I have been doing Estate Sales throughout my life to help friends, and never thought I’d do it as a business. We launched ESA in November 2024, and interviewed hundreds of semi-active ES agents from all over the country.
The single greatest trait shared was when the relief & joy of when the Client learns what they can do
for themselves.
Why didn’t someone just write a How To Guide for this? They did. And few people read them.
So, I wrote one - to tell you what you need and discuss what comes later.
A few reality checks. An Estate Sale (ES) takes more energy than a large wedding. No one you’d want to hire works for Commission-Only. Any company who does is typically unreliable - and uninsured. If you are a successful exception, great. I’m telling you the norm.
There is no licensing for Estate Sale agents. We advise.
Every one of our marketplace peers says they have decades of experience yet boasts of launch dates from months ago. This job attracts capable people who have been hamstrung by license suspension, personal health issues and addictions and immigration status. These are good people doing a tough job. Appraising is unlicensed. Associations offer certificates. This helps when you attempt to get an insurance underwriter to approve an appraisal.
Most clients are unprepared for one of the two most common conditions of ES: Death or Downsizing. Either is emotional. After 60 years, your stuff is being pillaged by strangers.
I hold three masters degrees, I have 3 kids in college, (not pictured) and 3 Pulitzer nominations.
If you’re not dead yet, you will be *soon. Death almost never happens on cue, which means you’ll need one or more of my books to declare to the world what we should do with your body and your stuff after you’re done using them.
I am the executive director of multiple nonprofits including Estate Sales Advisers, which serves as a 501-3c educational enrichment foundation helping realtors find new clients applying what they just learned in school. Charity doesn’t mean free. In my experience, Estate Sales provide a steadier income than residential real estate.
I am a native of Arizona (Bear Down, Wildcats!), and have resided in Colorado since 2006. I have published over 30 books, fiction and nonfiction, wrote screenplays for famous people, and hold teaching licenses in media, history and business. I am Not a licensed realtor. Many of my friends are. I own Storytella Publishing, the exclusive service provider for Obits Etc. Dead people keep us in business. Generally, more people die daily than are born.
I also hold licenses in tax prep and life insurance. I am a civil rights advocate teaching kids how to make laws and a leading member of the Republican Party, on the ballot twice in 2022 (State Assembly HD42) and 2024 (US Congress CD5).
ESA is always looking for new teammates.
If we don’t have the Answer, we know who does.
If we don’t have the luxury of calling you our next client, we hope we’ve earned your trust to hire those we recommend to you.