What do I do with a parent's house after they die in Indiana?

Secure the property and contact the homeowner's insurance company immediately. Most policies void coverage after 30-60 days of vacancy. Locate the will — the executor controls the assets before anything is sold or given away. Most Indiana estates go through probate. A probate attorney can advise on your specific situation. Burgess Auctions coordinates personal property, firearms, vehicles, and real estate through one organized process.

What happens if my parent died without a will in Indiana?

When someone dies without a will in Indiana, assets pass according to Indiana intestate succession laws — generally to a surviving spouse, then children, then other relatives in a defined order. The court appoints an administrator to manage the estate. For estates under $100,000 in total value, Indiana's Small Estate Affidavit process may bypass formal probate. For larger estates, probate is typically required.

What do I do with inherited firearms in Indiana?

Indiana heirs can legally possess and keep firearms inherited through an estate without a background check. However, NFA items — silencers, short-barreled rifles, and machine guns — require specific ATF transfer procedures before probate closes. Before making any decisions, have the firearms inventoried and valued. Dealer offers typically run 40-60% of market value. Burgess Auctions is FFL licensed to handle the complete firearms estate transition — inventory, compliance, valuation, and sale — entirely in-house.

What if I live out of state and can't be there to handle the estate?

Out-of-state executors and heirs work with Burgess Auctions remotely every week. We coordinate property access, conduct the on-site assessment, photograph everything, and communicate the plan by phone, email, or video call. You don't need to be present for the sale. You review and approve the plan — we execute it. A complete written settlement accounting is provided when the engagement closes.

What is the difference between an estate sale and an estate auction?

A traditional estate sale runs over a weekend with fixed prices that typically discount as the sale progresses. Early arrivals get the best items at the lowest prices. Estate sale companies typically take 35-40% of gross proceeds. An estate auction uses competitive bidding where buyers compete against each other — prices rise instead of fall. Burgess Auctions has access to 11,150 registered buyers and 900,000+ buyers through its national network, meaning the right buyer is in the room for whatever the estate contains.

What happens to estate items that don't sell?

Burgess Auctions coordinates the complete disposition of estate assets — not just the items that bring strong prices. Unsold items can be donated to charitable organizations, transferred to heirs who want them, or handled through additional disposal arrangements based on the family's preferences. The engagement is complete when the estate is resolved — not just when the auction closes.

How does Burgess Auctions get paid for estate work?

Burgess Auctions earns a commission on what sells — agreed upon in writing before anything begins. There are no hidden fees and no surprises at settlement. The buyer's premium — a percentage added to the winning bid paid by the buyer — offsets a portion of the seller's commission. Our interests are aligned with yours: we only make more when you make more.

How long does it take to settle an estate in Indiana?

Most Indiana estates settle within 6 to 12 months. Carrying costs including taxes, insurance, utilities, and maintenance typically run $1,500 to $4,000 per month on most Central Indiana homes. Burgess Auctions can typically complete the personal property phase of an estate within 30 to 60 days of the initial engagement, significantly reducing the cost of delay.

My Parent Died — What Do I Do With the House & Contents in Indiana? | Burgess Auctions

Burgess Auctions — Indiana Estate Specialists

My Parent Died. What Do I Do Now?

Losing a parent is one of the hardest things you'll ever go through. In the middle of grief, you're suddenly responsible for a house full of belongings, a lifetime of stuff, and decisions you never expected to make.

You don't have to figure this out by yourself.

Tell Us What's Going On Call Zack: 765-445-7814

Burgess Auctions — helping Indiana families navigate estate transitions

Serving Indiana Families Since 1996 • CAI Certified • FFL Licensed Firearms Dealer • Certified Appraisers (CAGA) • Real Estate & Personal Property

⚠ Do This First — Before Anything Else

If the house is now vacant, call your homeowner's insurance carrier immediately. Many policies have reduced or no coverage once a home becomes unoccupied. Taking this one step can protect you from major unexpected costs.

Which of these sounds like you?

You're Not Alone. And You're Not the First.

Most families who call Burgess are in one of these situations. If any of these feel familiar — you're exactly the kind of family we help every week.

There's a house full of belongings and I don't even know where to begin
Dad had firearms and I'm not sure what to do with them legally
Multiple siblings are involved and we don't agree on next steps
I live out of state and can't handle everything in person
Mom passed without a will and we're overwhelmed with paperwork
We need to sell the house but first have to clear everything out
I have no idea what anything is worth

Before You Sell, Donate, or Give Anything Away

Get Clarity First: What Actually Has Value?

