The five options side by side
| Option | Who does the work | What it costs | Speed | Best for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estate sale company | The company | 30% to 50% of sales typical; 35% to 60% in another source | Sale in 1 to 3 days after weeks of prep; payout 2 to 3 weeks later | A full house of mixed contents | Minimum estate size, extra fees, leftovers |
| DIY estate sale | You and helpers | Your time; signs, supplies, permit | 3 to 6 weeks (rule of thumb) | Modest contents, family nearby | Town permit, safety, leftovers |
| Auction | The auction house | Seller commission commonly 10% to 25% of hammer price; bidders pay a buyer’s premium on top | Weeks to months; sale date set by the house | A few strong pieces: art, silver, coins, antiques | Low-value goods may be refused or charged more |
| Consignment shop | The shop | Industry sources range from 30% to 60% of the sale price | Items sell over weeks or months, with markdowns | A few good furniture or decor pieces; no rush | Terms, markdown schedule, who owns unsold items |
| Buyout (one price) | A dealer or company | A single offer; the buyer keeps the upside | Fast; often a day or two | Time pressure, or contents with little resale value | Usually less than a sale can bring; get it in writing |
| Donation | A charity (some pick up) | Free; possible tax deduction if you itemize | Days to weeks | Good-condition household goods | Condition rules, receipts, appraisal over $5,000 |
Many houses do all of these: pull the few valuable pieces for auction or a dealer, sell the bulk at an estate sale, donate what remains in good condition, and haul the rest. For the sale options, see how to choose an estate sale company and how to run an estate sale.
Auction: when it beats an estate sale
Auctions work when a few items are worth real money to collectors. Racklify, an industry source, describes common models as flat percentage tiers of 10% to 25% of the hammer price or sliding scales that fall as the lot value rises. It also says the fee is deducted from sale proceeds, and that some houses pay out soon after settlement while others wait until the buyer’s payment clears (Racklify, Sept. 28, 2026).
The bidder also usually pays a buyer’s premium on top of the hammer price. One auction industry guide gives the example of a 10% premium on a $1,000 hammer price, so the winning bidder pays $1,100 (AuctionWriter). A higher premium can let an auction house lower the seller commission, so ask for the full terms, not only the seller’s rate.
We could not verify a typical commission for a Massachusetts auction house from a primary source. Ask for the consignment agreement, estimate, reserve policy, photography and cataloging fees, and the payout date.
Consignment: slow but low effort
A consignment shop displays your item, and you get a share when it sells. Sources disagree on the split. One industry article says commissions typically run 30% to 50% of the sale price in one section and 40% to 60% in another, and adds that other fees may apply (Closo, May 2026). Treat these as a rough range, not a price list.
Ask: how long an item stays on the floor, the markdown schedule, who owns unsold items at the end, how you are paid, and what the shop does with damage or theft. Consignment suits a few good pieces, not a houseful.
Buyout: one price for everything
Some estate sale companies, dealers and cleanout services will make one offer for the contents. It is fast and removes the guesswork. The trade-off is price: the buyer takes the risk of what does not sell, so the offer is often lower than a sale could bring. Get two offers, ask whether removal and cleaning are included, and ask for the price in writing. A buyout can be a good fit when the house has to be empty by a closing date.
Donation: the IRS rules that matter
Donating can be a quick, low-cost way to clear a house. The tax rules in IRS Publication 526 (2025) are strict:
| Situation | Rule |
|---|---|
| Deduction at all | Generally you must itemize on Schedule A to deduct a charitable gift |
| Condition | You cannot deduct clothing or household items unless they are in good used condition or better |
| One item not in good condition, valued over $500 | Deductible only with a qualified appraisal and Form 8283, Section B |
| Property worth less than $250 | Get a receipt with the charity’s name, address and date |
| Property worth $250 to $5,000 | Written acknowledgment from the charity, plus your own records |
| Noncash gifts over $5,000 | Qualified appraisal by a qualified appraiser and Form 8283. Art and collectibles over $5,000 also need a qualified appraisal |
| How to value used items | Fair market value is often far below cost; formulas such as a percentage of the new price are not acceptable. Keep photos and lists |
| Appraiser fees | No part of the fee for a qualified appraisal can be a percentage of the appraised value (Pub. 561) |
Who takes the deduction when the donor is an estate is a question for the estate’s CPA. We did not verify the estate-specific rules.
Charities. We do not endorse specific groups. Types that often take household goods in Massachusetts are national thrift charities, local thrift and church shops, building-material reuse stores, libraries (books), and veterans’ groups. Policies change, so call each one: ask what they take, whether they pick up, and whether they give a receipt for the items. Mattresses and textiles have special recycling rules; see the whole house cleanout guide.
How to choose
- Have a hard date? Buyout, then donation and cleanout.
- Mixed contents worth a few thousand dollars? Estate sale company, or DIY if you have time.
- A few collectible pieces? Auction or a dealer, and pull them before the sale.
- Lots of good, plain household goods? Donation, plus a small sale.
- Not sure what is valuable? Get an opinion first. See how to value household contents.
Then deal with the house itself: compare a cash offer with listing at the comparison tool, or read inherited or probate house.