Pat Saef Estate Sales (2024)

FAQs

What percentage do most estate sale companies take? ›

What Percentage Do Estate Sales Take? Estate sale companies generally charge a standard commission rate between 30 to 40 percent of sales. Before they agree to take on a client, they'll typically provide a gross sales minimum. This means that the total value of all the items to be sold must meet or exceed that value.

Haggling or negotiating is a common and expected practice at estate sales. It's completely normal to try to get the best deal possible, and the seller is likely expecting it.

It's a commission-based field, so the majority of the money estate sale companies make comes from the sale of the items. Different companies have different pricing structures, but in a recent survey, we found the average commission rate, nationwide, is 35%.

Weekends and mornings are usually the most popular times for estate sale shoppers. There is more competition with other estate and garage sales in the spring and summer seasons. If the items lend to the character of the house, it may be beneficial to hold the estate sale while you're trying to sell the home.

While our sales open at 9am, our customers sometimes arrive as early as 3am (or even the night before) to ensure they are first in line to get their most sought after item(s). This is where the watched list comes into play. The standard practice is that the first person to arrive is the person who starts the list.

Most estate sales will take cash and credit/debit cards. Some will also take checks. Recently I attended a local estate sale that didn't take any credit or debit cards, cash or check only.

It goes without saying that you should group items by each category and store them with clear labels. That way, you can be sure that your items go to the right place. You certainly don't want your valuable collectors' item to be accidentally sent to your local thrift store!

Choose your advertising channels

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are great ways to reach a large audience and create buzz about your event. Additionally, classified websites like Craigslist and local event calendars can also be effective for reaching potential buyers.

One of the most effective ways to sell your home fast is to price it competitively. If you price it too high, you detract prospective buyers and price out potential bidders. In addition, it may take longer to settle the negotiation process if prospective buyers want your price to come down.

What percentage do most estate agents charge? ›

Fees tend to be between 0.9% and 3.6%. It's a good idea to ask exactly what the fee covers before signing a contract. Make sure to check any additional costs before deciding on an agent. Estate agent fees should only be paid when your sale is completed.

Agent fees

Most real estate agents charge a commission, which means they take a small percentage of the final sale price. Others work on a flat fee basis, so if you prefer that approach it's worth shopping around. Commission percentages vary from as low as 1.5% to as high as 3.5%.

The average in sales, though, is usually between 20-30%. What is a good commission rate for sales? Some companies offer as much as 40-50% commission. However, these are typically sales reps that require more technical skills and knowledge, plus have a compensation structure that relies more heavily on commission.

Commissions are typically calculated as a percentage of a property's sale price, though some brokerages will charge a flat fee. The average agent commission rate nationwide is 5.8% of the home sale price, according to HomeLight's real estate transaction data of thousands of home sales each year.