Which one fits your house
Estate sale, auction or consignment.
Three honest ways to sell what is in a house. What each one does, what it costs, how long it takes, and which one fits yours.
Illustrative homeowner collection
The short answer
Three routes, three different jobs.
In-home consignment
Estate sale
Auction
Side by side
How they compare.
| In-home consignment | Estate sale | Auction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who comes to the house | In-home consignment: One buyer at a time, by appointment, for a piece already agreed | Estate sale: The public, over the sale days | Auction: The auction house, to collect the pieces |
| How long | In-home consignment: Most pieces sell within 30 to 60 days | Estate sale: Usually two to three weeks of setup, then a two day sale | Auction: Depends on the house's sale calendar |
| How pieces are priced | In-home consignment: Each one against what comparable pieces actually sold for | Estate sale: Priced to clear, and reduced on the second day | Auction: Whatever the bidding reaches on the day |
| What it costs | In-home consignment: A share of what sells, nothing up front. Ours: 50%, 40% or 35% by the size of the estimate | Estate sale: The national average is 40% of the gross, most quote 25 to 50% (EstateSales.net 2024) | Auction: A seller's commission, plus a premium the buyer pays on top. Ask for both in writing |
| What you do | In-home consignment: Open the door at the scheduled time | Estate sale: Nothing on the day, most families stay away | Auction: Agree the reserve, if the house offers one |
| Best for | In-home consignment: Good furniture, art, collections, tools, anything with a buyer who will pay for that exact piece | Estate sale: A full house that has to be empty by a date | Auction: A rare piece with competing collectors |
Estate sale figures: EstateSales.net 2024 Estate Sale Industry Insights Report, 774 businesses. More on the estate sale statistics page.
Our recommendation
Start with consignment. Use the others where they win.
In most houses we walk, the value sits in the good pieces, and those do best sold one at a time to the buyer who wants them. When the house has to be empty by a date, a sale clears the rest. When one piece is genuinely rare, an auction house should see it first, and we send it there before we list anything. The walkthrough is free and the written proposal follows within a day, so you see which route fits each piece before you decide.
What people ask when they are choosing.
Anything else, text or call (484) 8-REVIVE.
OUR PROMISE, IN WRITING
Every dollar above the estimate.
Yours.
Our share is based on the proposal number. We take no commission on the difference.
Nothing up front.
We earn a share when a piece sells.
Agreed in writing.
Your proposal. Your price floors.
Protection you can see.
Ask us for the insurance certificate.
Your things stay home.
Until the buyer has paid.
The complete promise and insurance details
Within a day of the walkthrough you have a written proposal: every piece, what it should sell for, and our share. It is yours to keep whether you hire us or not.
Every dollar above the number in your proposal is yours, all of it. Our share is worked out on the proposal number and nothing else, so if we estimate a chest at $200 and it brings $2,000, we take our share of the $200 and the whole $1,800 goes to you. We take no commission on the difference.
It is your house and they are your things, so the final call on any price is yours. Ask us to open higher than we estimated and we will. If it sells there, you keep every dollar of the gap.
It applies to both services, consignment and estate sales.
We carry $1,000,000 of commercial general liability insurance through National Specialty Insurance Company, with customer property protection. Ask for the certificate and we send it before we set foot in the house, and you can be named as an additional insured on request.
Nothing up front. We are paid a share of what sells. If a piece does not sell, we are not paid for it.
PUBLIC FEEDBACK
In their words.
Stone was great! Item was as described and he was very helpful with additional photos, and had clear & punctual communication. Even helped load furniture in my car. Would def shop with Stone again.
Outstanding seller!! Packaging could not have been better! Great comms, extremely friendly. You should give lessons! Very happy with the entire transaction. Many thanks.
Flexible with time, helped load the dresser, easy transaction!
Outstanding seller! Great communication, fast shipping & careful & professional attention to packaging of model to ensure that it arrived undamaged. Very concerned that the customer is satisfied. First rate customer service & a pleasure to deal with!
Very easy to work with
Amazing communicator! Kind, flexible, and helpful. Helped me figure out how to make shipping work for this wonderful gift. All time great eBay seller!
・Stone responded promptly and politely. ・The item was shipped quickly. ・The item matched the description and pictures. ・The item was good quality.
Great communication, prompt shipping, item just as pictured and described. I'm happy with my purchase and the experience.
My purchase was exactly like the picture
Excellent Seller! Super fast shipping! Item exactly as stated and packed securely. Highly recommend Seller.
・The item was good quality. ・The item matched the description and pictures. ・The item was shipped quickly. ・Stone responded promptly and politely.
Item received well packed. Excellent communication from Seller. Item exactly as described. Definitely recommend this Seller!
We enjoyed fast, courteous service with such kindness from the sellers . Thank you for sharing your talent with your customers.
Item exactly as described, fast shipping, great seller, highly recommended!
It was shipped pretty quickly and it was well packaged. Seller was very communicative
Great communication, answered back quickly and gave great description of the part.
Easy transaction. Very polite and nice to deal with.
Great seller, thanks
Great ebayer. Arrived as described. Would definitely buy from again. Very smooth transaction.
Perfect transaction all the way around. Exceptionally good packing effort and great communication as well. Well pleased with this purchase. Thanks so much.
Such a positive experience! Communication was awesome. I would definitely buy from them again.
Described the product well, communicated perfectly about the product and it was packed good and the price was good.
Packaged well. Seller made sure packaged arrived on time and in good condition. Item looks great. Much appreciated.
Great seller! Thank you!
Great packaging, 5 stars!
Happy with purchase. Good communication very easy transaction.
Everything was exactly as described. Packaged extremely well. I would definitely recommend this seller and would buy from him again. Seller is AAAA!!!!!! Great
Easy pickup. Good communication. Thank you.
Great seller, headset arrived just as described and works perfectly. Fast shipping and good communication. Would definitely buy from again
Quick shipper! Quality seller!
As described thank you!
as described thanks A+A+A+
Good transaction
Look good. Thank you. Arrived quickly and safely
Fast shipping. Recommended ebay seller.
As described, works well for 3D printer filament.
Super Fast Shipping!!! Physically shipped same day!! Appearance as described; fantastic condition. Good quality product!! Great deal!! Love Love Love❣️ Perfect transaction!! A+++
Fast shipping, great item
Exactly as described. Prompt shipping.
Great quality! Super fast shipping. Thanks
Works great love it wish I bought one sooner.
Start with what you have.
Send photos of a valuable piece or a collection. We review what you have, then agree on the right next step. A visit and written proposal follow when the collection is a fit.
Based in Kennett Square. We work about 30 miles in every direction, and farther when the house is worth the drive.
Call or text (484) 8-REVIVE