How Much Do Estate Liquidators Charge in San Diego?
Real prices for estate sales, buyouts, auctions, cleanouts and appraisals, from a San Diego liquidator in business since 2005.
By Yahnn Kraveichvili, founder of San Diego Liquidation and Estate Services. Updated .
The short answer
20% to 40% of what the estate sale brings in
Most estate liquidators charge a commission of 20% to 40% of the sale total. At San Diego Liquidation and Estate Services the average is 35%, and that one flat percentage is the whole fee. No setup, advertising, staffing or cleanup charges are added on top. If you would rather skip the sale, a buyout pays you about 60% of what the items would resell for, and we cover every cost.
Estate Liquidation Prices at a Glance
What each service costs in San Diego, and what the price covers.
| Service | What it costs | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Estate sale | 20% to 40% commission (35% average) | Sorting, pricing, staging, advertising, staff on sale days and cleanup. No extra fees. |
| Estate buyout | You receive about 60% of resale value | One payment for the contents. We cover the labor, hauling and cleanup. |
| Auction | A percentage of the hammer price | Photographing, listing and selling. The buyer pays the auction house premium. |
| Cleanout, no sale | About $1,000 to $15,000 | Labor, hauling and dump fees, based on how much has to go. |
| Formal appraisal | $250 per hour | A written appraisal for taxes, probate, insurance or a donation. |
| Verbal appraisal | $200 to $500 | A walk through the home with values called out as we go. |
Prices as of November 2026. Every estate is different, so your exact price comes after we see the home.
How Much Do Estate Sale Companies Charge?
An estate sale is the most common way to clear a home full of belongings. The company sorts the house, prices every item, advertises the sale, runs it over two or three days and clears out what is left. In return, it keeps a percentage of what sells.
Our commission ranges from 20% to 40% of the sale total, and most estates land around 35%. Where yours falls depends on three things:
What the estate is worth. A higher-value estate usually gets a lower percentage.
How much setup it takes. Sorting, cleaning, pricing and staging a full house is real labor.
How much buyers want the items. Quality furniture, art, jewelry and collectibles sell quickly. Everyday household goods sell slower and for less.
The percentage is flat. Once we agree on it, it is the only thing you pay. There is no setup fee, no advertising fee, no staffing fee and no cleanup fee added afterward.
What that looks like: Say an estate sale brings in $30,000. At a 35% commission, the fee is $10,500 and the family receives $19,500. Nothing else comes out of it.
Learn more about how we run estate sales in San Diego, or read our step-by-step estate sale guide.
How Much Does an Estate Buyout Pay?
A buyout is the fast option. Instead of running a sale, we make one offer for the contents and pay you directly. There is no sale weekend to wait for and no guessing what will sell.
As a rule of thumb, a buyout pays about 60% of what the items would resell for. When we walk through the home, we show you how we reached the number. For valuable pieces we pull up recent auction results, so you can see what similar items actually sold for. If a piece usually sells for about $1,000, expect an offer of around $500 to $600 for it.
Why not the full value? Because we take on the work and the risk. Every house has things that will not sell, and we pay for the labor, hauling and disposal to clear them out. You do not pay anything on top of the buyout.
A buyout makes sense when
The house needs to go on the market soon.
You live out of town and cannot be there for a sale.
You want one clear number instead of waiting on sale results.
The contents are modest and a sale would not be worth the wait.
See how our estate buyouts work, or read the estate buyout guide.
What Do Estate Auctions Cost?
Some pieces bring more in front of collectors than at an estate sale: fine art, Asian antiques, fine jewelry and serious collections. We sell those at auction, either in our own online auctions or by consigning them to an auction house.
Our fee is a percentage of the hammer price, which is the winning bid when the auction closes. The percentage depends on the value of the pieces and where they are sold.
One thing that surprises people: the auction house charges its own fee, called the buyer's premium, and the buyer pays it, not you. It is usually 25% to 30% on top of the winning bid. If a piece hammers at $1,000, the buyer pays about $1,250 to $1,300, and our percentage comes out of the $1,000.
There are normally no other fees. The rare exception is a very valuable piece that has to ship to a major auction house in New York or overseas, where insurance and shipping can apply. We tell you before anything ships.
