At Brown Button, we’ve hosted both traditional in-home estate sales and online estate sales. Having managed hundreds of successful sales in both formats, we’ve seen firsthand the strengths and trade-offs each method offers. If you’re preparing for an estate sale in St. Louis, understanding these pros and cons can help you make a more informed decision.
What is an In-Home Estate Sale?
A traditional in-home estate sale turns your home into a temporary storefront for one to three days. During this short window, it’s common to see several hundred, sometimes over a thousand shoppers visit the home. These sales are especially effective when there’s a high volume of everyday household items—books, tools, kitchenware, clothing, and decor—priced under $50. These low to mid-value items often don’t make sense to list individually in an online format, but when grouped in an in-person sale, they can collectively generate meaningful returns.
The Pros and Cons of In-Home Sales
In-home estate sales have a lot going for them. They move large volumes of items quickly, require little digital involvement, and create a sense of urgency among buyers that can translate into fast purchases. Because the prices are typically fixed, you only need one buyer to be interested to realize full price.
That said, in-home sales come with a unique set of challenges. One major concern is the high volume of foot traffic. Homes aren’t built to handle 500 to 1,000 people in a weekend. This can lead to scuffed floors, dinged walls, and in some unfortunate cases, injuries. Liability is a real consideration, particularly for those preparing to sell or who have recently sold their home and want to maintain its condition.
Another important downside to consider is theft. With so many people in and out, it becomes difficult to monitor everyone. Small, valuable items can go missing, even under close supervision. Additionally, because the sale address is publicly listed, there’s the rare but real risk of an after-hours break-in, especially if high-value items are still in the home overnight.
Weather is another factor that can impact in-home estate sales. Rain, snow, or icy conditions can significantly reduce turnout, and parking challenges or neighborhood restrictions can create frustration for both clients and customers.
Why St. Louis Clients Are Exploring Online Estate Sales
Online estate sales offer a private, controlled, and highly flexible alternative. Instead of bringing hundreds of people into the home, everything is photographed, cataloged, and listed on a digital platform. Shoppers browse from home, place their bids online, and only winning buyers come to pick up their items in a coordinated, scheduled manner.
This format is ideal for homes that aren’t suited for public sales, such as condos, gated communities, apartments, or properties with HOA restrictions. It also works seamlessly in situations where the homeowner is still living on-site or only selling a portion of their belongings.
The Advantages of Going Online
One of the primary advantages of the online model is control. There’s no risk of interior damage, no parking issues, no strangers walking through your home, and no weather-related delays. It’s also easier to maintain privacy, since the general public doesn’t gain access to your property. We’ve conducted many successful online sales where clients continued living in the home during the process—a level of flexibility that would be nearly impossible with a traditional sale.
Online sales also solve the problem of limited sale windows. Traditional estate sales often run over two or three days with set hours. Online sales remain open 24/7 over several days, allowing buyers to shop on their own schedule. This leads to greater participation, especially from buyers who may not have time to attend a sale in person.
Comparing Prices Realized: Fixed Pricing vs. Auction Models
One common question we get is how sale formats compare when it comes to prices realized. The answer is: both have their strengths, and both tend to produce comparable overall results, although individual item performance may vary.
Traditional in-home sales often rely on fixed pricing. This can be an advantage because you only need one interested buyer and are not relying on bidder competition. One downsize, is the price is dependent on the estate sale company appraiser understanding the item and it’s potential value. Large estate sale companies sell over 100,000 items a year leaving lots of room to make a big pricing mistake.
Online sales, by contrast, generally follow an auction model. Most items start at a $1 opening bid and rise with buyer interest. While this approach often reaches fair market value for most items, it does carry variability. Some pieces may underperform expectations—particularly niche or less in-demand items—while others exceed all predictions due to competitive bidding. Every online sale we conduct sees a few standout surprises and a few quieter results. Over the course of a full sale, the highs and lows typically balance out to a comparable net result to traditional sales. The price of really rare and valuable items are driven up through the bidding process and the results of this type of sale is less at risk of a pricing error.
Where traditional sales excel in moving volume and small-ticket items, online formats tend to attract stronger engagement rare, unusual, antique, luxury, or designer pieces due to broader reach and buyer convenience.
Which Format is Right for Your St. Louis Estate?
Choosing between a traditional in-home sale and an online estate sale comes down to your goals, your property, and the items you need to sell. If your estate includes a large quantity of lower-value items and the condition of the home isn’t a concern, a traditional sale might be your best option. However, if you prioritize privacy, control, flexibility—or if you’re working within a condo, gated neighborhood, or living in the home during the process—an online sale may be a better fit.
At Brown Button, we understand both formats intimately and are here to guide you through the best choice for your situation. Reach out for a free consultation, and we’ll help ensure your estate sale in St. Louis is a smooth, successful experience.
