How to Sell a House Full of Stuff in Indiana: A Complete Guide to Estate Cleanouts & Auctions: 2 Minute 28 second read time

How to Sell a House Full of Stuff in Indiana: Estate Cleanout & Auction Guide

By Zack Burgess, CAI | Burgess Auctions – Knightstown, Indiana
Trusted by Indiana families, attorneys, and fiduciaries for over 30 years

Facing a Full House? We Can Help.

If you’ve inherited a home — or you're helping a loved one downsize — and every room is packed wall to wall, you’re not alone. At Burgess Auctions, we’ve handled it all: hoarder houses, historic estates, and everything in between. And when it’s time to sell, you don’t need to go it alone.

This guide will walk you through your options and show you how to turn a house full of “stuff” into real results — fast, respectfully, and professionally.

What Are Your Options for Selling Everything in a House?

Let’s keep it simple:

Option 1: Estate Sale

• Pros: Familiar, local, easy for small items

• Cons: No competitive bidding, often underpriced, doesn't move the big stuff

Option 2: Donate or Haul It All Away

• Pros: Quick solution

• Cons: You leave money on the table — often tens of thousands

Option 3: Professional Estate Auction with Burgess

• Pros: We catalog, market, and sell everything — including the home if needed

• No guesswork. No strangers walking through the home.

• Just a streamlined process, full transparency, and results you can trust.

💡 Most clients are shocked by what ends up selling — from tools to Tupperware.

What Does the Process Look Like?

We make it turnkey. Here's how it works:

1. Consultation
   We meet with you (in person or virtually) to assess the estate. We'll walk the house, ask a few questions, and talk timelines.

2. Valuation & Strategy
   We identify key assets: antiques, firearms, vehicles, art, coins — whatever is of value — and advise on what to sell, donate, or discard.

3. Cataloging & Photography
   Our team creates a professional online catalog with full descriptions and high-quality photos.

4. Marketing & Auction
   We promote your auction across Indiana and beyond using targeted advertising, email blasts, and social media.

5. Pickup & Settlement
   Buyers come to pick up what they win. You receive a full settlement and detailed report — typically within two weeks.

Can You Sell the House Too?

Yes — many of our estate clients ask us to sell the real estate and personal property together. We’re fully licensed, and our process brings competitive bidding to both contents and real property, driving better outcomes.

Real Example: Three Semi-Loads and a Big Surprise

A local attorney called us in to help an overwhelmed client. The house was packed — we’re talking floor-to-ceiling, three semi-trailers worth of contents.

Most folks would've sent in a dumpster. Instead, we rolled up our sleeves, sorted, cataloged, marketed, and auctioned everything.

The end result? Over $100,000 in auction proceeds — from a house that looked like a total loss.

That’s the Burgess difference. We don’t guess. We market. We sell. We deliver results.

Why Families and Fiduciaries Choose Burgess

• Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI) designation – less than 1% of auctioneers nationwide

• Decades of experience with estates, trusts, and probate sales

• Trusted by attorneys, trust officers, and executors across Indiana

• Based in Knightstown — serving all of Central Indiana and beyond

Let’s Talk

You don’t have to clean it all yourself. You don’t have to wonder what it’s worth. And you definitely don’t have to feel overwhelmed.

Call us at (765) 445-7814 or visit www.burgessauctions.com to schedule your free consultation. We'll give you a clear path forward — and the results to match.