| Estate sale | Cash buyout | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get paid | Your share of what the contents actually sell for, after the 35% commission | One offer for the lot, quoted at the walkthrough and paid on removal |
| Cost to start | $0 out-of-pocket — every cost is settled out of the proceeds | $0 out-of-pocket — nothing is billed to the estate |
| How long it takes | Usually 7 to 14 days: staging and pricing, a 3-day weekend sale, then clearance | Days, not weeks — scheduling the removal is most of the timeline |
| Who does the sorting | We do. Nothing needs cleaning, boxing, or hauling before we arrive | We do. Same rule: leave it where it is |
| Best when | The home holds furniture, collections, tools, jewelry, or anything an appraiser should look at | The timeline is short, the family is out of state, or the contents are ordinary household goods |
| Downside to know | It takes a scheduled weekend, and the final number depends on what buyers pay | A single offer for everything will not beat a strong sale on a home full of valuable contents |
| Small estates | A minimum threshold guarantee, typically $2,000, protects the smaller estate | Often the better tool when there is little of resale value |
| What you get in writing | An itemized written settlement, reconciled within 14 days of the sale | A written offer before anything is removed |
| Condition at handoff | Emptied and ready to photograph and list | Emptied and ready to photograph and list |
How we tell you which one fits
We do not decide this from a phone call, and we do not ask you to. The free on-site walkthrough exists precisely so the recommendation is made against the actual contents of the actual house. We look at what is there, flag anything that needs a specialist appraisal, and tell you plainly whether a staged sale is likely to out-earn a buyout on that property. When the answer is the buyout, we say so — signing a family to a weekend sale that will not clear its own weight helps nobody.
What does not change either way
Nothing needs sorting, cleaning, or moving before we arrive. Pull out the items the family is keeping and leave everything else exactly where it is. You never pay in advance, you get the terms in writing before anything is removed, and the property is handed back emptied and ready to photograph and list. You keep access to the home the whole time — you are the executor, you carry the duty to maintain it, and we will never charge you to walk into a property you are responsible for.
Questions families ask before they sign anything
What commission do you charge, and what does it cover?
35% of gross sales. That single number covers the appraisal-aware research, pricing and tagging, staging the home, marketing to a regional buyer list, staffing and supervising the sale, and the post-sale clearance. There is no separate setup fee, marketing fee, or staffing charge added afterward.
Do I have to pay anything before the sale?
No. $0 out-of-pocket. Every cost of running the sale is absorbed and settled out of the proceeds, so an estate with no cash on hand can still be liquidated properly.
Which parts of the St. Louis metro do you cover?
The county and the city and the Illinois side: Ladue, Clayton, Chesterfield, Creve Coeur, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, University City, Frontenac, Town and Country, the St. Louis city neighborhoods, and the Metro East. If you are unsure whether your address is in range, ask -- the walkthrough is how we answer that, and it costs nothing.
The heirs live out of state. Do we have to be there?
No. A large share of the estates we run in this metro are directed by an heir who has not lived in Missouri for years. We handle the walkthrough, the photographs, the pricing decisions, and the sale, and you approve by phone and email. You receive the same itemized reconciliation within 14 days either way.
The basement and attic are completely full. Does that change the price?
No. The commission is 35% of gross sales whether the house is half empty or packed to the rafters, and clearance of what does not sell is included either way. Volume changes how many days of staging and how large a crew we schedule, not what you are charged.
How long does the whole process take?
Typically 7 to 14 days from the walkthrough to an empty house, with the sale itself running as a 3-day weekend event. If a listing date or a court deadline is driving the schedule, say so at the walkthrough and we build backward from it.
What happens to the things that do not sell?
They still leave. Unsold contents are routed to donation or recycling and documented, and the property is cleared and ready to list. Clearance is part of the 35%, not a separate haul-away invoice at the end.
How do I know the contents were priced honestly?
You get an itemized accounting reconciliation within 14 days of the sale showing what sold and for what. Research is appraisal-aware rather than guesswork, and because our fee is a percentage of the gross, underpricing your contents costs us exactly what it costs you.
Find out which one your Metro East estate should use
A free on-site walkthrough and valuation. No cost, no obligation, no pressure to run a sale that does not fit.
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