When you’re settling an estate or helping a parent downsize, it’s rarely obvious who to call first. Do you need an estate sale company, a move manager, an attorney, or all three? Most families figure this out by trial and error, hiring the wrong professional first and losing time (and sometimes money) along the way. This guide breaks down what each of the professionals in our directory actually does, so you can go straight to the right one.
The short version: If you’re selling the contents of a home in place, call an estate sale company. If you’re managing a move and need help sorting, packing, and coordinating, call a move manager. If there’s a will, probate, or legal paperwork involved, call an estate attorney. Most families end up using two or three of these together, not just one.
At a Glance
| Professional | What They Do | When to Call Them |
|---|---|---|
| Estate Sale Companies | Organize, price, and sell a home’s contents on-site | You want to sell most or all of what’s in the house |
| Move Managers | Coordinate every part of a move or downsize: sorting, packing, logistics | You’re moving to a smaller home or a senior community |
| Estate Cleanout Services | Clear out what’s left after the sale or the move | The house needs to be empty for closing or listing |
| Personal Property Appraisers | Determine fair market value of valuables | The IRS, insurance, probate court, or heirs need a formal valuation |
| Estate & Probate Attorneys | Handle the legal side of settling an estate | There’s a will, probate, or legal paperwork to file |
| Aging-in-Place Specialists | Modify homes for safety and independence | A parent wants to stay in their home instead of moving |
| Donation Centers & Pickup | Take usable furniture, clothing, and household goods off your hands | Items didn’t sell and are still in good enough shape to reuse |
| Realtors SRES® | Sell or list the home itself, with training specific to older sellers | The house needs to go on the market, not just be emptied |
Estate Sale Companies
An estate sale company organizes, prices, and runs a sale of everything in a home: furniture, dishware, tools, collectibles, all of it. They typically stage the house, price each item based on market value, advertise the sale, and manage everything on sale day. This is usually the right call when the goal is to sell most of what’s in the house rather than move it somewhere else.
Read more: Estate Sale vs. Auction vs. Consignment: Which Is Right for You? · How Much Do Estate Sale Companies Charge?
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Move Managers
A move manager plans and coordinates an entire relocation or downsizing project: sorting belongings, deciding what to keep, packing, hiring movers, and setting up the new home. They’re especially useful when a move involves a lot of emotional decision-making, not just logistics. If you’re helping a parent move to a smaller home or a senior community, a move manager can carry a lot of the coordination that would otherwise fall entirely on you.
Read more: How to Choose a Senior Move Manager: The Complete Guide for Families · How Much Does a Senior Move Manager Cost?
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Estate Cleanout Services
Estate cleanout services handle what’s left after the sale or the move: furniture nobody bought, decades of stored belongings, anything headed to donation or disposal. These are typically insured crews who can clear an entire house in a day or two. They’re usually the last step before a house is ready to list or hand over.
Read more: Estate Cleanout Services: What They Do, What They Cost, and How to Find One
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Personal Property Appraisers
A personal property appraiser determines the fair market value of items like antiques, jewelry, art, and collectibles. You need a formal appraisal, not just an estimate, for things like IRS charitable donations over $5,000, estate tax returns, probate court requirements, insurance coverage, or dividing an estate fairly among heirs.
Read more: What Is a Personal Property Appraiser and When Do You Need One?
Estate & Probate Attorneys
Estate and probate attorneys handle the legal side of settling an estate: filing the will with probate court, navigating tax obligations, and resolving disputes between heirs. If there’s a will involved, or the estate needs to go through probate court, this is usually the first call to make, before hiring anyone else.
Read more: How to Find an Estate Attorney: What to Look for and Questions to Ask · What Is Probate? A Plain-English Guide for Families · How Much Does an Estate Attorney Cost?
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Aging-in-Place Specialists
Aging-in-place specialists modify homes so seniors can live safely and independently without moving: things like grab bars, walk-in showers, wheelchair ramps, and better lighting. This is the right call when the goal isn’t to move at all, but to make the current home work for the long term.
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Donation Centers & Pickup
Donation centers and pickup services take furniture, clothing, and household goods that are still usable but didn’t sell, and put them back into circulation instead of a landfill. Many offer free home pickup for anything too heavy or awkward to drop off yourself, which matters when a house needs to be cleared on a deadline. This is often the step that happens between an estate sale and a cleanout crew: whatever didn’t sell but is still in good shape goes here first.
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Realtors SRES®
An SRES®-designated Realtor has completed additional training through the National Association of Realtors focused specifically on clients over 50: tax considerations on a longtime home, timing a sale around a move to senior housing, and working with adult children or other family members who may be involved in the decision. If the house itself needs to go on the market, not just be emptied out, this is who handles that side of it.
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Still Not Sure? Start Here
- “I need to sell most of what’s in the house.” → Estate Sale Company
- “I’m moving a parent to a smaller home or senior community.” → Move Manager
- “There’s a will, and it needs to go through probate.” → Estate & Probate Attorney
- “The house needs to be completely emptied before closing.” → Estate Cleanout Service
- “There are antiques, art, or jewelry that need a fair valuation.” → Personal Property Appraiser
- “My parent wants to stay in their home instead of moving.” → Aging-in-Place Specialist
- “I need to get rid of furniture and household goods that are still usable.” → Donation Center & Pickup
- “The house itself needs to be sold or listed.” → Realtor SRES®
Every professional in this guide is listed in the Modern Aging Directory. Browse all of them in one place, filter by category and location, and reach out directly, no signup required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need more than one of these professionals?
Often, yes. It’s common to use two or three together on the same estate, for example an attorney to handle probate, an appraiser to value the valuables, and an estate sale company or cleanout service to deal with the physical contents afterward. Think of these categories as different stages of the same project, not competing options.
What’s the difference between an estate sale company and a personal property appraiser?
An appraiser only determines value. They produce a formal valuation document, often for the IRS, insurance, or probate court, but they don’t sell anything. An estate sale company organizes and runs an actual sale of the items. Some estates need both: an appraisal first (especially for high-value items or tax purposes), then an estate sale for everything else.
Is a move manager the same as a moving company?
No. A move manager plans and coordinates the whole relocation: sorting belongings, timelines, floor plans for the new home, and often the emotional side of downsizing. They frequently hire or work alongside an actual moving company for the physical truck-and-boxes part. Think of a move manager as the project lead, not the labor.
Do I still need an attorney if there’s no will?
Usually, yes, and sometimes even more so. When someone dies without a will (intestate), state law determines who inherits what, and the estate typically still has to go through probate court. An estate attorney can help you navigate that process and avoid costly mistakes, even without a will to execute.
How much do these professionals typically cost?
It varies by category and region. Estate sale companies typically work on commission (30-50% of sales). Move managers and cleanout services usually charge hourly or flat project rates. Appraisers charge by the hour or a flat fee per item or collection. Attorneys often charge hourly or a percentage of the estate. See our detailed breakdowns: estate sale companies, move managers, and estate attorneys.
What’s the difference between a regular real estate agent and a Realtor SRES®?
Any licensed agent can list a house. An SRES® has gone through additional training on the practical and financial side of selling a home later in life: capital gains rules on a longtime residence, coordinating a closing date around a move into senior housing, and working with family members who may be helping make the decision. Not every sale needs this, but it helps when the timeline is tied to a care need rather than a typical move.
How do I find vetted professionals in my area?
The Modern Aging Directory lists reviewed professionals across all eight categories, filterable by location and category. You can browse and reach out directly, no signup required.
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