Case Study

Ann and Doris Ayres established Ayres Estate Services in 2010 as a complement to their core businesses, art consultation and interior design, respectively. They work with their clients to sell with good return on varied and desirable items that are no longer useful to them.

An organizer we know was working with a client selling a three story Victorian Graystone in Lincoln Park. Being travelers and collectors, the owners had filled their large house with period pieces and artifacts from exotic cultures. The organizer called us in to help achieve a cleaner, more contemporary feel to the many expansive rooms.

Our first step was to contact a design shop owner who specializes in artistic and unusual decorative items. We also brought in an antiques dealer who specializes in late 19th C. carved furniture and accessories. Finally, we invited a specialist in mid-century and primitive styles who bought several African masks and native pottery. We have worked with these resource folks for years, know what they like to buy, and invite them to make house calls for purchases. They depend on us for our expertise in recognizing great stuff as much as we depend on them to buy from our clients.

One of the interesting collections in this project was a large number of American pottery from the 1930’s through the 1960’s. Buyers like groups of things—variations on a theme. All 75 pieces in this collection were sold to one person after some friendly negotiation. When the property was listed there were small uncommitted pieces left over. We boxed them up, and took them to a shop that admittedly pays bare minimum. The client agreed: a little cash is better than none at all.

We were able to help this client in specific ways. We brought to the client our insiders’ access to businesspeople who are serious about enhancing their stores and shops. Because the pieces for sale included a variety of items, we had the resources to include specialty buyers. Knowing the appeal of the lots for sale, we were able to coax the best return from each purchase. Even the leftovers didn’t become landfill but sold to please someone for a few more dollars.

The Ayres sisters, Ann and Doris, have been helping clients to disperse their unwanted items for years with their vast network of collectors, antiques dealers, special consignment venues, auction houses and house sale specialists. Give them a call when you need their assistance. They are connected, know people who know people, are endlessly resourceful with suggestions, and effective sales people in their own right with their sphere of buyers…