What a consultation covers
The consultation is structured to answer the questions most families have at the start of an estate sale process — and to be useful even if you decide not to move forward. Expect to talk through: the realistic timeline (most estates can be staged and sold within 4–6 weeks of the initial call); what kinds of items will and won't sell at an on-site estate sale versus a specialty auction; commission ranges in your region; what happens to unsold inventory (donation, consignment, haul-away); whether your home is well-suited to an on-site sale or whether a hybrid online/on-site approach would generate more revenue; and any specific concerns you have about timing, sentimental items, or family dynamics.
A good initial conversation is genuinely free and genuinely no-obligation — the liquidator covers their time as a marketing investment. You should leave the call with enough information to either hire a liquidator with confidence or do the work yourselves with a much clearer plan.
How to vet the liquidator
Before you book the conversation, vet the firm yourself: look for a minimum of five years in business, verifiable insurance, no unresolved consumer complaints, and references from at least three recent clients. Most good liquidators are owner-operators or small teams — not national chains. They know the local secondary market, the local auction houses, and the local moving and donation logistics. That regional expertise is the entire reason on-site estate sales still outperform other liquidation methods in most markets.