Opening the Door:

An estate sale is a professional liquidation of a home’s entire contents. While a garage sale usually focuses on clearing out a few unwanted items in a driveway, an estate sale is much larger in scale. These events are designed to sell nearly everything on the property, including furniture, fine jewelry, antiques, and everyday household essentials.

Typically held after a major life transition like downsizing or the passing of a loved one, a Pink Door estate sale usually takes place over a 1 to 3 day span. During the event, we open the home to the public so buyers can explore the curated collection in a retail like environment.

Our team handles the advertising, logistics, and all transactions to ensure a high energy event that honors the legacy of the home and its belongings.

At Pink Door, we help homeowners navigate big changes. Generally, if you have a property that needs to be cleared before it goes on the market, an estate sale is the most efficient way to handle it.

Most of our clients find themselves in one of these common life transitions:

Moving or Downsizing Whether you are moving out of state, retiring, or simply trading a large family home for a smaller space, we host the sale in your original residence after you have moved into your new home.

Transitioning to Senior Living If you or a loved one are moving into an independent or assisted living community, we step in once the move is complete to find new homes for the belongings left behind.

Handling a Loved One’s Estate After a passing, we work with executors and family members once they have decided which heirlooms to keep. We then manage the sale of the remaining items in the vacant home.

Merging Households or Storage Units When combining two homes or clearing out a storage unit, we can bring everything together under one roof. The sale takes place in the home that is being prepared for the market.

Divorce Settlements Once assets are divided and both parties have relocated, an estate sale provides a clean break by liquidating the remaining shared household items.

Actually, no. We recommend that you don't worry about donating or throwing anything away just yet. Your only job at this stage is to walk through the home and decide which items you or your family want to keep.

Think of it like this: if you are in the kitchen and decide you want five specific mugs, a set of dishes, and some silverware, simply box those items up and take them with you. You can leave everything else exactly where it is in the cupboards and move on to the next room.

There is always plenty of time for donating or disposing of items after the sale is over. For now, let us handle the heavy lifting of deciding what has value for the public.

Not at all. Your only task is to decide which items you or your family want to keep. We suggest placing a sticky note on those specific pieces so they are easy for us to identify during our initial tour.

Beyond that, you can leave everything exactly where it is. There is no need to organize, group items together, or spend time boxing things up. Whether it is a kitchen drawer or a crowded basement, our team will handle the staging and organizing from start to finish.

If you aren't sure if something has value, please leave it behind. We can sell virtually anything, and we are here to make those value decisions for you. Let us take care of the details so you don’t have to.

The first step is simply reaching out. We know this can feel like a big undertaking, so we have refined our process into a few easy stages to take the pressure off your shoulders:

• Schedule a free consultation Contact us to set up a time for Sam or Ken to visit the home and discuss your specific needs.

• Prepare for our visit The only thing you need to do is identify the items you plan to keep.

• The consultation and walkthrough We will meet at the home to walk through the space together, answer your questions, and determine the best plan for your sale.

• Set the dates and sign the contract Once we agree on the timing, we will finalize the dates and take care of the paperwork so we can get to work.

• Setup, pricing, and advertising Our team takes over from here. We handle all the staging, professional pricing, and marketing to ensure a high-energy event.

• The estate sale We manage the entire sale event over a one to three day span, handling all customer interactions and transactions.

• Optional cleanout service If you need the home completely empty after the sale, we can coordinate a clean out service to leave the property ready for its next chapter.

• Collect your check Once the sale is wrapped up and the accounting is finalized, we send you the proceeds.

The sooner, the better. It is never too early to reach out for your free consultation. In fact, getting us involved early helps ensure your sale is on the right track for success from the very beginning.

The only thing we ask you to do before we meet is to identify which items you or your family plan to keep. Once you have a general idea of what is staying and what is going, we can step in and take care of the rest. We are here to help you move forward whenever you are ready.

No. There are absolutely no upfront costs to you, and our initial consultation is completely free.

We invest our time and resources into the setup and marketing of your sale, and we only get paid once the work is done.

Our commission is determined during your free consultation.

Because every home is different, this percentage depends on factors like the overall quality, condition, and quantity of the items being sold.

To celebrate the launch of Pink Door, we have a special offer for our first five clients. As a "founding member" of our community, you will receive a locked in 30% commission for your sale.

If you would like to see if your home qualifies for this introductory rate, please give us a call or fill out a consultation request form for more details.

From start to finish, the entire process usually takes around two to three weeks. This includes the time from our very first day in the home through the final cleanout and the close of the sale.

