Chicago Estate Sales Managed by Licensed Auctioneers
✓ Established 1969
✓ Licensed Illinois Auctioneer & ISA Appraiser
✓ Experienced with Antiques, Fine Art, Jewelry, Autos, Real Estate & Collections
✓ Full-Service Estate Management from Start to Finish
LICENSED & COMPLIANT
Illinois now requires auction licensing for many estate sale activities. We operate as licensed auctioneers, ensuring your sale is conducted properly, transparently, and in full compliance with current regulations.
HIGHER VALUE REALIZATION
With decades of experience in antiques, fine art, jewelry, and collections, we identify and price items correctly. Higher-value objects are recognized, not overlooked, and positioned to achieve appropriate market value.
FULL-SERVICE MANAGEMENT
We handle the entire process—from initial consultation and sorting to staging, pricing, marketing, and final settlement—allowing families to move forward without added burden.
Every Estate Requires a Different Approach
Discreet, professional, and experienced in complex estate situations.
No two estates are the same. We evaluate each situation individually—whether a full household, a partial liquidation, or a collection requiring specialized handling—and determine the most appropriate strategy.
How it Works
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How We Manage an Estate Sale
Choosing the Right Approach for an Estate Sale
Typical Estate Sale Companies
- Limited evaluation of higher-value items
- Generalized pricing across large volumes
- May not separate items better suited for auction
- Varying levels of licensing and compliance
LOST ERAS ESTATE SALES
✔ Licensed Illinois auctioneers
✔ Experience with antiques, fine art, and collections
✔ Items evaluated individually, not in bulk
✔ Auction integration for higher-value objects
✔ Structured, professionally managed sales
✔ Clear accounting and settlement
DO IT YOURSELF
- Time-intensive preparation and organization
- Difficulty pricing specialized items accurately
- Limited access to established buyer networks
- Managing crowds, transactions, and logistics
What sells at an estate sale?
Many estates contain a wide range of items with varying levels of value. Proper identification and pricing are key to achieving strong results.
- Antique and vintage furniture
- Mid-century and modern design pieces
- Fine art, prints, and decorative objects
- Jewelry, watches, and costume jewelry
- Sterling silver and silverplate
- Porcelain, ceramics, and glassware
- Rugs and textiles
- Vintage clothing, handbags, and accessories
- Books, manuscripts, and paper ephemera
- Vinyl records, CDs, and media collections
- Coins, currency, and stamps
- Collectibles and memorabilia
- Lighting, lamps, and architectural elements
- Kitchenware, barware, and entertaining pieces
- Tools, workshop items, and equipment
- Musical instruments
- Toys, dolls, and vintage games
- Military items and historical objects
- Garden items and outdoor furniture
- Contemporary household furnishings
Often Overlooked Items
- Costume jewelry and mixed lots
- Small decorative objects and table items
- Vintage clothing stored away or boxed
- Paper goods, letters, and photographs
- Older electronics and audio equipment
- Kitchen drawers and everyday household contents
You might have more value than you think… and we know how to find it.
OFFERING A FULL RANGE OF ESTATE SERVICES
1. Traditional Estate Sales & Liquidations
Full-service estate sales conducted in-home or through alternative formats depending on the situation. We manage sorting, pricing, staging, marketing, and sale execution from start to finish.
3. Auction Placement & Consignment
Higher-value items—including antiques, fine art, jewelry, and collections—may be placed into auction. We handle selection, cataloging, and placement to ensure appropriate market exposure.
5. Appraisals & Valuation Services
We provide professional appraisal and valuation services, including documentation for estate planning, insurance, and charitable donation purposes.
2. Online Estate Sales
For estates where in-person access is limited or not preferred, we offer fully managed online sales. Items are cataloged and marketed digitally to reach a broader audience.
4. Collections & Specialty Assets
We work with single-owner collections and specialized groups of items, providing targeted strategies for valuation and sale.
6. Estate Consulting & Cleanout Coordination
For estates requiring additional preparation, we coordinate cleanouts, removal, and organization while advising on what should be sold, retained, or donated.
FAQs
Professional Ethics Statement
Our Promise to you
At Lost Eras we live by the motto “Integrity is doing the right thing, even if nobody is watching.” Our personal and professional ethics help us to pick the legitimate option in sensitive situations. We answer all questions with honesty and forthrightness. We will never take advantage of someone for momentary monetary gains because we believe in a greater universal kinship.
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Contact Us Anytime
We’re always available to talk over your scenario and selling goals. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch
STILL WEIGHING YOUR OPTIONS?
Explore our other services
CONSIGNMENT
We consign select items for sale through online auctions.
ESTATE BUYOUT
Conduct an in home house sale. Licensed and insured.