Madera Antiques and Estates, not only specializes in buying and selling individual items but also offers services to liquidate the entire contents of an estate. We assist estate executors and individual families with every aspect of what is often an overwhelming process. For those who are moving, downsizing or completely liquidating assets, we offer peace of mind and a smooth efficient transition to the next chapter of your lives.

We handle any size sale – from average homes to large, complex estates and large businesses, with contents featuring rare antiques to contemporary home furnishings. If you should find you are in need of such services, please contact Trish Stephens by calling (505) 819-7615.

To determine the need for an estate sale, we will arrange an initial consultation which will be free of charge and free of any obligation. This meeting will determine the best and most efficient way to liquidate, whether an estate sale or a whole buy out.

After your needs jointly discussed and you decide an estate sale is your best option, we will manage every detail of the sale from start to finish by

Providing appraisales and pricing on all items
Designing attractive staging of all items (w/security & foot traffic flow in mind)
Creating and placing impactful advertising (print and online)
Placing directional singage on day of sale
Negotiating on your behalf during sale to maximize your investments
Arranging pick up/removal of all items by new buyers
Packing & Shipping of valuables when necessary
Contacting charitable organizations for possible donations at end of sale

Most people only have a need for one estate sale in their lives and may appreciate help in developing realistic expectations. Please take these suggestions in the light they are intended; to help you achieve a successful and lucrative sale.

Tip # 1:

Trust and listen to the professionals you have hired to know how to utilize their years of experience as appraisers and estate sale managers. After 8 years of assisting clients in realizing profitable sales, our expertise can save you time, money and unnecessary hassles.

Tip # 2:

Please refrain from holding a garage sale prior to your estate sale “to unload the small and/or inexpensive items”. The success of an estate sale is often due to the variety of items available; expensive, mid-range and otherwise. When every customer walk into your home is able to find an items/he wants, this encourages continued shopping. Impulse buying at estate sales is what drives people to enjoy the hunt and find what

they may not have expected.

Tip # 3:

Along those same lines, we discourage “purging” before an estate sale. The time to throw away or give items away is after the sale. Despite our best sales efforts, there are always some ‘leftovers’. That is the time to donate. Please let the experts comb through your possessions first to access their values and potential salability.

Tip # 4:

Avoid telling neighbors and friends that they can come before the sale begins so they can have “first dibs”. You may feel pressured to undersell the item or even give it away. Simply let them know when the sale is scheduled and that you welcome their attendance. Also, please understand that your estate sale management company accepted your sale with the knowledge that all of the items represented will be available for sale. Advertising will have been purchased to promote the items and much time invested in staging, researching and pricing. Your Contract states that any items removed from the inventory will be eligible for commission. Expect to be charged for any items you may sell or give away after the Contract is signed.

Tip # 5:

Try not to be too helpful. Although the appraiser may be interested in hearing about the provenance of an item, being told what price it should go for is unfair. Your appraiser is knowledgeable. He understands the Santa Fe market and how it varies

significantly from the other art markets on the East or West Coast, for example. Also,what you may have paid in a high end gallery is not what you can realistically expect to get from a local estate sale. We will attempt to gain the highest possible price for you.

Tip # 6:

Although it is tempting to put things in storage units to postpone making decisions about the items, this can be an expensive endeavor both in time wasted and money spent. We will need to go through the boxes, which is very time consuming and labor intensive, plus moving and storage costs must be paid. $200-400 a month in storage fees add up quickly. It is more cost effective to sell the items and receive a residual income.

Tip # 7:

Please don’t wait until the last minute to hire us. We often schedule estate sales a month or two in advance and may not be able to meet your last minute needs. The work we do ‘behind the scenes’ is time consuming and demanding as we prepare for your sale: advertising deadlines must be met, social media marketing requires scheduling, e-vites need to be designed and sent to our customer base, as well as photographing, staging, pricing and signage preparation.

Tip # 8:

Please avoid attending the sale. We work on commission because we trust in our ability to negotiate and close sales. Having family members present who may be emotionally attached to items or the memories they evoke and who feel it might help the potential buyer appreciate this connection, have stymied many a sale. Trust your professionals to do what they do best: Sell On Your Behalf.

Tip # 9:

It is best if you remove all items from the sale which you do not wish to be sold. Please accomplish this before we arrive to start staging. If customers see “Not for Sale” signs on numerous items, they get discouraged and leave feeling that all the best items are unavailable.

Tip #10:

It is tempting to try to sell items prior to the estate sale assuming that you may receive more money at auctions or consignment shops. We have sold weavings for over $50,000 and artwork for six figures at our sales. It is best if you are willing to leave some unique valuables in the sale. They may be what draws buyers – even if they don’t actually buy those items. Once the customers are in your home, our professionals will help them find something they can’t live without!

Tip #11:

Try to remain flexible regarding the pricing of your valuables. It is imperative that we accept reasonable offers and have the ability to negotiate. Demanding a “reserve” is often a deal breaker and may result in the item’s removal from the sale. Markets fluctuate so trust that your appraiser will know which market is soft or currently strong and will know how to price your valuables accordingly. Remember, since we are compensated by commission, it behooves us to sell the item as high as possible.

Tip #12:

Please allow us to focus on your needs. Even though friends may ask you to include a few of their items in the sale, this can become an accounting nightmare at the register where long lines form and people’s patience can run thin. We welcome referrals and would be happy to earn yours; share our contact info with your friends and we will access their needs and expectations with the same respect we do yours.

Here’s to a successful sale that meets your needs and intentions. Thank you!

Another option for unsold items may be consigning to our online store. What is wonderful about this option is we sell nationally and internationally which expands the market, maximizes the profit and is not affected by local market saturation.

A major benefit for you of our online store is that we may obtain a higher price for your items, thanks to the national/international scope of our site. After years of successfully managing our online store, we have earned the highest rating and therefore draw thousands of confident, repeat buyers weekly.

We earn our commissions through the success of our sales. There are no up-front fees. Your check will be provided 7-10 days after the close of the sale.

Please contact Trish Stephens at

505-819-7615 to schedule your free in-home consultation and appraisal

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Madera Antiques & Estate Sales FAQ

Why hire an Estate Sale Company?

What Will We Do For You?

Tips for Sellers in Planning an

Estate Sale

Why hire an Estate Sale Liquidator?

What is an Online Estate Sale?