Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers to what people actually ask us on the first phone call.

How do estate sales work?

How estate sales work in practice is simpler than most people expect. A company comes in, sorts and stages the entire home, researches and prices everything, markets the sale, and runs it over a weekend.

You do not sort anything beforehand and you do not need to be present. After the sale you get a settlement statement and payment, and the remaining items get donated, bought out, or removed.

The company takes a percentage of what sells. You pay nothing upfront.

What percentage do estate sale companies take?

The estate sale commission percentage in the Wichita market generally falls in the 35 to 50 percent range depending on the estate.

Sale size, contents, condition of the home, and how much labor setup requires all move that number. A clean home with strong contents sits at the lower end.

Ours is set in writing before we start. No upfront cost and no out-of-pocket expense to you.

How long does an estate sale take?

How long an estate sale takes depends more on setup than the sale itself. Expect one to two weeks of sorting, researching, pricing, staging, and photography.

The sale usually runs Friday through Sunday. Cleanout follows within a few days after.

Start to finish, most jobs wrap up in two to three weeks. We can compress that when a closing date demands it.

Is there a minimum estate value?

Most companies here want a minimum estate value somewhere in the $5,000 to $10,000 range in expected gross sales, and we are similar.

That is not a rule so much as math. Below a certain point, the commission does not cover the labor a proper sale requires.

If your estate falls short, we will quote a buyout instead. Plenty of families end up better off that way.

Do I need to be home during the sale?

“Do I need to be home?” is probably the most common question we get, and the answer is no.

Most clients are not present and many do not live in Kansas. We handle access, staffing, security, and the entire weekend.

If you would rather not see the house full of shoppers, do not. That is a very normal choice.

What should I do before you arrive?

Nothing. Do not sort, clean out, or throw anything away.

Families routinely discard the exact items that draw buyers. Old tools, worn cookware, fabric, craft supplies, and garage hardware sell every weekend.

Remove documents, photographs, medications, and anything sentimental. Leave the rest where it is.

What sells best at an estate sale?

What sells best in Wichita is a longer list than most people assume. Solid furniture, tools, shop equipment, and kitchen contents move consistently.

Coins, jewelry, sterling, glassware, pottery, records, vintage toys, militaria, and sports memorabilia all have dedicated buyers here.

So do the unglamorous categories. Linens, quilts, sewing supplies, holiday decor, and garage shelving clear almost every time.

What happens to items that do not sell?

You choose. Donation with a receipt, a buyout on the remainder, or full removal.

Most families combine them. Charities take the usable goods and the rest gets hauled.

Either way the house ends up broom clean and ready to list.

When do I get paid?

Shortly after the sale closes. You receive a settlement statement showing gross sales, commission, and net proceeds.

Any expenses agreed in advance appear as line items. Nothing is deducted that was not discussed first.

Can you work with an executor or a trust?

Yes, and we do it often. Executors, personal representatives, and trustees get a written inventory of significant items before anything is priced.

We schedule around court timelines and can wait for letters to be issued while setup work continues.

Heirs living out of state can handle the entire process remotely.

Do you handle firearms, vehicles, or real estate?

Firearms are handled through proper legal channels. Vehicles and titled equipment are treated as separate transactions from the household sale.

Real property is a matter for a licensed agent, not for us. We are happy to coordinate with whoever is listing the home.

What areas do you cover?

Wichita and the surrounding communities, including Derby, Andover, Maize, Goddard, Haysville, Bel Aire, Park City, Valley Center, Rose Hill, Newton, El Dorado, and Augusta.

Inside the city we work every neighborhood, from College Hill and Riverside to Tallgrass and the Northeast Heights.

If you are just outside that range, call anyway.

Can family take items before the sale?

Yes, but do it before we price anything. Once items are tagged, photographed, and marketed, pulling them back creates problems.

Set the keep list at the walkthrough. Anything going to heirs gets labeled and set aside in one room before setup begins.

Buyers who drive across town for a listed item and find it gone do not come back to the next sale.

Is my home too small or too full?

Small homes run sales all the time. What matters is the contents, not the square footage.

Full homes are usually good news. Basements, garages, sheds, and storage units are where a lot of the value hides.

Very full or difficult properties are still workable. We handle hoarding situations without judgment.

What if items get damaged or stolen?

We staff sales properly and keep small valuables in a controlled area near checkout rather than loose on tables.

Entry counts are managed so the house never gets so crowded that nobody can see the floor.

Ask any company you interview whether they carry insurance. It is a fair question and you should get a clear answer.

Do you bring in items from other sales?

We do not. Some companies pad a light house with inventory from elsewhere, which splits proceeds and clouds the accounting.

Your sale contains your items only. The settlement statement reflects exactly that.

Our staff also do not buy from a sale before the public does.

What if I need to cancel?

Talk to us as early as you can. Plans change, closings fall through, and families change their minds.

Once photography and marketing are out, buyers have already made plans around your dates. Canceling late is harder on everyone.

The written agreement covers how that works, and we go over it before you sign.

Still have a question?

Call (316) 394-3945 and ask. We answer these all day.

The walkthrough is free, and we will give you an honest read on whether a sale is worth running.