R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-20-5
The court may make orders for the care, custody, leasing, and investing of the property and its proceeds. The court may order livestock or perishable property, or any property, which cannot be kept without great and disproportionate expense, to be sold at public or private sale. The court may, upon petition of the receiver, and after the notice as is required in case of sale of real estate by executors and administrators, order all or any part of the real and personal estate of the absentee to be sold at public or private sale to supply money for the payments authorized by §§ 33-20-1 - 33-20-7 or for reinvestment approved by the court. The court, on petition with notice, if satisfied that the action will not be prejudicial to the interests of the estate, may authorize the petitioner to become the purchaser of the real estate, at public or private sale; provided, however, that, in any instance, if the sale is made by private contract, the sale shall be made for not less than the sum fixed by the court in its decree authorizing the sale.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-20-5