Estate salecompaniesin every town, from Anchorage to Key West
6,502 companies2,826 towns50 states and DCUpdated October 2026
Estate sale companies by state
Alabama — WyomingTowns with the most estate sale companies
Companies based in each town- Houston, TX52
- San Antonio, TX46
- Dallas, TX45
- Oklahoma City, OK41
- Denver, CO40
- Saint Louis, MO39
- Atlanta, GA37
- Austin, TX33
- Fort Worth, TX32
- Los Angeles, CA30
- Las Vegas, NV29
- San Diego, CA28
- Wichita, KS28
- Phoenix, AZ27
- Jacksonville, FL25
- Miami, FL25
- Orlando, FL24
- Minneapolis, MN23
- Tucson, AZ22
- Chicago, IL22
- Knoxville, TN22
- Bakersfield, CA21
- Seattle, WA21
- Kansas City, MO20
- Sacramento, CA19
- New Orleans, LA19
- Portland, OR19
- Salt Lake City, UT19
- San Jose, CA17
- Colorado Springs, CO17
- Charlotte, NC17
- Albuquerque, NM17
- Arlington, TX17
- Plano, TX17
- Overland Park, KS16
- Omaha, NE16
Not on the list? Look up your town or open your state above: smaller towns are listed there too.
How to hire an estate sale company
A plain guide for families clearing a parent's home, downsizing, or settling an estate, and for shoppers who want to find the sales.
What an estate sale company does
An estate sale company turns a houseful of belongings into money with as little work for you as possible. They sort through the home, research and price what's worth selling, photograph and advertise it, then open the house to buyers, usually over a Friday-to-Sunday weekend. Afterwards they arrange for the leftovers to be donated, bought out or cleared, and pay you your share.
Estate sale, buyout, auction or cleanout?
- Estate sale
- The house is opened to the public and items sell one by one. Usually the best return when there's a lot to sell.
- Buyout
- One offer for all or part of the contents. Fast and simple, but it pays less.
- Online auction
- Items are listed online and bidders compete; useful for collections, smaller homes, or when an open house isn't possible.
- Cleanout
- The house is emptied. Anything valuable may be sold or donated and the rest hauled away; you may pay for it rather than be paid.
How to choose a company
- Call two or three local companies. Look up your town and start with those based closest to the house.
- Ask about their commission and fees, what happens to unsold items, and when you'll be paid.
- Ask whether they're bonded and insured, and how they handle security during the sale.
- Look at their past sales. Most post photos of current and previous sales on their website or listings page.
- Get the agreement in writing before anything is moved, priced or sold.
For shoppers: finding estate sales near you
Estate sale companies announce their sales on their own websites, listing pages and social accounts, often a few days before the doors open. Look up your town, open the websites of the companies nearby, and join their email lists to hear about sales first.
Questions families and shoppers ask
What does an estate sale company do?
An estate sale company sells the contents of a home for you, usually over two or three days on site. They sort and research the items, price them, advertise the sale to their buyer list, run the sale and handle payment, then arrange for what's left to be donated, bought out or cleared.
How much do estate sale companies charge?
Most work on commission: they keep a percentage of what sells and you receive the rest. The rate varies with the size and value of the estate and the region, and some companies add minimums or fees for cleanout. Ask every company for its rate, what it includes and when you'll be paid, in writing.
Is there enough in the house for an estate sale?
Call two or three local companies and ask. Most will look at photos or visit for free and tell you whether a full sale makes sense. If it doesn't, many offer a buyout (one offer for everything), an online auction, or a cleanout instead.
How long does it take to arrange an estate sale?
Good companies book up weeks ahead, so call early. Once a date is set, preparing the house typically takes a few days to a week or two, the sale itself runs two to three days, and the house is usually left empty or broom-clean shortly after.
What's the difference between an estate sale, a buyout and a cleanout?
An estate sale opens the home to the public and sells items one by one, which usually brings in the most money. A buyout is a single offer for all or part of the contents, which is faster but pays less. A cleanout empties the house, with valuable items sold or donated and the rest hauled away; you may pay for it rather than be paid.
How do I find estate sales to shop near me?
Look up your town here and open the websites and listing pages of the local companies: they post their upcoming sales, photos and dates there, and many have email lists that announce sales a few days ahead.