Frequently Asked Questions
Hire Ruby Estate Sales and Services, a trusted estate sale company for clearing a loved ones home, downsizing or relocating. Ruby Estate Sales and Services is here to help!
This FAQ section answers the most common asked questions about our estate liquidation services in Wisconsin. Whether you are a homeowner moving or downsizing, the family of the deceased, or executor we are here to help. Here are the facts on how our professional estate sales work and why they often deliver better results than doing it yourself or auctions.
What Is a Professional Estate Sale?
A professional estate sale is a full-service liquidation process where an experienced company stages, prices, advertises, and sells the entire contents of a home over a multi-day public sale event. We handle everything from household goods, to expensive collectables and even vehicles. Estate sales are ideal for downsizing, moving, the passing of a loved one, or divorce situations.
Why Hire an Estate Sale Company Instead of Selling It Myself?
Our professional estate sale services maximize your proceeds through expert pricing, high-visibility marketing, and efficient execution. Most clients net significantly more than with a garage sale or online listings saving you many of hours of stressful work. We manage the setup, sale, pickups and cleanup so you don’t have to. Many individuals and families try to take on an estate sale on their own and end up burnt out and at odds with eachother. Hiring professionals such as Ruby Estate Sales and Services helps you avoid family tensions, decision fatigue, the physical demands and hidden costs while maximizing results.
What is the process when you hire Ruby Estate Sales for an estate sale?
• You remove sentimental and personal items you wish to keep
• FREE no obligation consultation and quote
• Contract Signing
• Set up begins with professional pricing, staging items and photography
• Online and Local Advertising
• 2 to 3 day public sale
• Cleanup of our staging equipment
• Post sale full cleanout quote
• Client check sent within 15 days of sale end
• Entire process usually 2 to 4 weeks from consultation to you receiving your final payment
How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Estate Sale Company?
Our standard commission is a percentage of gross sales between 25% and 40%, this percentage depends on estate size and services required. Our comission covers consultation, setup, research, pricing, advertising, staffing the sale and clean up of our items. Ruby Estate Sales provides a transparent, no-obligation quote after a free on-site evaluation with NO hidden fees.
What do I need to do before consulting Ruby Estate Sales, Do I need to clean or prepare the house before a consultation or sale?
No. We handle it all. We only need you to remove any irreplaceable personal items such as documents, photos and anything else you or family members wants to keep. We actually ask that you dont do anything else, Such as: donate items you dont think will sell or throwing anything out you think is trash. We handle all of the sorting, organizing, and staging.
Do you bring in everything that is needed to hold an estate sale?
Yes. We bring in all tables, shelving and clothing racks needed for the staging and the display of items.
How long does the entire estate sale process take?
Consultation to sale date typically takes 2 to 3 weeks. Sale duration is 2 to 3 days (Thursday to Saturday). Final payment to client is within 14 days of sale end. We can often times accelerate the timeline for urgent situations and deadlines without sacrificing care or final results. We understand and offer flexible scheduling for these situations.
Do I have enough for a successful estate sale?
In most cases yes. We have successfully run estate sales for partial households as well as a house with full contents. During the consultation we will discuss what makes the most sense for your situation.
What items sell best at estate sales?
• Antiques, Art and Collectibles
• Jewelry
• Silver and Brass items
• Furniture especially vintage and solid wood items
• Small appliances and kitchenware
• Vintage clothes
• Lawn equipment, tools and sporting goods
• Holiday Decor
• Books, movies, music and other mixed media
• Decor especially vintage
• Linens and sewing items
• Vintage toys
How Do You Handle an Overwhelming Volume of Items?
At Ruby Estate Sales we regularly manage estates with a lifetime, sometimes generations of accumulated belongings. We are ready for any situation.
What Happens to Unsold Items?
As the end of the sale approaches we apply discounts (usually 25% to 50% off). After the sale, you may keep any remaining items, donate them to charity, or hire us for professional cleanout services at an additional cost. We are happy to discuss the best option for you.
Do You Offer Full Estate Cleanout Services After the Sale?
Yes. Many of our clients choose our full service option. After completion of your sale we handle everything left behind. We donate most useable items and take care of the trash leaving the house completely empty for your next step.
Are You Licensed and Insured?
Yes we carry full liability insurance to protect ourselves and our clients. We are happy to provide proof of insurance.
How Do You Advertise Estate Sales to Attract Buyers?
We use multiple channels: We have a large email subscriber list, we also utilize EstateSales.net, Facebook Marketplace, Instagram, Pickerty and targeted online ads. We also include street signs to alert local drivers. Strong advertising is one of the biggest advantages of hiring professionals and directly impacts your final proceeds.
What If I Only Have a Few High-Value Items?
We offer flexible options including consignment. Contact us for a free evaluation and consultaion and we’ll recommend the best solution.
Ready to Get Started with Professional Estate Liquidation? CONTACT RUBY ESTATE SALES TODAY!
We specialize in helping you through a stressful and difficult time. Many of our clients have said having our professionalism and support gave them a much needed peace of mind.
We proudly serve South-Eastern Wisconsin with honest, respectful and effective estate sale services.
We hope this answered all of your questions,
If not feel free to contact us.