Some online auction sellers consistently generate strong results. They have a steady, repeatable system.
In the last two and half months Robin Abb, owner of The Downsizing Doula, closed nearly $45,000 in online auctions. That works out to approximately $18,000 per month over that period.
Key Stats:
- Period: 2.5 Months
- Total Sales: $44,625
- Charge Backs: $0
- Monthly Average: $18,000
- Total Lots: 972
- Total Bids: 13,461
- Average Sale Per Auction: $5,578
- Average Lots Per Auction: 122
- Average Bids Per Auction: 1,683
If you’re researching the best online estate sale platform, comparing alternatives to other online auction websites, this case study shows what actually drives results. Robin Abb credits BidRush's flexibility as a key reason behind her results to switch. During that time, she significantly reduced auction platform fees — and could have entirely offset them using buyer’s premium, which she instead chose to allocate to her staff.
She shares:
“What I love about BidRush: direct access to buyers (including phone numbers) for smoother pickups, direct control over refunds, and the ability to correct catalog mistakes while the auction is in progress. Low fees are a major plus for my clients, and buyers love the low buyer premiums.”
Here is the $18,000 / Month Seller Checklist
Make the Store Setup Look Professional
Auction Setup
Lot Strategy
Cataloging
Operations
If you follow this consistently, results compound. Now let’s unpack why.
A professional store page signals credibility.
When buyers see a real logo, a clear business description, and consistent professional listings, they feel safer placing bids. Confidence increases bid velocity. Bid velocity increases final hammer prices.
Whether you’re running an online estate sale, a downsizing auction, or helping clients sell household contents online, trust is your growth engine. When sellers choose an online auction platform, many focus on fees. Bidders focus on trust.
Honest Cataloging Increases Revenue
It sounds counterintuitive, but transparency increases bids. Clear examples include:
- Tested and powers on.
- Untested — selling as-is.
- Chip on base (see photo 4).
- Surface wear consistent with age.
- Vague listings create hesitation. Specific listings create action.
Buyers don’t mind condition issues. They mind surprises.
The strongest online auction platforms make it easy to clearly state condition, correct catalog mistakes during the auction, and maintain listing accuracy in real time.
You can learn a lot by looking at closed auction results; browse auctions from the Downsizing Doula here - https://bidrush.com/stores/thedownsizingdoula
Photos Are the Real Sales Tool
Online bidders cannot inspect items in person. Your photos are their inspection. Minimum standards include
* be sure to include what's NOT included if items not included appear in pictures
Better photos lead to fewer questions, more bidders, and stronger closing prices. Transparency means you can eliminate refunds and chargebacks. BidRush auction platform and the app supports fast image uploads, and easy editing. Speed combined with clarity drives participation.
Pickup Clarity Affects Bids Before They Happen
Before bidding, buyers ask themselves, “How hard will pickup be?”
- Is it a condo?
- Is it heavy?
- Are there stairs?
- Is parking difficult?
- Is it rural?
- If they are unsure, they hesitate.
Clear location details and a convenient weekend pickup window remove friction. Friction lowers bids. Clarity raises them. Smart online auction platforms support local pickup auctions with transparent instructions, smoother communication, and reduced no-shows.
With BidRush you can add:
- Pickup details specific to the lot
- "Additional Information" (which you enter once and have the text appear across all lots), or
- "Winner Information" which will only be sent to winners (with detail which will help bidders)
You can also specify address to show to bidders so that address information isn't public (just the street, intersection, or even the town).
Smart Lotting Protects Your Time
Not every item deserves individual attention. For example, group
- kitchenware
- books
- decorative items
- small tools
- anything that you'd call "misc."
You can go wrong listing individual items one at a time, but you can't go wrong making large groups as that will drive more competition.
Highlight brand-name items, collectibles, and higher-value goods individually.
Sellers generating $18,000 per month are not overworking $5 items. They focus effort where it moves revenue.
If you are comparing online auction platforms, look for one that allows efficient bulk lotting and flexible editing. Time saved in cataloging directly improves margins.
Why Platform Choice Matters
If you read Robin's testimonial, what stands out in her feedback about BidRush are as follows:
- Direct buyer access.
- Control over refunds.
- Ability to correct catalog errors mid-auction.
- Lower platform fees.
- Buyer-friendly premium structures.
These features directly impact smoother pickups, faster issue resolution, higher bidder trust, and stronger margins. When sellers compare online auction platforms, these operational advantages matter.
The biggest difference between average sellers and strong sellers is that they treat auctions like a system, not an event, which is why The Downsizing Doula's refunds are minimal, and charge backs are ZERO.
- They run auctions consistently.
- They are truthful in their descriptions and pictures, and items don't "disappear" during pickup.
- They address cataloging issues quickly, including issuing refunds promptly when necessary
- They stay organized.
- They don't take on shipping unless they can confidently manage it well, or clear with their shipping responsibility.
- They communicate promptly and professionally with bidders.
On pickup day, they provide great service and treat buyers with empathy and care. Over time, repeat bidders return. Familiar sellers attract stronger participation. Reputation compounds.
The Takeaway
$18,000 per month did not happen by accident. It happened because the fundamentals were executed consistently.
When you build a repeatable system and choose an online auction platform that gives you control, flexibility, and competitive fees, results follow. That is how a downsizing or estate clear-out business turns online estate sales into a predictable revenue engine!
And with BidRush, you keep more of the profits!