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Questions, answered
Clarity before you commit.
Understand fit, preparation, responsibilities and the questions to ask before booking an estate sale.
Have a question about your own property or collection?
Ask about your projectThese estate sale questions help you understand what the proposed work includes, which decisions remain yours and how the results will be reported. Use the answers as a starting point for a conversation about your property.
The commission or fee, its calculation and any separately authorized expenses belong in the written agreement after the contents and required work have been reviewed. Compare the full scope, including preparation, staffing, additional services and unsold property, rather than the percentage alone. Read our estate-sale service overview for scope questions.
Contact us when you have a general location, a sense of the contents and an approximate deadline. Preparation depends on access, condition, merchandise volume and research needs. Tell us about a fixed move or property deadline at the outset; availability and a workable schedule must be confirmed before dates are agreed.
The level of inventory and reporting should be settled before setup. Ordinary items may be grouped by category, quantity or bundle, while selected pieces may need separate identification. If an executor, trustee or family member needs item-level sale prices, photographs or another record, raise that requirement early and confirm what can be provided in writing.
Confirm the payment methods, transaction records, treatment of fees and adjustments, and the accounting and payment schedule in the agreement for your project. A report should be understandable alongside the agreed calculation of the company’s compensation. Do not assume that two proposals use the same definition of sales or expenses.
Discuss attendance, access and an available point of contact before sale days. The plan should allow the team to manage shoppers and checkout while ensuring the authorized decision-maker can be reached when needed. Set aside belongings the family will retain and resolve disputed items before they enter the sale.
Review the evidence, possible channels, costs and timing with the authorized client. Any transfer, related expense and compensation needs written approval before an item leaves the property. Our specialty-item guide explains questions about custody, reserves and unsold returns. A recommendation does not guarantee acceptance or a selling price.
Market research and identification assistance for selling decisions are distinct from a certified appraisal or guaranteed authentication. Tax, insurance, litigation and other formal uses may require a qualified independent professional. Tell us the intended use of a valuation so the appropriate kind of work can be discussed.
Agree on responsibility before the sale. Donation, further selling, transport, disposal and clean-out may require separate work and costs. Charities set their own acceptance criteria. Read our guide to donating unsold estate items before arranging a pickup.
Yes. The person authorized to act must be identified, and the estate’s legal adviser should resolve authority, notices, approvals and legal obligations. A professional introduction does not itself authorize the sale of property. See probate estate-sale planning for practical preparation.
A focused consultation may help compare a smaller collection’s possible channels and the work each would require. A buyout, consignment, private selling or a mixed disposition plan may deserve consideration. The right next step depends on the contents, costs, time and help available.
Cockatoo Estates and Quirk plan and carry out the work together, combining estate-sale experience with business, vintage-fashion and merchandising expertise. The estate-sale agreement is with The Cockatoo Club LLC d/b/a Cockatoo Estates and defines the team’s scope and responsibilities.
Tell us where the estate is, what it includes and your timing. Cockatoo Estates and Quirk will review the details and help identify an appropriate next step. Families and professional referral partners can inquire here.