A Transition and Asset Resolution Firm Whose Superpower Is Auctions
Burgess Auctions LLC is a licensed Indiana auctioneer and auction company based in Knightstown, Indiana, founded in 1996 by Smoky Burgess and led today by principal auctioneer Zack Burgess, CAI, AMM, CAGA. The company holds Indiana Auctioneer License AU19600029, an active FFL dealer license, and the Certified Appraisers Guild of America (CAGA) credential.
People call Burgess when physical stuff becomes complicated. A parent passed away. A marriage is ending. Nobody is taking over the farm. The business is closing. Whatever the situation — Burgess helps families, executors, attorneys, and business owners navigate the transition of physical assets from one chapter to the next.
Burgess is trusted not only by families but also by attorneys, fiduciaries, trustees, financial advisors, and institutions that require documented valuation and defensible asset disposition. One call covers the full scope.
The auction is one of the tools we use to deliver that result. It is not the product we are selling. The product is a clear path forward. We don't leave you with a problem. We leave you with a result.
The Burgess Auctions Story
In December 1995, Smoky Burgess sent his son Zack to the Reppert School of Auctioneering. It was a gift, a vote of confidence, and the beginning of a career. Zack received his Indiana Auctioneer License on February 14, 1996 — and Burgess Auctions LLC was born.
Smoky had deep roots in Central Indiana. Zack grew up in Hamilton County, worked his first job at the Indiana Gun Club, and came up through 4-H and FFA — where FFA advisor Dick Allen gave him his first real experience speaking in front of a crowd. That foundation of community and public trust became the backbone of the business.
After auction school, Zack apprenticed under established Hamilton County auctioneers — learning the craft the right way, in the ring, from experienced professionals — before establishing Burgess Auctions LLC in its current structure in 2015, headquartered in Knightstown, Indiana.
Smoky passed away, but his name lives on. Zack’s brother Jake operates FoxGardin Restaurant Group in Central Indiana — and one of their restaurants carries Smoky’s name in his memory. At Burgess Auctions, his legacy lives in every sale.
Today, Burgess Auctions is a family-operated business. Zack and his wife Vivian are the heart of the operation — running dozens of auctions annually across Central Indiana, handling estates, real estate, firearms, coins, collectibles, and commercial liquidations with the same personal care the business was founded on.
Why Families Call Burgess Today
Thirty years ago, most people called an auctioneer to sell assets. Today, families call because they have a problem.
- A parent died and the family doesn't know where to start
- A spouse passed away and left behind a firearm collection — and a proper appraisal is needed before any decisions are made
- A home must be sold and the contents cleared before closing
- A divorce requires neutral, documented asset valuation
- An executor is overwhelmed and needs one coordinated plan
- A farm has no successor and decades of equipment must be resolved
- A business is closing and everything must go
They don't need noise. They need clarity. They don't need four vendors. They need one trusted guide who can coordinate everything.
That's where Burgess comes in. One call. One team. Everything handled.
2025 By the Numbers
Zack Burgess, CAI, AMM, CAGA
Zack Burgess has been a licensed Indiana auctioneer since February 14, 1996 — celebrating 30 years in the profession in 2026. He holds the Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI) designation, the Auction Marketing Management (AMM) certification, the Certified Appraisers Guild of America (CAGA) credential, and an active FFL dealer license. He is a member of the National Auctioneers Association and the Indiana Auctioneers Association.
Career highlights include conducting the Mari Hulman George Estate Auction — covered by 11 media outlets — earning the CAI designation, and building one of Central Indiana’s most active independent auction operations over three decades.
- Indiana Auctioneer License AU19600029 — Since Feb. 14, 1996
- CAI Designation Certified Auctioneers Institute — NAA
- AMM Certification Auction Marketing Management
- CAGA Credential Certified Appraisers Guild of America
- FFL Dealer License Knightstown & Carthage Facilities
- Real Estate Partnership Jason Snider, J. Snider Real Estate, RB14045952
- Education Reppert School of Auctioneering, December 1995
We've Built Guides for the Most Common Ones
These pages are written in plain language for families navigating difficult transitions. Start with the one that matches your situation.
My Parent Died
The house, the belongings, the firearms, the real estate. Where to start and what to do first.
My Husband Left Guns
What's legal, what they're worth, and how to handle a firearms collection after a loss.
Not Sure What It's Worth?
Before you sell, divide, or donate — get a certified professional appraisal first.
Ready to Sell?
Tell us what you have. We'll build a plan and coordinate everything from there.
Are you an attorney, fiduciary, or financial advisor? Our professional appraisal services page is written specifically for you — including court-ready documentation, litigation support, and expert witness services.
