For decades, estate sale marketing was relatively straightforward. Put up signs. Place an advertisement. Tell regular buyers. Open the doors and hope the right people show up. That world is changing. A recent Architectural Digest report describes how TikTok, Instagram, professional photography, and social-media influencers are bringing a new generation of shoppers into estate sales — sometimes creating long lines, intense interest, and even higher prices for desirable items.

Homeowners interviewing an estate sale company often focus on one question: What percentage do you charge? That is an important question. But there is another question that may be just as important: After the sale is over, exactly how and when will I receive my money? A Houston-area news investigation provides a troubling example of why homeowners should understand that process before an estate sale begins. KPRC 2 reported on several families who said they entrusted an estate

One of the greatest risks in an estate sale is not necessarily pricing an ordinary item a little too low. It is failing to recognize when an item deserves more research before a price is ever placed on it. A dispute involving an Oregon estate sale provides a striking example. According to reports surrounding the case, a number of Chinese paintings, scrolls, and rubbings were discovered among the contents of an estate. Some were reportedly priced and sold for amounts ranging