What to Expect
A First-Timer’s Guide to Working With SATX Select Liquidators
If you’ve never hired an estate sale company before, you may not know what happens after that first
phone call. What do you need to do? How involved will you be? How long will everything take?
Here’s what you can expect from your first conversation through final settlement, including what we
handle, what we need from you, and what happens at each stage.
Step 1: You Reach Out
Everything starts with a conversation. You can submit the website form, call, or text us. There is no
fee and no obligation to hire SATX Select.
We’ll ask a few basic questions about the property, the estate, your timeline, and what you need help
accomplishing. If it looks like something we may be able to help with, we’ll schedule a private
walkthrough at the property.
Step 2: The Walkthrough
We meet you privately at the property by appointment. Together, we walk through the contents,
assess the scope of the estate, identify higher-value or specialty items, and discuss timing, logistics,
staffing, and any security considerations.
By the end of the walkthrough, you’ll understand how we would approach the estate, what
preparation may involve, how our commission and reporting work, and what the likely next steps
would be.
Step 3: You Decide
There is no obligation to hire us after the walkthrough and no pressure to make a decision on the
spot. Ask questions. Compare your options. Make the decision that is right for the estate and your
family.
If you decide SATX Select is the right fit, we formalize the agreement, establish the available
timeline, and prepare to begin setup.
Step 4: Preparation
This is where much of the work begins, and most of that work belongs to us, not you.
We price the sale inventory, individually barcode designated higher-value items, organize and stage
the merchandise, prepare signage, and handle the logistics required to get the property ready for
buyers. Most estates take about one week to prepare. Larger or more complex estates may require
two to three weeks.
You do not need to clean out or organize the entire house before setup begins. Remove or identify
personal belongings and anything the family is keeping. When in doubt about everything else, leave
it for us to evaluate.
Step 5: The Sale
Our team manages the sale from open to close. You do not need to be there, and in most cases we
recommend that clients allow our team to manage the event without them onsite.
For security, we release the exact property address approximately three hours before the doors open.
This limits how long the public knows where the sale inventory is located before opening and helps
reduce premature crowds and the opportunity for unwanted activity overnight.
We electronically record transactions throughout the sale. Designated higher-value inventory is
individually tracked, and cash controls include professional-grade counting equipment and
counterfeit detection.
Step 6: Settlement
After the sale closes, we reconcile the transaction records and prepare your settlement reporting.
You receive documentation showing total gross sales, the commission calculation, any approved
additional expenses, and your final net proceeds. Higher-value merchandise is individually tracked,
while appropriate lower-value merchandise, such as clothing, may be recorded by category.
Then you receive your check, with the calculations documented. You can see how we arrived
at your final proceeds instead of being asked to accept a number on faith.
Common Questions First-Timers Ask
Do I Need to Be at the Sale?
No. Our team manages the sale, so you do not need to be onsite. For some families, watching
personal belongings being sold can also be emotionally difficult. Stepping away allows us to handle
the event while you focus on what you need to do next.
What If Something Doesn’t Sell?
For eligible remaining contents, SATX Select arranges removal through a trusted third party at no
cost to you. You do not have to find the service, schedule it, or coordinate the removal yourself.
This does not include trash removal or house cleaning. If excessive trash removal or a dumpster is
needed, any additional cost is discussed with you and approved before it is incurred.
How Long Does the Whole Process Take?
Two timelines are important to keep in mind. First is scheduling: the setup start date depends on our
current availability. Once setup begins, most estate sales are completed through settlement within
about two weeks, although larger or more complex estates may take longer.
Because SATX Select conducts only two estate sales per month, contact us early if you are working
toward a move, property closing, probate matter, or another important date.
What Do I Need to Do Beforehand?
Less than you might think. Remove sensitive personal documents, prescription medications, and
identify anything the family is definitely keeping. Before donating, discarding, or cleaning out the
rest, let us evaluate it.
When in doubt, leave it.
See our full Preparing for an Estate Sale guide for more details.
You Don’t Have to Know How This Works
Most of our clients are not estate-sale professionals. They shouldn’t have to be.
You don’t need to know how to price a house full of belongings, organize a sale, manage buyers,
track transactions, or reconcile the proceeds. That’s what you’re hiring us to handle.
Your first step is simply to show us what you’re dealing with and ask your questions. The
consultation is free, private, and carries no obligation to hire us afterward
Ready to Get Started?
A 45-minute conversation can answer most of your questions. Consultations are private, by appointment only, and obligation-free.
📞 210-783-7900