How To Prepare for an Estate Sale or Auction
Here’s a step-by-step look at what you’ll need to do:
1. Decide What To Sell
Start by sorting through your belongings and identifying things you no longer need or want. Common auction or sale items include:
- Furniture
- Home décor
- Antiques and collectibles
- Tools and equipment
- Vehicles and trailers
- Appliances and electronics
If you’re not sure about the value of certain items, an auction professional can help appraise them.
2. Choose the Right Setup
You have two main options:
Hire a professional auction company
This is a great choice if you want a stress-free, full-service experience. Auction companies typically handle everything from start to finish, including:
- Evaluating and pricing items
- Advertising the event
- Setting up the display
- Managing the auction process (live or online)
- Handling payments and buyer pickup
Some companies specialize in estate sales, offering options for in-person or online-only auctions. Expect to pay a commission or service fee, but many sellers find the convenience to be worth it.
Host a DIY auction or sale
If you’re comfortable handling the details yourself, a DIY estate auction or sale can be fun and financially rewarding. You’ll be responsible for:
- Photographing and writing descriptions of items
- Promoting the auction online or in your neighborhood
- Coordinating bidding, communication and payments
- Scheduling item pickup or shipping
You can run it as an in-person estate sale or set up an online auction through platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or dedicated auction sites like AuctionNinja or HiBid. While it’s more work, you maintain complete control over the process and keep all the profits.
3. Prep Your Home or Auction Site
Clear out and clean the areas where the sale will take place. Group similar items together and make sure everything is easy to see. If your auction is online, take clear, well-lit photos and write detailed descriptions.
Hosting the event somewhere else? Rent a truck. Our wide range of truck sizes makes it easy to transport items to a local auction house or storage facility. Use the Penske Truck Wizard to determine what size truck will work best for you. And if you’ll be selling larger items, consider adding a hand truck or dolly to your rental to make moving things a breeze.
4. Label and Inventory Everything
Even if you’re working with professionals, creating a simple inventory list can help keep track of what you’re selling. Use labels or tags to clearly mark items for buyers and bidders, ensuring everything runs smoothly.
5. Promote Your Event
If hosting the auction or sale yourself, be sure to spread the word via social media, estate sale apps and auction websites. Always include a clear address or online link, along with the event date and time. It’s also great to list a few big-ticket items to pique people’s interest in checking out your sale once it’s live.
If you’re working with an auction company, know that most include promotion in their services.
6. Have a Plan for What’s Left
Even successful estate sales and auctions don’t always sell everything. So, plan ahead and decide where the leftovers will go. You can:
- Donate unsold items to charity
- Offer leftover items to neighbors or friends for free
- Use a rental truck to haul away anything you don’t want to take with you
Bonus Tip: Time It Right
If you’re planning to sell your home or move shortly after the auction, give yourself a buffer. Hosting the event a few weeks before your move gives you time to finish packing, clean everything after pickup, and handle any follow-up tasks without added pressure.