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22nd century media | March 19, 2020 | 11
Ayres Estate Services
assists clients in the
hard task of dispersing
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
century 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
1930s through the 1960s.
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 if you think you
have a client who needs
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 buyer. Ann and
Doris like to say “We put our
clients’ valuables in the right
hands for more money.”
Submitted by Ayres Estate
Services, 312-810-2997,
info@ayresestateservices.
com.