Estate sales can be an important tool to use when it is necessary to reduce the number of personal possessions in one’s life, or to dispose of a deceased person’s possessions. An estate sales agent can be helpful in several situations. However, there can be problems, as reported by The New York Times in "It Pays to Be Wary When Hiring an Estate Sales Agent."
Some people have reported that the estate sales agents they have hired have paid much later than expected, paid them less than promised and even bounced checks. To avoid having these problems with the estate sales agent you hire, it pays to do your homework on the agent.
Do not just pick the cheapest agent with whom you talk. Ask around and speak to other people who have had estate sales about their experiences with agents. You want to make sure that you hire someone with a track record of expertise and fair dealing.
It is also important that you have a signed contract with the agent and that you get a copy of the contract for yourself.
An estate planning attorney can most likely guide you in a choice of reputable estate sales agents.
Reference: New York Times (Sept. 23, 2016) "It Pays to Be Wary When Hiring an Estate Sales Agent."