Does It Really Matter Which Estate Sale Company You Choose? Absolutely—Here’s Why.

When families face the task of liquidating a lifetime of belongings, one of the biggest decisions they make is choosing the right estate sale company. At first glance, many estate sale providers may look similar. They all promise to “stage,” “price,” and “sell.” They advertise experience. They claim to offer great service.

But after recently visiting several estate sales held by other companies in our area, I can confidently say this: it absolutely matters who you choose—and in some cases, it can be the difference between thousands gained or thousands lost.

Before I go any further, I want to make something clear: This is not self-serving. This is the truth. And yes, the story I’m about to share may sound unbelievable or “too convenient,” but I assure you—it is not made up.

A Real Example: A $5,000 Painting Sold for $54

During one of my visits, I arrived early and stood about eighth in line. As the door opened, the first woman to enter walked straight to a painting and said, “I want that one.”

The price tag? $54.The artist? A well-known early Texas American artist whose pieces routinely sell in the $4,000–$7,000 range at auction.

This particular painting was easily worth around $5,000.

In that moment, it was painfully obvious: The company running that estate sale had no idea what they were looking at.

As I walked through the home, the signs of rushing were everywhere. Prices were random. Staging was incomplete. Items with significant resale value were marked almost like yard-sale leftovers. And when I later discovered the company was running three estate sales in the same week, everything made sense.

They were stretched thin. They were rushing. They didn’t have time to evaluate the estate properly. And the client—who trusted them—paid the price.

Overextended Companies Cause Real Financial Harm

Many homeowners assume that choosing a company with low commission rates means they’ll walk away with more money. But that belief is often the reason families lose thousands.

Through my research, I’ve seen the same pattern again and again:

1. Low-commission companies take on too many sales at once.

They must overbook to stay profitable, which means each estate gets less attention and less time.

2. Rushed staging and pricing lead to catastrophic valuation mistakes.

It takes only one overlooked painting, rug, piece of jewelry, or sculpture to cost the family more than they ever saved on commission.

3. These companies are driven by volume, not value.

The goal becomes: Get in. Sell fast. Get out. Move to the next sale. That approach serves them, not the client.

4. Lost value far outweighs any “savings” on commissions.

The $4,946 lost on that painting alone would have been more than the entire commission difference.

Why a Focused, Detail-Driven Estate Sale Company Matters

A quality estate sale company operates differently:

✔ They limit how many sales they take at one time.

This ensures each estate receives the attention, research, and care it deserves.

✔ They research every meaningful item.

Art, coins, antiques, collectibles, furniture—nothing is “just priced.” Everything is evaluated.

✔ They fight to maximize value for the client.

Because your estate is not just another job—it’s your family’s legacy.

✔ They understand that rushing destroys value.

More time spent equals more money earned for the homeowner.

This is the philosophy at Afternoon Estate Sales. We believe in quality over quantity, focus over frenzy, and proper evaluation over quick exits. And the results show it.

About Commission Rates (and Why “Lower” Is Not Always Better)

Many families choose a company based on a percentage alone. It seems logical at first—but it’s often the biggest mistake.

A company offering cut-rate commissions has one way to stay profitable: Do more sales in less time.

And when that happens, your valuables don’t get researched…Your collectibles don’t get priced properly…Your family doesn’t get the return it deserves.

The New & Growing Danger: Companies Hiring Unqualified People to Evaluate Estates

There is another disturbing trend happening within the estate sale industry—something most homeowners never see.

Some companies are hiring completely unqualified individuals to evaluate items.

These are people with:

• No background in art, antiques, jewelry, or collectibles

• No estate sale experience

• No knowledge of appraisals or valuations

• No history of working with high-value items

• No training in identifying authenticity or rarity

Instead of hiring experienced professionals, these companies are hiring people “off the street” and giving them full autonomy to price and evaluate items—simply to keep labor costs low.

How These Companies Operate

Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes:

✔ They hire underqualified workers with no specialty knowledge.

✔ They instruct them to use quick online research instead of trained evaluation.

✔ They rely on surface-level comparisons rather than true expertise.

✔ They allow these individuals to price entire estates without oversight.

This leads to dangerous outcomes:

1. Valuable items are mistaken for junk.

Important works of art, antique pottery, rare collectibles, and jewelry often get priced like garage sale leftovers.

2. Online tools do not replace real appraisal knowledge.

Google Images and quick eBay searches cannot determine authenticity, maker, age, rarity, or provenance.

3. Homeowners lose thousands without ever knowing it.

An untrained evaluator has no idea how to identify museum-quality pieces or rare regional artists.

4. Low labor cost = high loss for the client.

These companies save money while homeowners lose money.

This is happening more and more—especially with newer companies offering unusually low commission rates. To stay profitable, they replace skilled experts with cheap labor, and the client pays the price.

Final Thoughts: Yes, It Matters—More Than Most People Realize

The story of that $54 painting may sound unbelievable, but it is absolutely true. And it perfectly illustrates the risks homeowners face when choosing an estate sale company based solely on cost or convenience.

Who you hire matters. Their process matters. Their attention to detail matters.

The right company protects your legacy and maximizes your returns. The wrong company rushes, undervalues, and leaves money on the table.

If you want a team that treats your estate with respect, care, and expertise—one that takes the time to do things properly—Afternoon Estate Sales is here to help.