Questions, answered plainly

We work on commission — a percentage of the sale's gross proceeds, quoted in writing after the consultation, once we have seen the home and its contents. There is no fee for the consultation itself. We do not quote a rate sight unseen, because a historic home full of fine furnishings and a modest household are genuinely different engagements.

Because the honest answer depends on the size of the home, the depth of research its contents require, and the length of the sale. Any figure quoted before seeing the home would be a guess dressed as a promise. Our written quote, after the walk-through, is exact.

Most sales are ready within two to four weeks of signing the agreement. The sale itself typically runs two to three days, and settlement — your itemized accounting and proceeds — follows on the schedule set out in your agreement.

Individually. Each significant piece is identified — artist, maker, period, materials — and priced from documented comparable sales. Pieces that warrant it are featured in our advertising so collectors and dealers attend. Nothing of value is priced by the shelf or the tray.

No. Laurel & Rose is an in-person company by design. Fine furnishings and art sell best when buyers can stand in the room, see the light on a piece, and open the drawers — and historic homes deserve a sale held within their own walls.

They are set aside first, before any pricing begins. Photographs, documents, letters, and anything the family wishes to keep are identified with you at the consultation and are never offered for sale.

Exactly what your agreement says — your choice. Most families elect donation, and we coordinate the pickup. You may also keep unsold items, or we can arrange a full cleanout so the home is left broom-clean and ready for its next chapter.

Yes — this is common in our service areas. Consultations can begin by video, agreements are signed electronically, and you receive photographs and updates at every stage, followed by the same itemized written settlement.

Please don't. Items that look ordinary are sometimes the most valuable, and sorting or discarding before the consultation can cost an estate real money. Leave everything exactly as it is — evaluating it is our job.

No. A company that buys your contents and resells them profits from paying you less. We sell on commission, so our interest is aligned with yours: the more your home's contents bring, the better we both do.

Entry is managed, rooms are staffed throughout, small valuables are kept in secured cases, and jewelry and similar items are handled under staff supervision only. The home is never left open and unattended.

A fair question, and we won't answer it with borrowed history. Everything we promise is in the written agreement before work begins — commission, pricing method, schedule, and settlement terms. Ask for the process in writing, compare it, and judge us on that.