While each home is unique and we tailor a specific plan for every client, we pride ourselves on a timeline that is both thorough and efficient. During your initial consultation, we will determine the exact amount of time needed to properly stage, price, and advertise your specific collection to ensure a successful event.

Our goal is to maximize the value of every item in the home. Because we work on a commission basis, we are truly on your side, when you do well, we do well.

Our team is trained to evaluate your belongings and price them accurately based on current market trends. We combine this expertise with interior design principles to stage the home beautifully, making every item as appealing as possible to buyers.

By pairing a well organized sale with extensive advertising, we are able to find new homes for a high percentage of your items and ensure you receive the best possible return.

Yes. Pink Door is a fully insured and licensed business, and we are a registered Wisconsin Reseller. We prioritize the safety of your property and ensure that all transactions are handled with professional and legal integrity. We are happy to provide our documentation for your review during our initial consultation.

Knowledge is the key to a great sale. No matter if you are a first time shopper or a seasoned collector, we want your experience with Pink Door to be seamless. Below are the standard procedures we follow to ensure every sale is fair, organized, and successful for our buyers and our clients alike.

How does Entry and the Sign Up List work?

To ensure a fair and orderly start to our sales, Pink Door follows the standard signup system used by other local estate sale companies. This keeps the process consistent and fair for all our shoppers and gives priority to those that arrive the earliest..

• Starting the List: If you arrive early (for example, at 3:00 AM) and no list has been started yet, you may start one using your own paper and pencil.

• Maintaining the List: To ensure only one official list is created, the person who starts the list must remain on site until our team arrives.

• Signing Up: Other shoppers may arrive, add their names to the list, and leave. You do not need to wait on site once your name is down, but please be sure to return before our opening time (typically 9:00 AM).

• Entry: We will call names in the order they appear on the list. If you are not present when your name is called, we will move to the next person in line to keep the entry process moving efficiently.

What payment methods do you accept?

• We accept cash and all major credit/debit cards.

Do you charge Sales Tax?

• Yes. In accordance with the Wisconsin tax code, all purchases are subject to the 5.5% state sales tax, as well as any applicable local county taxes.

Are there any credit car processing fees?

• Yes. To allow us to offer multiple payment options, there is a 3% convenience fee applied to all electronic and card transactions. This includes all major credit cards and Apple Pay.

  To avoid this fee, you are always welcome to pay with cash.

How do I claim a large item or mark it as "Sold"?

We want you to go home with your favorite finds! You are welcome to use your own sticky notes to claim items, and our team will have Pink Door Sold stickers available throughout the home as well.

• The Pink Door Commitment: When you place a "Sold" sticker on an item, we consider that a firm commitment to purchase. Our team effectively removes that item from the market on your behalf.

• A Note on Courtesy: Our sales often have a high energy "initial rush." If an item is marked "Sold" and you later change your mind, it prevents another shopper from purchasing it and may result in the family missing out on a sale. We kindly ask that you be certain of your selection before tagging an item.

What is your return policy?

• All sales are final. To ensure a smooth liquidation for our clients, we do not offer returns, refunds, or exchanges once a purchase is completed.

• Because items are sold in "as-is" condition, we invite and encourage you to thoroughly inspect or test all electronics and mechanical items before you head to the checkout. We want you to be completely confident in your finds before you step through the door!

Respect the Neighborhood

• Park with Care: Please do not block driveways, mailboxes, or fire hydrants. In many neighborhoods, streets can be narrow, please ensure emergency vehicles and neighbors can always pass through safely.

• Keep it Quiet: Many of our shoppers arrive early to sign the list. We kindly ask that you keep noise to a minimum out of respect for the sleeping neighborhood.

Inside the Home

• Watch Your Step: Estate sales can be crowded. Please navigate the home carefully, especially around stairways and fragile displays.

• Shoes & Weather: During Wisconsin’s snowy or rainy seasons, we may ask you to remove your shoes or wear provided bootie covers to protect the home’s flooring.

• Handle with Care: Please handle all delicate items and collectibles with the utmost care.

Large Item Pickups

• Bring Your Muscle: Our staff is here to help with sales and security, but we are generally unable to assist with moving large furniture or heavy appliances. Please bring your own help and a vehicle suited for your treasures.

• Timing: All large items must be picked up by the close of the final sale day unless prior arrangements have been made with the Pink Door team.

Supervise Little Shoppers

• We love future collectors! However, children must remain with an adult at all times. The homes we work in are full of fragile items and tight spaces that are not always "child-proof."