Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What do you sell—and what don’t you sell?
Short: We sell almost anything with resale value (collectibles, antiques, jewelry, furniture, kitchenware, tools, vehicles, and more). We don’t sell perishables, prescription medical devices, counterfeit goods, or prohibited/protected items. Firearms are auctioned with transfers handled by a local FFL.
Long: We attempt to sell virtually anything that has monetary resale value, including collectibles, antiques, jewelry, furniture, kitchen items, tools, vehicles, and more. We do not sell perishable food, prescription medical devices, counterfeit items, or items on do-not-sell lists (for example, endangered pelts or other protected materials). We do auction firearms and coordinate all transfers through a local Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) in accordance with applicable laws.

Q: Which is better: an auction or an estate sale?
Short: In our experience, online auctions outperform traditional estate sales—higher net returns, less risk and disruption at the property, and a nationwide buyer pool.
Long: After a decade of running both estate sales and auctions, our clear recommendation is auctions. If we could have run our best estate sales as auctions years ago, we would have. Why auctions win:

• Higher prices: Competitive bidding moves items toward true market value instead of pricing everything up front and discounting over two days.

• Less loss & disruption: No open-house crowds means reduced theft and far less wear and tear on the home.

• Community-friendly: Ideal for guard-gated and HOA communities—no large on-site shopping event.

• Better reach: Nationwide audience, not just a handful of local resellers.

• Smarter pricing dynamics: Prices rise as bidders compete, instead of racing to the bottom.
  Bottom line: For most situations, auctions deliver better results than estate sales.

Q: How do fees, commissions, and settlement timing work?
Short: Fees are set during a free consultation. While industry norms are typically 40–50% of gross proceeds, our commission depends on the labor required to do the job properly. Payment is issued within 7–14 days after the auction.
Long: We assess fees during a free consultation and discuss everything up front. While the industry standard is typically 40–50% of gross proceeds, the exact commission depends on factors such as the labor needed to do the job properly. The cheapest option isn’t always the best option—we focus on doing it right. With Sunny Transitions, you’ll receive on-time payment within 7 to 14 days after the auction.

Q: Do I need to prepare anything before your team arrives?
Short: Preparation isn’t required. While it helps if items are visible and accessible, we’ll evaluate the labor and plan the setup during the free consultation.
Long: You don’t need to prep before we arrive. It’s helpful—but not necessary—to have items where we can easily see and access them. We’ll evaluate the labor required and outline the setup plan during the free consultation, and our team can handle the staging from there.

Q: What happens to items that don’t sell?
Short: Our online auctions typically achieve a sell-through rate in the high 90% range. For anything remaining, we advise on donation or disposal and can provide a quote to handle clean-out and cleaning so your home is ready for the next stage.
Long: We generally sell far more via online auction than a traditional estate sale, with sell-through usually in the high 90% range. For the few items that remain, we’ll determine what’s suitable for donation and what should be discarded, then provide a final quote to complete the clean-out and cleaning. We’ll leave the home ready for whatever comes next.

Q: Do you give items to charity if they don’t sell?
Short: Yes. Our clean-out partners prioritize donation whenever possible before disposing of anything.
Long: Our clean-out partners will always try to donate as much as possible before sending anything to the landfill. This process aligns with our values to reuse and resell whenever we can, reserving disposal for items that truly can’t be donated.

Q: How do you advertise?
Short: We’ve built a large following over nearly a decade in Las Vegas. Each auction is promoted across social media, major estate-sale and auction sites, email newsletters, text alerts, and other channels to reach nationwide shoppers.
Long: We’ve hosted auctions and estate sales in Las Vegas for nearly a decade and have built a substantial audience of repeat buyers. For every auction, we run a multi-channel campaign: social media, listings on leading estate-sale and auction platforms, targeted email, text message alerts, and additional outreach. This broad approach reaches both local and nationwide shoppers and helps drive competitive bidding.

