# Estate sale

> The sale of objects from a deceased person's estate, often an entire household or collection, on behalf of the heirs or an executor. The auction house handles valuation, sale and settlement.

- URL: https://www.selloff.auction/glossary/estate-sale
- Language: English
- Also known as: Estate auction, Succession sale, House sale
- Last updated: 2026-10-07
- Français: https://www.selloff.auction/fr/glossaire/vente-de-succession.md

## Definition

The sale of objects from a deceased person's estate, often an entire household or collection, on behalf of the heirs or an executor. The auction house handles valuation, sale and settlement.

Estate work involves several parties: heirs, executors, notaries or lawyers, and sometimes the courts. Communications may need to go to a representative rather than to the owner of record, and the proceeds may be shared between heirs.

In Selloff, a consignment or an appraisal can name a representative, such as an executor, notary or family member, and communications can be addressed to that person.

## Related features

- [Estates & successions](https://www.selloff.auction/features/estates-successions.md): Handle estate consignments with a representative such as an executor or notary, documents addressed to them, appraisals of the contents and single-owner sales.
- [Appraisals](https://www.selloff.auction/features/appraisals.md): Record appraisals at the counter or on site, describe and photograph lots, bill a fixed or hourly fee and move accepted lots into inventory.

## Related terms

- [Appraisal](https://www.selloff.auction/glossary/appraisal.md): A professional opinion of an object's value, given by a specialist for a specific purpose: sale at auction, insurance, division of an estate or tax. Auction estimates are one kind of appraisal.
- [Consignor](https://www.selloff.auction/glossary/consignor.md): The person or organisation that entrusts objects to an auction house for sale. The consignor agrees the commission and reserves with the house, and receives the net proceeds after the sale.
- [Consignment](https://www.selloff.auction/glossary/consignment.md): The act of entrusting objects to an auction house to be sold on the owner's behalf and, by extension, the group of lots entrusted by one consignor under the same terms. The consignor remains the owner until the sale.