Families make expensive mistakes in the first few weeks. The coin jar donated to Goodwill that contained thousands in silver. The old revolver sold to a gun shop for $200 that was worth $1,800. The antique furniture everyone assumed was junk.

The opposite happens too — some items families think are worth thousands have little market value today. Know the difference before you act.

Items That Often Hold Strong Value

Firearms and related equipment
Coins & Currency (especially pre-1964 silver)
Gold & Silver jewelry
Quality watches
Better antiques and primitives
Farm equipment and tools
Militaria and vintage advertising
Collector vehicles

Categories That Have Softened Significantly

Formal dining room furniture & china cabinets
Large bedroom suites
Silverplate & formal china sets
Collector plates and mass-produced collectibles
Many pianos (expensive to move, limited demand)

Items that often hold surprising value at auction — firearms, coins, gold, jewelry, militaria, vintage advertising, primitives, vintage stereo equipment, estate vehicles

These items often hold strong value — and families walk past them every day without knowing it.

Categories that often struggle at auction — formal dining room furniture, china cabinets, large bedroom suites, pianos, mass-produced collectibles, silverplate

These categories have softened significantly — most bring far less than families expect.

Not Ready to Sell Yet? That's Okay.

Many families call us before they're ready to make final decisions. Sometimes the first step isn't selling. It's simply understanding what you have.

Burgess provides professional appraisals for:

Probate and estate settlement
Insurance documentation
Divorce and asset division
Family disputes
Tax and planning purposes

Before you decide what to keep, sell, divide, or donate — know what you have. A professional appraisal removes guesswork and gives you confidence about what comes next.

Call Zack to talk through your situation. No pressure. No obligation.

How This Works

You Don't Need to Have It All Figured Out. Just Tell Us What's Going On.

Tell Us the Situation

We listen, answer questions, and help you see your options.

We Come Take a Look

We walk through the house and give you a clear, honest picture.

We Create a Plan

Together we decide the best path forward with realistic timelines.

We Handle the Details

Sorting, photography, marketing, legal requirements, and the sale.

You Receive the Results

We deliver the proceeds and close the chapter cleanly.

One call. One team. One coordinated process.

Real Families. Real Results.

What Happens When the Right Buyers Are in the Room

Carmen Holeman Trust Estate

$250,000+

After a Chicago auction house took the premier items, the family was left with what remained in Indiana. Burgess turned it into $250,000 through targeted marketing and competitive bidding.

Chuck Fishers Firearms Collection

$3,100 vs. $900 offer

A widow received a $900 cash offer from a local dealer. Burgess achieved $3,100 — more than three times the offer — while handling all legal paperwork.

Vansteenwyck Estate

4 Auction Sessions

The estate was too large and varied for a single sale. Burgess structured four targeted sessions — each matched to the right buyers for that category of assets.

30+ Years Serving
Indiana Families

11,150 Registered Buyers
in Our Database

900K+ National Buyer
Network

FFL Licensed Firearms
Dealer

CAI Top 1% of
Auctioneers

Why Families Call Burgess First

Most Companies Can Solve Only Part of the Problem.

When a parent dies, families rarely need just one service. They need one trusted guide who can coordinate everything.

Others handle one piece:

A realtor can sell the house
A junk hauler can empty the garage
A gun shop can buy the firearms
An estate sale company can price household goods

Burgess handles all of it:

Professional appraisals and valuations
Firearms compliance and FFL transfers (in-house)
Estate contents sorting and sale
Real estate coordination
Auctions when competitive bidding creates the best result
Final clean-out and settlement

One call. One plan. Everything handled.

You do not need four vendors. You do not need to coordinate multiple timelines. You do not need to figure this out alone.

We help bring order to the chaos.

A Quick Word About Auctions

When Competitive Bidding Creates the Best Result

Most people don't call us because they want an auction. They call because they have a problem. The auction is one of the tools we use to solve it.

For items with real market value, competitive bidding connects your assets with the right buyers — often producing significantly better results than private sales or lowball offers. With over 30 years of experience, 11,150 registered bidders, and access to nearly 900,000 buyers nationwide, the right buyer is in the room for whatever you have.

Tell Us What's Going On.

We'll listen, answer your questions, and help you figure out the next step.

No pressure. No commitment. No sales pitch.

or call directly

Call Zack directly

(765) 445-7814

Burgess Auctions LLC | Knightstown & Carthage, Indiana | burgessauctions.com

Have something to sell? We handle estates, firearms, real estate, and more throughout Central Indiana and surrounding areas. Learn how consigning works →