Comprehensive Auction & Asset Disposition Services
Burgess Auctions LLC provides full-service auction and asset disposition throughout Central Indiana. Our services go beyond the auction ring — we handle the full lifecycle of an asset from assessment through settlement.
Estate Liquidation
From a single room to an entire estate — we sort, value, market, sell, and settle personal property with one coordinated plan.
Learn more →Real Estate Auctions
Defined closing dates, competitive bidding, no extended carrying costs. We bring the buyers — you get a result, not a listing.
Learn more →Firearms Consignment
FFL-licensed, secure facility, full ATF compliance. We handle the legal requirements — you don't have to figure out what's permitted.
Sell a collection → See auction results →Personal Property Appraisals
CAGA-credentialed written appraisals accepted in probate court, divorce proceedings, and IRS submissions. Know what you have before you decide.
Learn more →Commercial Liquidation
Business closures, equipment, inventory, coins & currency, aviation memorabilia, and high-value specialty collections.
Start a consignment →Storage & Logistics
Short and long-term storage at our Knightstown facility. Warehouses, showrooms, galleries, and outdoor storage for vehicles and equipment.
Ask us →Clients We Work With
Burgess Auctions works with a broad range of clients across Central Indiana — from individual families to institutional creditors. Every client receives the same personal attention and custom auction strategy.
Facing a specific situation? We have guides written for the most common ones: settling a parent's estate, inherited firearms, and personal property appraisals for attorneys and families.
Serving Central Indiana & Surrounding Areas
Burgess Auctions serves sellers throughout Central Indiana including Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Anderson, Muncie, New Castle, Greenfield, and surrounding communities. Our facilities are headquartered in Knightstown, Indiana — 30 minutes east of Indianapolis — with a secondary FFL-licensed facility in Carthage, Indiana.
We regularly serve clients in Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Anderson, Muncie, New Castle, Greenfield, and surrounding communities throughout Indiana.
Our Facilities
Knightstown — Primary Facility
Headquarters • US-40 East of IndianapolisWarehouses, showrooms, galleries, and outdoor storage for vehicles and equipment. Live simulcast auction capability. Short and long-term storage available. Spans nearly half a city block — one of Central Indiana’s premier independent auction facilities.
Carthage — FFL Facility
FFL-Licensed • Firearms OnlySecondary FFL-licensed facility for firearms intake, secure storage, and transfer processing. Full legal compliance for all firearm types including handguns, rifles, shotguns, and antique and curio firearms.
Memberships & Professional Organizations
Burgess Auctions and its principals maintain active membership in the leading professional organizations in the auction, appraisal, and real estate industries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions families, attorneys, and executors ask most often about working with Burgess Auctions. Attorneys and fiduciaries looking for professional appraisal services can visit our professional appraisal services page for court-ready valuation information.
Zack Burgess, CAI, AMM, CAGA is the principal auctioneer and owner of Burgess Auctions LLC. He has held Indiana Auctioneer License AU19600029 since February 14, 1996 — giving him 30 years of licensed auctioneering experience as of 2026. He holds the Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI) designation, Auction Marketing Management (AMM) certification, and the Certified Appraisers Guild of America (CAGA) credential.
Burgess Auctions conducts estate liquidations, real estate auctions, FFL-licensed firearms consignment auctions, commercial liquidations, coin and currency auctions, and specialty collection sales. We handle the full lifecycle of an asset from assessment through settlement. See our estate sales and downsizing page or consign your assets to get started.
Yes. Burgess Auctions holds a Federal Firearms License (FFL) and operates a dedicated firearms facility in Carthage, Indiana. We handle handguns, rifles, shotguns, and antique and curio firearms with full legal compliance. If you have an inherited firearms collection and aren't sure what to do, see our guide: What Do I Do With My Husband's Guns?
Yes. Zack Burgess holds the Certified Appraisers Guild of America (CAGA) credential and provides certified personal property appraisals for estates, probate, divorce, insurance, and pre-sale planning. Appraisals are $375 for the first hour and $150 per hour thereafter. For complete information see our personal property appraisals page. Attorneys and fiduciaries can visit the professional appraisal services page.
Burgess Auctions serves Central Indiana and surrounding areas including Hamilton, Marion, Hancock, Madison, Henry, Shelby, Rush, Boone, Wayne, Fayette, and Decatur counties. We regularly conduct auctions in Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Anderson, Muncie, New Castle, Greenfield, and surrounding communities. For out-of-state executors and heirs — we handle remote engagements regularly and can coordinate everything without you needing to be present.