Frequently Asked Questions About Estate Sales

Estate Sale FAQs: Answers for Shoppers and Families.

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General Estate Sale Questions

An estate sale is an open-to-the-public sale of a home’s entire contents, usually held over a single weekend.

We have been hosting estate sales in California’s Central Valley since 2008.

Garage and yard sales are often held by house occupants and offer limited items, while an estate sale is usually held by a third-party business and includes virtually everything in the house.

Depending on the estate’s size, sales usually last 2 full days over a weekend.

Typically, prices decrease by noon on the second day.

Yes. Sign up for our email list to know about future scheduled estate sales in advance.

Questions for Estate Sale Shoppers

Sign up on our mailing list HERE. Or visit our upcoming event listings HERE.

Sorry, no. The buyer is responsible for all necessary disassembly, loading, and hauling.

Please do not call or text us regarding prices or estate sale item details. Email inquiries only: info@mgestatesales.com

No. All items at our estate sales are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Prices are firm on the first day of the sale. On the second day, prices are reduced, and we’re more open to reasonable offers.

No. All sales of second-hand goods are final and non-refundable.

Cash, credit/debit cards, a flashlight, bags, a tape measure, friends, and a positive attitude.

Questions for Estate Sale Clients

An estate sale is a good fit if you need to sell most or all of the contents of a home, whether because of downsizing, a move, or settling a loved one’s estate. We handle everything from pricing and advertising to running the sale and clearing out what’s left, so you don’t have to.

We’re based in Modesto and serve the surrounding communities, including Oakdale, Riverbank, Ceres, Turlock, and Manteca. Our service area also covers these California Central Valley counties:

  • Stanislaus
  • San Joaquin
  • Calaveras
  • Tuolumne
  • Fresno
  • Madera
  • Placer

We are available in other areas as well. Call us for more information. (209) 818-2249.

During a busy year, we are typically booked out 4 to 6 weeks in advance. Please contact us as soon as you start considering an estate sale. We usually need you to complete a few tasks before we can conduct a walkthrough.

  • Free initial on-site consultation
  • Experienced pricing and valuation guidance, with referrals to certified appraisers when needed
  • Advertising on our website, in local newspapers, on Craigslist.com, Facebook.com, GSALR.com, estatesales.net, and through our extensive e-mail list
  • Photography of entire estate for ad & web placement
  • Online sales of key items (by special request)
  • Donation of unsold items to local charitable organization
  • Licensed & Insured Estate Sale Company with a knowledgeable and friendly liquidation team.

Visit our Services page for more details.

Yes. Commercial liquidations are sales held on site at a business being liquidated. When a business is ready to close, we will sell all remaining inventory and equipment, office furniture and supplies, fixtures and displays, and anything else being left behind.

Commercial liquidation sales usually take much longer to prepare and advertise than residential estate sales. Please contact us well in advance if you are considering one for your business.

Yes. All initial consultations are always free of charge.

We usually donate reusable leftovers to local charitable organizations. Items that are not reusable will be removed from the sales site and disposed of.

Plan on at least three weeks: about two weeks to set up and run the sale, and one more week to clear out the property. During our busy season we need more setup time, so contact us as early as you can.

No, please don’t throw anything away! You’d be surprised what shoppers will buy. We’ll help you decide what to sell and what to discard.

No. In fact, our contract asks that you stay away during the sale. It helps the sale run smoothly, and it spares you the stress of watching strangers shop through your family’s belongings.

We’re not certified appraisers, but we have years of experience pricing estate items and can advise you on what your belongings are likely worth. We prefer to evaluate collections and large lots rather than single items. For high-value pieces such as fine art, jewelry, or rare collectibles, we work with professional certified appraisers to make sure items are valued accurately.