Frequently Asked Questions

An estate sale is a professionally managed event to sell a household's contents, often due to major life changes such as downsizing, relocation, or estate settlement. Typically, an estate sale company will hold an onsite sale open to the public over the course of three days to sell home items, and then provide the total profit (minus commission) to the owner of the estate.

Estate sale services are sought after for a variety of reasons, including estate settlement after a loved one's passing, downsizing efforts, and relocation plans. Whether managing inherited belongings, simplifying living spaces, or preparing for a move, estate sales offer a convenient and efficient solution for individuals navigating life transitions.

Burgess Estate Sales has over ten years of experience working in the estate sale industry, and our top priority is making the process as easy and profitable as possible for our clients. We operate with a high level of professionalism and integrity, and we pride ourselves on extracting the maximum value from a home. Clients benefit from clear communication, transparent pricing, and a stress-free experience.

Here are some additional considerations that set us apart:

• Dedicated staff assigned to different areas of the home, ensuring smooth sale operations
• Full range of necessary equipment, including tables, tags, and more, to run the sale smoothly
• Robust safety measures, including clear labeling and securing of hazardous areas
• Full insurance coverage while we're working in your home

The initial consultation is a great opportunity for us to learn your goals and expectations for the sale. We will assess your property, walk you through our process and what you can expect from our services. If we are a good fit, we will offer you a contract to sign and plan out dates to begin preparation.

To schedule an estate sale with Burgess Estate Sales, you can contact us via email at kevin@burgess-estate-sales.com or by phone at (512) 649-3584. Our team will guide you through the process and provide you with all the necessary information to get started.

Burgess Estate Sales typically charges a 40% commission on the total profit generated from an estate sale.

Our commission covers every aspect of our investment in the sale.

• Decluttering and organizing home items into categories
• Expert item valuation
• Professional staging, including tables, shelving, jewelry display cases, clothing racks, branded price tags
• Credit card processing fees
• Staff labor during setup and on sale days
• Marketing, both online and in-person signage

The only other fee deducted from the sale is a cleanout fee if the client has opted for that service, and sales tax. If you choose our cleanout service, the cost will be discussed upfront and deducted from your final proceeds.

At the end of an estate sale, inevitably there will be items remaining. While some clients prefer to handle this themselves, most opt for our clean-out service. We charge a lower-than-average commission (typically 40% of gross sales) and offer a clean-out service for a reasonable fee, which is deducted from the sale proceeds. With this service, we will remove any items from the home that did not sell and leave the home completely empty.

We collaborate with local charities and volunteers to minimize costs and handle much of the clean-up. For any remaining items, we partner with a local company to ensure everything is cleared from the property.

We use a range of resources to ensure that all items are priced competitively and at fair market value, including access to online auction databases, local eCommerce platforms, and industry-specific tools. For valuable or rare items, we take extra care to research current market trends and consult trusted industry experts. We know how important it is to price items to sell-while still maximizing their value.

We have found that no amount of education or training can substitute for boots-on-the-ground experience. That being said, we do collaborate with seasoned appraisers when needed to help us verify the age, origin and value of rare items.

No, we do not own a resale shop. Unlike some companies that resell unsold items for their own profit, our sole focus is on maximizing value for our clients during the estate sale.

We may arrange presales for specific items like appliances, pianos, tractors, boats, and guns. We use our best judgment to ensure we maximize value for our clients and avoid the inconvenience of moving large items during the sale weekend.

We have extensive experience helping clients with international moves. Here's how we cater to their unique needs:

• We maintain clear communication through FaceTime and detailed photos.
• We accommodate time zone differences to ensure timely responses.
• We collaborate seamlessly with realtors.
• After the estate sale, we schedule a virtual meeting to review the financial summary.
• We promptly make ACH deposits, ensuring no delays in receiving net proceeds.
• We offer removal services to ensure the home is fully cleared and ready for its next chapter.

Our founder, Kevin, has a background in fine art, so we specialize in estate sales for artists and fine art collections. However, we have experience with a wide range of items and have successfully handled all types of sales.

The timing depends on your situation. Some clients book months in advance for a planned move, while others schedule based on when they plan to list their home. Generally, the earlier you hire a company, the better-but if you need help on short notice, we'll accommodate if we can.

We sure do. We are required by law to register for a Seller's Permit and collect sales tax.

You're welcome to clean or do laundry before our prep time, but it's not required! We'll handle dusting and light cleaning ahead of the sale. Please don't donate anything before the sale-leave everything as is so we can evaluate it. If anything needs to be disposed of, we'll take care of it.

For certain specialty items, we will work with you to ensure that you are comfortable with our recommended pricing and decide the lowest amount that the item would sell at. In general, though, we ask you to trust us! We have been doing this for a long time, we work with a fantastic team of experts and we always balance extracting the most value for an item while also pricing to sell. At the end of the day, we want to sell as many items and make you as much money as possible!

While the majority of sales we do are on behalf of people who have passed away, we also do plenty of sales for people who are downsizing or moving, either out of state or internationally.

We serve Austin, TX and the surrounding area including but not limited to Austin, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Wimberley, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Dripping Springs, West Lake Hills, Round Rock, and Pflugerville. For any area that is further away, we may quote a higher commission rate to account for the extra distance.

A garage sale is put on by a homeowner to declutter and sell a selection of items that they no longer want to keep.

An estate sale is a more formal process that needs advanced planning. When an individual needs to liquidate an entire estate, they will hire a professional estate sale company like Burgess Estate Sales to stage, price and run a professional sale on their behalf.

If conditions are not safe to hold an estate sale during the scheduled dates, we will postpone the sale to a weekend in the future.

We accept cash, all major credit cards and Venmo. We do not accept personal checks.

Absolutely! We have sold it all - and we always do our due diligence to ensure the proper paperwork and documentation is executed as part of the sale.

Yes! Our website contains links to our past estate sale listings on estatesales.net.

We use signage and traffic cones to manage parking outside. Inside, trained staff control the flow of customers, limiting entry when needed and assisting with purchase decisions.

This is a key part of the estate sale process. Our skilled team carefully arranges and organizes items throughout the home, transforming each space into a visually appealing and shoppable display to enhance the shopping experience.

We welcome reasonable offers, but we do not negotiate on the first day when items are full price. As the sale progresses, we become more flexible with pricing.

We promote our sales across various online platforms, including estatesales.net, social media channels, and our exclusive subscriber list. Additionally, we use plenty of signage in the area surrounding the estate sale house to direct traffic to the home.

We've found that hosting a private preview for family and friends before the sale is a great way for loved ones to have a personal moment with the estate. It allows you to explore the items, check out the prices and ask any questions, all without the bustle of the public sale. Of course, our clients are welcome to attend the public sale as well, as long as they keep it relaxed and enjoy the experience.