5 Top Estate Sale Companies in Santa Barbara

Published on July 10th, 2025
10 min read

Alexandra Lee Associate Editor
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Alexandra Lee Associate Editor

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Alexandra is an associate editor of HomeLight.com. Previously, she served as a writer and social media manager at Santa Barbara Life & Style Magazine, in addition to interning at the nonprofit honors society Phi Beta Kappa. Alexandra holds a bachelor's degree in communication and global studies from UC Santa Barbara, and she has three years of experience reporting on topics including international travel, luxury properties, celebrity interviews, fine dining, and more.

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If you’re searching for estate sale companies in Santa Barbara, you might be facing the daunting task of sorting through a home full of possessions. Whether you’re settling an estate, assisting a loved one with relocation, or preparing to downsize your own home, partnering with a trusted estate sale company can turn an emotional transition into a smooth, organized process.

In this guide, we’ll highlight some of the top-rated estate sale companies in Santa Barbara, detailing their operations, typical timelines, and potential costs, as well as how much you stand to earn.

Popular estate sale companies in Santa Barbara

Here are five trusted estate sale companies serving the Santa Barbara region:

Your Best Estate Sale

Your Best Estate Sale serves clients throughout Santa Barbara, Montecito, Hope Ranch, and Santa Ynez. They begin with a free consultation to assess the best course of action for your property and provide comprehensive estate sale services, including clean-outs, business liquidations, and traditional on-site estate sales. Their experienced professionals are dedicated to delivering stress‑free, efficient transitions with high-quality staging and marketing to maximize client returns.

Website: yourbestestatesale.com
Phone: 805‑895‑0951
Better Business Bureau: Not listed
Google customer reviews: 5 stars, based on five reviews

Alchemy Estate Sales

Based in Santa Barbara and serving Montecito, Hope Ranch, Goleta, Carpinteria, and the Santa Ynez Valley, Alchemy Estate Sales brings over 20 years of estate liquidation and appraisal experience. This women-owned company, founded by Susan Margaret and Jennifer Pacella, offers full-service estate sale solutions. Services include free consultations, professional staging and photography, in-person and online sales, donation coordination, and full clean-outs, as well as marketing to an email list of over 3,000 potential buyers. Each step is designed to ease clients through emotional life transitions with compassion and efficiency.

Website: alchemyestatesales.com
Phone: 805-705-8086
Better Business Bureau: Not listed
Google customer reviews: 5 stars, based on two reviews

The Clearing House, LLC

Based in Santa Barbara, The Clearing House is a premier provider of residential estate liquidation services covering Hope Ranch, Montecito, Goleta, and Summerland. Their team handles everything from item research, pricing, and visual merchandising to staging, marketing, and professionally staffed estate sales. Owned by partners Elaine Pfeifer and Christa Myers, who have over 20 years in retail sales and marketing, the company is fully licensed and insured, and known for delivering a seamless, stress-free experience through respectful and beautiful presentations.

Website: theclearinghousesb.com
Phone: 805‑708‑6113 or 805‑450‑8382
Better Business Bureau: Not listed
Google customer reviews: 5 stars, based on three reviews

West Coast Estate Liquidators

West Coast Estate Liquidators is a licensed, bonded, and insured full-service estate liquidation company serving Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Led by Brian Applegate, a fourth-generation local with over 20 years of experience in antiques and appraisals, they handle everything from traditional estate sales to complete estate buy-outs and hoarder sales. Their process includes item research, staging, and marketing, as well as post-sale clean-up and follow-ups. Their experienced team is well-versed in antiques including fine art, jewelry, sports memorabilia, and automobiles, and even has a licensed art appraiser with over 40 years of experience on staff.

Website: westcoastestateliquidators.com
Phone: 805-644-0707
Better Business Bureau: Not listed
Google customer reviews: 4.9 stars, based on 31 reviews

Treasured Estates

Treasured Estates is a premier estate liquidation firm with 25+ years of experience and a team averaging 35 years in appraisal and estate sales. They offer a comprehensive suite of services, from in-home appraisal, cataloging, staging, and multi-channel marketing to in-person and online estate sales, final cleanouts, and donation coordination. They seamlessly stage and list homes for sale, ensuring maximum exposure and return for clients navigating complex transitions.

