How much do estate sale companies charge in Michigan?

Typically 30% to 50% of gross sales, with no upfront cost. The rate alone does not tell you what you keep: some companies deduct advertising, staffing or credit card fees on top, some charge separately for the cleanout afterwards, and some apply a minimum fee that bites on smaller estates.

Is a lower commission rate always the better deal?

No. A company at 35% that deducts advertising and charges for the cleanout can leave you with less than one at 45% that includes both. A company that prices contents well can also gross enough more to beat a cheaper competitor outright. Compare what you keep, not the headline rate.

Do I pay anything upfront for an estate sale?

Almost never. Estate sale companies are paid out of the proceeds, which is why the commission looks high; it covers sorting, research, pricing, staffing, advertising and the days on site. Be cautious of anyone asking for money before the sale.

What Will You Actually Keep?

Commission rate is the number companies lead with, and it is the wrong one to compare. A 35% quote that deducts advertising and bills separately for the cleanout can leave you with less than a 45% quote that includes both. Put the offers side by side here and the arithmetic answers it.

This is arithmetic on figures you enter, not a quote or a valuation. Ask each company to confirm in writing what is included before you sign anything.

What to ask before you sign

Is advertising included, or deducted?: Photography, listing fees and signage are real costs. Some companies absorb them inside the commission, others bill them off the top. Ask which, and ask for a number.
What happens to what does not sell?: Some companies include a broom-clean cleanout, some charge for it, some leave it. On a full house that difference can be several hundred dollars either way.
Is there a minimum fee?: Common, and it matters most on the smaller estates where families can least afford it. If the sale grosses less than expected, a minimum can swallow a large share of it.
Who is insured, and for what?: Strangers will be in the home for several days. Ask for proof of liability insurance and a bond, and ask what happens if something is damaged or goes missing.
When do you get paid, and how?: A settlement statement itemising gross sales, deductions and your net, within a stated number of days after the sale. Get the number of days in writing.

We will get you the offers to compare

Tell us about the home and we will put two or three vetted local companies in front of you, so the numbers above have something real to sit in. Free, and you are never obliged to hire any of them.

Prefer to talk? Call (800) 294-9218

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Tell us about the home and we will put two or three vetted companies in front of you, usually within one business day.