Who Can Sell My Household Items? Junk Buyers and Appraisers

Estate liquidators, junk removal services, and appraisers can help sell household items

Woman putting price tags on items
Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images
Woman putting price tags on items
Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images
Highlights
  • Clearing a home’s contents takes time; decide whether you need valuation, on-site selling support, and hauling to match the right professional to your goals.

  • Estate liquidators handle organizing, sales, and disposal in one process and take a 30% to 40% commission on the sale proceeds.

  • Junk removal services can haul and may resell items on commission, charging $50 to $150 per hour for small objects and $130 to $360 per hour for large objects.

  • Appraisers value items or property but do not haul or sell; use an appraiser to price valuables accurately before listing or selling.

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This article was created using automation technology and thoroughly fact-checked and edited by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.

If you are asking who can sell my household items, three pros stand out: estate liquidators, junk removal services, and appraisers. Your choice depends on whether you want valuation, on-site sales, and hauling support. Hiring a pro saves time and can improve returns when you face a tight timeline or own high-value belongings.

Benefits of Hiring an Estate Liquidator for Selling Household Items

Estate liquidators organize contents, stage your home, and host an on-site estate sale so buyers can purchase items in one event. They often have established buyer networks that help items sell faster. Many handle disposal of unsold goods and may offer valuation services for an additional fee. This end-to-end approach fits large volumes or high-value estates and reduces stress.

  • Runs the entire sale on your property from start to finish

  • Organizes and stages items to boost buyer interest and sales

  • Leverages an existing network of buyers to move items quickly

  • Handles post-sale disposal of unsold items

  • Offers valuation services in some cases for an additional fee

  • Reduces your time commitment and project complexity

  • Ideal when you have many items or high-value belongings

  • Provides a clear commission-based pricing model (30%–40% of sales)

  • Hosts an on-site estate sale open to the public for household contents

  • Streamlines large or complex estates to reduce stress and speed results

Can I Hire a Junk Removal Service for Selling Household Items?

Junk removal services haul items for a fee and, in some cases, sell usable goods on commission. Expect 50 to 150 per hour to move small objects and 130 to 360 per hour for large objects. You usually sort items yourself, and these services do not appraise. Pros include fast clearing and optional resale; cons include separate appraisal needs and added hourly hauling costs. Choose this when you want clutter cleared quickly without an on-site sale. If you have a large volume of items or heavy furniture to move, you might want to consider furniture movers near you to ensure the job is done efficiently and safely.

How Do Pros Sell Household Items?

Different pros follow different steps to sell household items.

  1. Estate liquidator: Visit the home; organize and appraise possessions (property appraisal may be an additional fee); schedule and host an on-site sale; manage buyer traffic; dispose of unsold items; take a 30% to 40% commission.

  2. Appraiser: Assess individual items’ market value and provide pricing guidance; no hauling or selling included.

  3. Junk removal: You sort items; they haul for a fee; they may resell usable goods on 20% to 30% commission and return remaining proceeds.

How Much Does Selling Household Items Cost?

Estate liquidators take a 30% to 40% commission on estate sale proceeds. Junk removal services charge 50 to 150 per hour for small objects and 130 to 360 per hour for large objects, and may take a 20% to 30% commission on items they sell. Appraisers charge a flat fee or hourly rate. Total costs vary by item volume, item value, hauling needs, and whether valuation is included or separate.

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