What sells & why

The SunnyCal Auction Playbook

Real data from 1,958 lots across 10 Inland Empire estate auctions — what categories bring the money, what bid activity looks like, and what it means for your estate.

Top-selling categories by revenue

Where the money actually lands across 1,958 lots and $88,702 in hammer prices:

Collectibles

$34,664

682 lots · Vintage toys, Disney, Mid-Century, Le Creuset

Furniture

$19,262

506 lots · Sofas, tables, dressers, hutches

Kitchen & Dining

$6,558

119 lots · Le Creuset, flatware, cookware

Jewelry & Watches

$5,792

19 lots · Highest avg: $305/lot

Art & Decor

$5,432

192 lots · Paintings, prints, mirrors

Electronics

$5,025

129 lots · TVs, stereos, gaming, vinyl

What actually sells for the most

Not what you’d expect. The highest hammer prices from our recent auctions:

$4,405

2009 Polaris RZR 800 (sand paddle tires)

40 bids — Temecula

$2,600

Sterling Silver Flatware by Rogers

68 bids — Upland

$910

Baby Lock Tiara Quilting Machine

103 bids — Moreno Valley

$745

2025 LG French Door Refrigerator (like new)

63 bids — Colton

$483

Le Creuset Yellow Cookware, 5 pieces

53 bids — Upland

$475

Mid-Century Danish Highboard Hutch

43 bids — Rancho Cucamonga

The bid story

Across all 1,958 lots, bidders placed 27,601 bids — an average of 14 bids per lot. The most-bid lot (a quilting machine) drew 103 bids. That competition is exactly what pushes prices to real market value.

Under $10
344 lots (17.6%)
$10–$25
619 lots (31.6%)
$25–$50
540 lots (27.6%)
$50–$100
267 lots (13.6%)
$100–$250
156 lots (8.0%)
$250–$500
27 lots (1.4%)
$500+
5 lots (0.3%)