wow..where do I start on this topic....whew...First, let me say that just because the Ad in the newspaper says "Estate Sale" does not necessarily make it a TRUE estate sale..often the city will have rules about how many yard sales you can without paying the city a sales tax charge...SO, to get around this people will say they are having an Estate sale, when all they are doing is moving! That would explain why the people do not seem professional at the least!
I work for a Professional estate sale company and while it is hard to go in and sort through things, it is better do it for the family than for a probate that decides it just needs to go to public auction...I have worked for those auction companies as well..and I can tell you...I prefer an estate sale any day!
good or bad....
watch your paper and look for the companies that advertise on the days there are NO sales...they place ads in the garage sale section as advertising that they are there to do your sale for you...
you can also do a "living" estate sale which is done when you move, downsize or go to a retirement center...
be your own estate sale planner, and start downsizing NOW...it saves in the long run and you can use the money for a trip or something NICE while you are still around to enjoy it!