraiser has seen them — an old box in the basement can easily contain the highest-selling item in the sale. Let us walk through first.
We discuss this at the start. Options include a follow-up discount day, a donation pickup with tax receipts, consignment of specific higher-value items, or a full cleanout. You choose the combination that fits your needs.
Absolutely. During setup we work with a clearly marked “not for sale” area or bedroom. You tell us what is staying; we make sure nothing on that list is ever priced or sold.
Yes. We carry general liability insurance for on-site protection. A certificate of insurance is available on request, and is routinely provided to HOAs, realtors, and trust/probate attorneys.
Yes. Jeff and Regina are CAGA-certified personal property appraisers. We provide written, USPAP-compliant appraisals for insurance replacement, estate settlement, charitable contribution, and divorce purposes.
The greater St. Louis metro — Missouri and Metro East Illinois. We have worked from Webster Groves to Lake St. Louis, Florissant to Belleville. If you are within about an hour of downtown, we likely cover it; give us a call to confirm.
EstateSales.net (our primary listing platform), a 4,000+ subscriber email list, Facebook, Craigslist, and targeted newspaper listings when appropriate. Buyers travel from a wide area for the right estate.
Payment is delivered within 7 to 10 business days after the sale ends, along with a written settlement report. If your bank requires EFT instead of a paper check, we can accommodate that.
Yes. About a quarter of our clients live out of state. We coordinate by phone, email, and photo updates. You do not need to fly in; many families never set foot in the house again after we begin.