See our estate auctions, including recent results.
How Much Does an Estate Cleanout Cost?
Sometimes there is not enough of value to hold a sale, or the family simply needs the house emptied. We do cleanouts on their own too.
A cleanout is priced on labor and dump fees: how many people, how many days and how many truckloads. Most cost between $1,000 and $15,000. A small home with light contents sits at the low end. A home packed with decades of papers, boxes and trash sits at the high end.
If part of the contents does have value, ask about combining a sale with the cleanout. In some cases we can run the sale and clear the house with nothing out of pocket for the family, in exchange for keeping the sale proceeds.
How Much Does an Estate Appraisal Cost?
There are two kinds of appraisal, and they cost different amounts.
Formal written appraisal: $250 per hour
A formal appraisal is a written document that holds up for taxes, probate, insurance and charitable donations. It is billed by the hour, so the cost depends on how much there is to document.
Verbal appraisal: $200 to $500
If you just want to know what is in the house, we walk through it with you and call out values while you take notes. It is not an official document, but it tells you what is worth keeping, selling or insuring. The price depends on the size of the home.
More on our estate appraisals.
Hidden Fees to Watch For
Comparing commission rates alone can mislead you. Some estate sale companies quote a modest percentage, then add separate fees on top:
A setup fee, sometimes several thousand dollars, owed no matter how the sale does.
An advertising or marketing fee.
A staffing or labor fee for the people working the sale.
A cleanup or haul-away fee after the sale.
Add them up and the real cost can reach 60% to 70% of what the sale brings in. Before you sign with anyone, ask these questions:
Is the commission the only fee, or are there others?
Do I owe anything if the sale brings in less than expected?
Who pays for cleanup, and how will the house be left?
How and when do I get paid?
Are you licensed, bonded and insured?
Our answer to the first one is simple: one flat percentage, nothing added.
Which Option Is Right for Your Estate?
The cheapest option is not always the one that leaves you with the most money. Here is how families usually decide:
You want the most money
An estate sale. It usually brings the highest total, and you keep 60% to 80% of it.
You need it done fast
A buyout. One offer, about 60% of resale value, and we handle the rest.
You have a few very valuable pieces
An auction for those pieces, often alongside a sale or buyout for everything else.
There is little of value
A cleanout, priced on labor and dump fees, usually $1,000 to $15,000.
Not sure? We will walk through the home, tell you which option makes the most sense and give you a quote. The visit is free and there is no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage do estate sales usually take?
Most estate sale companies take 20% to 40% of the sale total. At San Diego Liquidation and Estate Services the average is 35%, and that flat commission is the only fee.
How much does an estate liquidator cost in San Diego?
It depends on the service. An estate sale costs a 20% to 40% commission. A buyout pays you about 60% of resale value with no costs to you. A cleanout with no sale runs about $1,000 to $15,000. Appraisals are $250 per hour for a formal written appraisal, or $200 to $500 for a verbal one.
Do estate sale companies charge upfront fees?
Some do, such as setup, advertising, staffing or cleanup fees. We do not. Our flat commission comes out of the sale proceeds, so you pay nothing up front for an estate sale.
Is an estate sale or a buyout better?
An estate sale usually brings in more money, but it takes longer. A buyout is faster and simpler: one offer, about 60% of resale value, and we cover the labor and cleanup.
How much does an estate cleanout cost?
Most estate cleanouts cost between $1,000 and $15,000, based on how much labor and how many dump runs the job takes.
How much does an estate appraisal cost?
A formal written appraisal for taxes, probate, insurance or a donation is $250 per hour. A verbal appraisal, where we walk the home and call out values, is $200 to $500 depending on the size of the home.
What does the buyer's premium at an auction mean for me?
The buyer's premium is the auction house's fee, usually 25% to 30%, and the buyer pays it on top of the winning bid. Our fee is a percentage of the hammer price, the winning bid itself.
Is the first visit free?
Yes. We come to the home, look at what is there, recommend the best option and give you a quote, with no obligation. Appraisals are a separate, paid service.
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Get your free quote
Every estate is different. Call (619) 316-3857 or request your free estimate, and we'll visit, recommend the best option and give you a price.