Website: treasuredestates.com
Phone: 805‑688‑7960
Better Business Bureau: A+ rating, not accredited
Google customer reviews: 4.6 stars, based on 11 reviews

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Working with estate sale companies in Santa Barbara

Professional estate sale companies in Santa Barbara help organize public sales in order to liquidate the majority of a home’s contents and belongings. These professionals handle the pricing, staging, and promotion to attract buyers and boost returns. While many companies focus on in-person events, others offer a combination of online auctions and traditional on-site estate sales.

Unlike a typical garage sale, estate sales often involve selling a broad range of household items — ranging from furniture, antiques, collectibles, and art to everyday goods. Most estate sales run for one to three days, with discounts often applied on the final day to help clear remaining inventory.

Many companies also offer post-sale services, including donation coordination, consignment, or disposal of unsold items. The goal is to empty the home completely, preparing it for an eventual sale.

Estate sale costs and estimated proceeds

In Santa Barbara, estate sale companies typically charge a commission based on total sales, usually between 35% and 50%. Rates can vary depending on the size and complexity of the sale, as well as the estimated value of the items involved. For instance, sales with higher-value items may warrant a reduced commission rate.

Your net proceeds will largely depend on your commission structure. According to EstateSales.net, the average estate sale generates $18,000-$20,000 in gross revenue. With an average 35%-40% commission rate,you could potentially net $10,800 to $13,000, after fees.

Most Santa Barbara estate sale companies look for a minimum gross revenue estimate of $5,000–$10,000 before agreeing to take on a sale, though some may accept smaller estates.

»Learn more: Estate Sale Company FAQs

Find more estate sale companies in Santa Barbara

While we’ve highlighted a few reputable estate sale companies in Santa Barbara, it’s always wise to conduct your own research and choose a company that suits your unique needs, budget, timeline, and communication style. Below, we’ve shared some helpful resources for finding and evaluating other potential companies:

Do you need to empty a house before selling it?

Not always. Some agents recommend leaving key pieces of furniture and decor in place to help with staging. If the home is already vacant, virtual staging can be an effective alternative.

If you’re aiming for a faster, low-effort sale, HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform can connect you with cash buyers who purchase homes in almost any condition — even those that haven’t yet been cleared out.

You don’t necessarily need to clear out a house before selling it. In fact, some real estate agents recommend holding onto certain furniture and decor for staging purposes. If the home is already empty, your agent may suggest virtual staging when it comes time to list.

If you’re aiming for a fast, hassle-free home sale, HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform can connect you with reputable cash buyers who purchase homes in virtually any condition — including those still filled with belongings.

»Learn more: Skip repairs, clean-up, and showings with a no-obligation cash offer

Next step: Sell the home with a top Santa Barbara real estate agent

After the estate sale, the next major task is often selling the property itself. Whether you’re handling an inherited home, downsizing, or preparing to relocate, working with a top Santa Barbara real estate agent can help you sell faster — and often for a better price.

With HomeLight’s free Agent Match platform, you can connect with Santa Barbara’s top-performing real estate agents based on actual transaction data. Our research shows that the top 5% of agents sell homes for up to 10% more than the average agent.

Header Image Source: (Yifan Ma/Unsplash)

At HomeLight, our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying. Therefore, we promote strict editorial integrity in each of our posts.

Alexandra Lee

Associate Editor

Alexandra is an associate editor of HomeLight.com. Previously, she served as a writer and social media manager at Santa Barbara Life & Style Magazine, in addition to interning at the nonprofit honors society Phi Beta Kappa. Alexandra holds a bachelor's degree in communication and global studies from UC Santa Barbara, and she has three years of experience reporting on topics including international travel, luxury properties, celebrity interviews, fine dining, and more.