Question 1

How is the pricing on an estate-trade sale determined?

Accepted Answer

Item-by-item, from a written appraisal we share with you before the sale opens. We walk the house, photograph everything with resale value, and write a per-lot price based on what similar pieces have actually sold for in the current market — not a rule of thumb or a fraction of an asking price. You see the appraisal before you sign, and you can raise, lower, or pull any lot before the first buyer walks in. The commission we charge is a fixed percentage written into a single contract, and any fees we pass through (auction venue, advertising, cleanout) are itemized on the same invoice — no hidden mark-ups. If you want a sample appraisal on a single room before you commit, send a note through the request form and we will put one together.

Question 2

Which Capital Region neighborhoods do you serve?

Accepted Answer

A 518 practice, not a regional franchise. Our everyday territory is Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, Troy, and Rensselaer counties, and we run most jobs inside that footprint. We will travel farther for larger settlements, multi-day estates, or properties that need a referral partner we already know — if you are outside the territory and want our help anyway, write to Joseph through the contact page and we will tell you straight whether the project is one we should take or one we should hand off to a partner we trust.

Question 3

What does a typical estate-trade timeline look like?

Accepted Answer

Most projects run three to six months from first call to final walkthrough, with the length driven by the scope of the property rather than our schedule. Intake and the initial walkthrough land in the first one to two weeks. Appraisal, catalog, and the operator-side paperwork run through the first month. The sale, cleanout, and any trades stretch into months two through five. Settlement — the broker coordination, the closing prep, the handoff paperwork — adds another two to four weeks. We write a written schedule with your contract, and we update you with a real read on the timeline every two weeks, not a stock progress email.

Question 4

What happens to items that do not sell during the estate trade?

Accepted Answer

Nothing leaves the house without your written direction. Unsold lots move through three named paths that you choose before the sale opens: consignment for another selling window, donation to a named 501(c)(3) you select with a receipt for your records, or return to the family for distribution to heirs. We do not sweep leftover items to a third-party "we will handle it" channel that disappears into a salvage truck. If at the end of the agreed window you still hold items you have not decided on, we extend the timeline (no rush fee) until the family gives a written direction on each remaining lot.

Question 5

Can I read a sample of the agreement before I commit?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the agreement is not state-secret. After the intake call you will receive a sample copy of the standard contract with the pricing, the commission structure, the timeline, the unsold-items disposition, and the cancellation terms redacted only for blank numbers that depend on your specific appraisal. The same agreement is the one we sign with every estate client, so what you see is what we sign. If a clause does not make sense when you read it, write back through the request form and we will translate it in plain language before you commit.

Question 6

How are payments scheduled across the project?

Accepted Answer

A signed estimate is paid in three scheduled draws tied to project milestones, never to a sales calendar we control. The first draw is due at contract sign and covers intake, walkthrough, and the appraisal. The second draw is due when the sale catalog opens to buyers. The third draw is due at settlement, after the property hands over or the sale closes. Itemized statements accompany every draw, and the unsold-items disposition, the commission, and any pass-through fees are on the same page so you can audit every line. If a sale underperforms or you cancel mid-project, the remaining draws are refunded on a schedule written into the contract — not a verbal promise.

The questions estate sellers ask, answered plainly.

Bring the rest of the questions.