We run online auctions (not traditional in-home estate sales). Our service includes:

• Pricing by the market: Items sell to the highest bidder, which drives toward true market value.

• Marketing & advertising: Local and national promotion through major auction sites, social media, and our buyer list.

• Setup & photography: Our team organizes, stages, and photographs the contents for the auction catalog.

• Expert descriptions: We leverage appraisers, gemologists, and auctioneers to describe and present items accurately.

About 90 – 95% of listed items sell. For anything remaining, we can connect you with our cleanout partner and get you a quote. Choosing that service (and its cost) is up to you.

Our commission is 40–50% of gross sales. The exact percentage depends on scope, volume, and labor costs.

Any potential fees—such as extensive setup needs or special handling—are assessed during the free consultation and agreed to in writing. There are no hidden fees beyond any optional cleanout you choose.

Final prices are set by competitive bidding. We include in-house expertise (personal property appraisers, gemologists, auctioneers) to write accurate descriptions that help items achieve market value.

After your free consultation, we typically schedule the auction about 4 weeks out.

Setup can take a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on volume. Large, high-value estates can take longer. Typically Auctions will run for 2 – 3 weeks after that.

Online auctions are open for bidding over 2 – 3 weeks, culminating when bidding starts to close on the scheduled date.

We promote across major auction platforms, social media, and our established buyer database, reaching both local and national audiences.

Because the sale is online, there’s the option for no public walk-through. Items remain in place until pickup. We use staffed, scheduled pickups and verify buyer identity at payment/pickup to protect the property.

 With 90 to 95% sell-through, leftovers are minimal. If desired, we’ll connect you with a cleanout provider for a separate quote.

Within 14 days of the sale’s close, you’ll receive payment and a full itemized report showing each lot and its sale price.

Yes. Your report includes every lot and the price realized for full transparency.

Yes, fully insured.

Yes. We use a straightforward contract and can bring to your free consultation.

If an item is misrepresented (e.g., listed as metal but discovered to be plastic), we may refund the buyer and adjust your settlement accordingly. To minimize disputes and chargebacks, we collect photo ID from every bidder and match it to their payment method. Disputes are rare—and when they occur, our documentation helps us resolve them successfully.

Q: How should I use the photos and descriptions?
Short: Review all photos carefully—thousands are provided for accuracy.
Long: We provide extensive, high-quality images for every lot. It’s the bidder’s responsibility to review all photos and descriptions to evaluate condition, age, authenticity, and value before bidding.

Q: Is there a live preview?
Short: Yes—check the auction details for the preview window and how to schedule.
Long: When offered, live preview is typically on the auction’s closing day morning (for example, 10:00 am–12:00 pm PST). Follow the catalog instructions to schedule by text using the number provided in the auction details.

Q: When and where is pickup?
Short: One pickup day only; the exact address is released the morning of pickup.
Long: Pickup is limited to the single date shown in the catalog (for example, 10:00 am–6:00 pm PST). The precise address is released the morning of pickup to winning bidders. Please arrive during posted hours.

Q: What do I need to bring to pickup?
Short: Bring a matching photo ID, your own boxes/packing, and enough help to load.
Long: The name on your photo ID must match the HiBid account and the card used. Our staff cannot lift or load—please bring sufficient helpers, tools, blankets, and packing materials for safe removal.

Q: What if I can’t pick up on the designated day?
Short: You’ll forfeit the items with no refund.
Long: We cannot hold items beyond the posted pickup window. Failure to pick up on the designated day results in forfeiture without refund and may affect future bidding privileges.

However you can designate another person to pick up your items for you perhaps even a local mover if you call and arrange it.  You would need to submit photo id to us and the name of the person picking up.  

Additionally for small items you can designate them for ups store drop off and work out shipping with ups store. Drop off charges will apply. Ups store charges will be charged to the bidder. 

Q: What fees and taxes apply?
Short: 15% buyer’s premium plus Clark County, NV sales tax (8.375%).
Long: A 15% buyer’s premium is added to the hammer price of each lot. Clark County sales tax of 8.375% applies to all purchases unless a valid exemption is on file per state/local rules.

