A garage sale clears out things you no longer use. A moving sale sells what you aren't taking, by a fixed date. An estate sale sells the contents of a home, often with a hired company running it. What separates them is why you're selling, how much is going, who does the work and how long it runs.
What each kind of sale is
- Garage sale or yard sale. You set out things you no longer use in the garage, driveway or yard, and neighbors shop in person. You pick the date, and what doesn't sell can go back inside.
- Moving sale. A sale you hold because you're moving. The deadline is move-out day, and the list is longer: furniture, appliances and things you still use. You can hold it in the yard, online, or both.
- Online moving sale. The same sale without the driveway. You photograph each item, set prices and share one link. Buyers claim things and come at set pickup times, so it can run for weeks, not one weekend.
- Estate sale. EstateSales.NET, a site that lists estate sales, describes it as a way of liquidating the belongings of a family or estate when someone needs to sell because of downsizing, moving, divorce, bankruptcy or death. The public is invited into the home to buy any item priced for sale (EstateSales.NET).
What actually differs
EstateSales.org, another estate sale listing site, puts the difference this way: estate sales take place because someone can no longer keep their things, and a garage or yard sale is held when people no longer want them (EstateSales.org). A moving sale sits between the two. You could keep the couch, but it isn't worth paying to move.
| Kind of sale | Why people hold one | What is sold | Who runs it | How long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garage or yard sale | To clear out things you no longer use | Extras: clothes, toys, books, tools, small furniture | You | A day or a weekend |
| Moving sale | You're moving and won't take everything | Whatever isn't going with you, big furniture included | You | A weekend in person, ending by move-out day |
| Online moving sale | Same as a moving sale | The same things, each with its own photo and price | You; buyers pick up at set times | The 2 to 4 weeks before the move |
| Estate sale | Downsizing, moving, divorce, bankruptcy or a death | A home's contents, minus what the family keeps | The family or executor, or a hired company | Most often a weekend, possibly two if it's large |
The estate sale row follows EstateSales.NET and EstateSales.org, including its page on how an estate sale works.
How prices are set
- Garage sale. You put a low price on everything and expect people to haggle on the spot.
- Moving sale. You price to be done by a date, so prices should come down as move-out gets closer. The price drop planner builds that schedule. On PieceOut, each item has an asking price and a lowest price, and the price steps down every morning until move-out day.
- Estate sale. When a company runs it, the company prices the items. EstateSales.org says discounts generally follow a pattern: full price on the first day, a quarter off on the second and half off on the third, or some variation (EstateSales.org).
Permits and city rules
Cities set their own rules for sales held at a home. Here is what three official city pages say today:
- San Antonio, Texas. A permit is required to hold garage, yard or estate sales within city limits. It costs $20, and each residence is allowed four garage sales per calendar year, one per quarter. You may sell up to five items on your property without a permit. Signs on utility poles and other city right-of-way objects are prohibited and considered a misdemeanor offense (City of San Antonio).
- Centennial, Colorado. Permits are not required for individual garage or yard sales. One location may hold a maximum of three garage sales per calendar year, totaling nine days, and signs must be on private property with the owner's permission (City of Centennial).
- St. Joseph, Missouri. A garage sale can't be held until you get a $5 permit. A sale can't run more than four consecutive days or happen more than four times in any 12-month period at the same location, and only one sign is allowed, at the sale itself (City of St. Joseph).
None of these pages mentions moving sales by name, and San Antonio's permit covers garage, yard and estate sales alike. Don't assume that calling yours a moving sale changes which rules apply.
Before you set a date, search your city's name plus "garage sale permit" and read the official page: whether you need a permit, how many sales a year you're allowed, the hours, and where signs can go. Then read your HOA rules or lease, which may set limits of their own. If you're selling online with pickups and the page doesn't cover that, ask the office that issues permits.
How a professional estate sale works
With an estate sale company, you hand over the work. EstateSales.org describes the company appraising and pricing the items, setting up the home, advertising the sale, managing it and handling the cashier duties (EstateSales.org).
EstateSales.org says most estate sale companies charge a percentage of total sales, and refers to commission rates of 25 to 45%. The rate may depend on the company's experience, the size of the estate, the turnaround time and the region. Some companies also charge extra fees, for staff, clean-outs or charity pickups, which it says should be explained up front and outlined in the contract.
Before you sign:
- Get the numbers in writing. EstateSales.org's advice is to ask for the breakdown of charges ahead of time and never pay up front.
- Check references. EstateSales.org notes that estate sale companies aren't officially regulated and points to the professional organizations ASEL and NESA for accreditation.
- Check city rules. San Antonio, for one, requires a copy of the contract for estate sales.
- Compare. Talk to more than one company, and compare the full contracts, not only the commission.
What the IRS says about taxes
The IRS covers this on its page about Form 1099-K, a form you may get for personal items you sold through a payment app or online marketplace. It defines a personal item as "something you owned for personal use such as a car, refrigerator, furniture, stereo, jewelry or silverware," and says: "If you sold items at a loss, which means you sold the items for less than you paid, there is no tax liability" (IRS).
The same page says: "A loss on the sale of a personal item can't be deducted from your taxes." And if something sells for more than you paid: "If you made a profit or gain on the sale of a personal item, your profit is taxable."
This is not tax advice. Read the IRS page or ask a tax professional about your own return.
Choose the sale that fits, then run it
- A garage sale fits if you have a carload of small things, no deadline, and a driveway or yard you're allowed to use.
- A moving sale fits if you have a move-out date and furniture to sell. Online suits big items: buyers see the size and price before they come, and you aren't limited to one weekend.
- An estate sale company fits if you're clearing most of a household and can't do the pricing, setup and selling yourself.
Running a garage or yard sale
Check the rules first. Then pick a morning, price everything, and have small bills for change. If signs are allowed, the moving sale sign maker gives you a printable one. Line up a donation pickup for what's left.
Running a moving sale
Start with what goes. The guide to what to sell before moving goes room by room, and the sell-or-move calculator compares what an item costs to move with what it would sell for. Then follow the 3-week moving sale plan for photos, prices, pickups and leftovers. To run it online, start a sale on PieceOut: you add a photo of each thing, the listing is written for you, and everything is on one sale page with one link.