How to Find Estate Auctions

Estate auctions can be found in local newspapers or on line.

An estate auction or sale (also called an estate liquidation) is an auction event, in which the property and/or possessions of a deceased individual are sold. In other instances, the possessor may have to conduct an estate auction to dispossess their personal property in order to relocate.

Estate auctions can be found on line through proprietary estate auction/estate sale websites or through local newspaper listings. In some instances, estate auctions can be found by visiting the local Clerk of the Court's Office on line.

Things You'll Need

• Local newspaper(s)

Instructions

1. Read through your local newspaper(s). Generally, persons hosting estate auctions or estate sales will advertise the location, date, and time of the event. Additionally, small-market-share publications (such as small-circulation papers, flyers, or newsletters) may also have estate auctions advertisements published.

2. Visit estate auction and estate sale websites. The Internet has many portals for estate auction/estate sales listings (See Resources). Often these websites advertise estate auctions well in advance of the actual auction date and may have options for pre-auction registration (prior to the actual day, there is usually a day or two reserved for a pre-auction).

3. Search through the Clerk of the Court's Office on line. In instances where the estate is being auctioned to satisfy a lien against the property, the auction is placed in public records. Often, these types of auctions are for sale of the property only and not the personal possessions of the homeowner.

4. Contact local estate-auction hosting companies. Estate auctions are complex and all items have to be catalogued, valued and priced, and ticketed. Estate auction companies are professional organizations that plan, coordinate, and host estate sales for a percent of the final proceeds.

   These companies will have up-to-date lists of upcoming estate sales/auctions.

Tips & Warnings

• The longer the estate auction runs, the deeper items are discounted (particularly the last day of the estate auction).

• Pre-auction attendance is generally only granted to family members, close friends, or regularly attendees of estate auctions hosted in your area.

References

• Renovation Therapy: How To Find A Garage/Estate Sale In Your Area
• "Estate Sale Prospecting for Fun and Profit with craigslist and eBay"; John Landahl; 2006

Resources

• Estate Sales: Find Estate Sales in Your Area