Q: How do payments work?
Short: Your card on file is automatically charged at auction close. Invoices arrive by email.
Long: All major credit cards must be processed through HiBid, and the HiBid account name must match the card used. Your card on file is charged automatically at close. Invoices are emailed from help@sunnytransitions.com—add us to your address book so it doesn’t land in spam. Unpaid invoices may result in HiBid account notations and a potential bidding ban. We do not accept PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo.

Q: How are gold, silver, vehicles, or single items over $1,000 paid?
Short: Pay via Zelle to the email on your invoice and include your invoice number.
Long: Purchases of gold, silver, vehicles, or any single item over $1,000 must be paid in full by Zelle. Use the email shown on your invoice (help@sunnytransitions.com) and include your invoice number in the memo. High-dollar shipped items require Zelle as well.

Q: Do you offer shipping?
Short: Yes—UPS Store drop-off only. No in-house or alternative shippers.
Long: After payment clears, we can drop your eligible items at the UPS Store as a courtesy. We do not pack or ship in-house and do not coordinate with other carriers. You’ll work directly with the UPS Store for packing, shipping, and payment after drop-off.

Q: How much does shipping cost?
Short: The UPS Store sets packing/shipping prices; it can be expensive. Contact them for estimates. A drop-off fee applies per lot.
Long: Shipping costs are determined by the UPS Store and can exceed the item’s value, especially for fragile or oversized pieces. For estimates, contact the store at 702-547-4356 before bidding. Our drop-off fee is generally $10 per lot for small items. Large/oversized items (for example, requiring truck transport) incur a $50 per-lot drop-off fee.

Q: Are any approvals or documents required for shipping?
Short: Breakables/large items may need pre-approval. Out-of-state bidders must email a signed invoice and matching photo ID for UPS transfer. Signature is required on delivery.
Long: For breakable items or items larger than a breadbox, please obtain approval before bidding. Out-of-state winners must email a signed invoice and matching photo ID to help@sunnytransitions.com for UPS transfer approval. Signature is required upon delivery by the carrier.

Q: Are items sold as-is?
Short: Yes—everything is sold as-is, where-is, with no warranties.
Long: All items are sold as-is, where-is. It is the bidder’s responsibility to evaluate each item’s condition, age, authenticity, and value prior to bidding. There are no guarantees, and all sales are final.

Q: Do you accept returns?
Short: Very rarely, and only with pre-approval; a 35% restocking fee applies.
Long: In rare, pre-approved cases, returns may be accepted and will incur a 35% restocking fee to cover processing and handling. All returns must be approved in advance; otherwise, sales are final.

Q: What happens if my invoice goes unpaid?
Short: Your account may be flagged, sent to collections, and bidding privileges may be affected.
Long: Unpaid invoices may lead to notations on your HiBid account, potential bidding bans, and the balance may be sent to collections according to our policies and platform rules.

Q: Do you send text messages?
Short: Yes, if you opt in. Standard rates apply; reply “STOP” to unsubscribe.
Long: By opting in, you agree to receive SMS updates about pickup locations and promotions. Message and data rates may apply. You can opt out at any time by replying “STOP.”

Q: Are there any safety notices for pickup?
Short: Enter at your own risk—conditions may include uneven surfaces.
Long: Property conditions can vary. Please use caution during pickup; Sunny Transitions is not responsible for injuries or accidents on the premises. Wear appropriate footwear and bring adequate help.

Q: Are crates, bins, or folding tables included?
Short: No—staging materials shown in photos are not for sale.
Long: Large crates, bins, folding tables, and similar items are used for staging only and are not included with any lots unless specifically stated in the description.

Q: Is this a retail store or a liquidation?
Short: Residential estate liquidation—pickup on the designated date only.
Long: Our auctions liquidate residential estates. Please plan to pick up on the posted date to avoid forfeiture and to maintain your bidding privileges for future auctions.