Have you always wanted to try an estate sale but didn’t know how to start? Well check out my estate sale tips and tricks for beginners.
Estate sales have quickly become one of my favorite places to shop. There are so many unique things that sometimes you just don’t see at your local antique shops. I have learned a few things in my adventures and thought I would share them with you.
Why shop an Estate Sale
I bet you are wondering why even bother with going to an estate sale because it may be crowded or expensive. Believe it or not I have scored better deals on some things at estate sales than at the thrift store. Estate sales offer so much variety. There are usually old and new things mixed together. I do find that a lot of them offer a lot of vintage which is why I go. This is a great place to find vintage seasonal items because chances are if they have a lot of vintage items then they have probably collected several seasonal items to display too. That to me is one of the best reasons to go.
How do I find an Estate Sale
Now that I have convinced you to try to go to one let’s chat about how to find them. I do a google search usually on Tuesdays since most sales are on weekends. Some may start on Thursdays but generally it is Friday and Saturday and Sunday. I google estate sales near my city and several sites may pop up and I scroll each one. I always check several different ones because they might not all be listed on each one. I then check craigslist and Facebook Marketplace and search estate sales as well. Some people might only advertise there and not on the bigger sites. You can also look up each estate sale company’s site if you know them to see what they have listed that is up and coming.
I do this especially on Facebook. There is one particular estate sale company that I like because I know their prices are fair and they usually deal with a lot of vintage estates. They have a Facebook page and post a lot of their upcoming sales and pictures. That helps me decide well in advance which ones I want to go to and put them on my calendar.
How to shop an Estate Sale
Ok now that we have mapped out which ones we want to go to we prepare! Take a small tote or a market basket for all the smalls you may find. I try to get there at least a half an hour early and usually that puts me only a few places back in line. Usually there is a line, believe it or not there are lots of regular shoppers and so you tend to see some of the same people at them.
I tend to have a game plan of what I want to look for. I go online and look at the pictures that the estate sale company posts of what is for sale. I take note of where the item may be like is it in the kitchen or bedroom. You can usually tell from the pictures. I recommend going straight to those items as quick as you can and grab them first thing. Then you can always look around to see what other items you may like. I have found some great items not listed in the pictures. It all depends on what the company deems enticing enough to post a picture of. You may find something else better altogether.
I will give you a fun tip. Always look outside in sheds and garages. Sometimes there are things out there that are not necessarily priced because they may deem them not as desirable. This gives you a great opportunity to ask for a bundle price. If you find items that are not marked hold on to them and put them in a group and ask how much for the bundle you typically will get a better price that way.
What to buy at an Estate Sale
This is a great question and will depend on what you are looking for or what your style is. I love vintage and primitive style items so I tend to gravitate towards those. Here are a few of my favorite things to look for.
- Crocks are top on my list! This is one of the best places to find them in my area at reasonable prices. I look for smaller ones in particular because those tend to be priced cheaper.
- Ironstone is always a go to. I lucked into an amazing pitcher that I had to keep because of the patina.
- Whisk brooms are usually a great item to find at an estate sale. I have found several!
- Old books are usually at most every estate sale.
- Enamelware believe it or not is pretty popular at estate sales. I have found several pitchers at some.
- Vintage furniture of course is always great but it can get pricey.
- Shed junk is what I like to call all the good stuff that is rusty and what you typically find in a shed or barn.
- Quilts are my absolute favorite things to look for sometimes you luck into a good price.
- Any vintage kitchen utensil you can think of! This can include mashers, wooden spoons, scales, and rolling pins
- Vintage seasonal items are the best thing to look for and find. This is where you can score some major items at great prices.
- Garden items are also a great thing to look for. Old cement pieces or pots never disappoint
Are Estate Sales Pricey
I have a great tip to answer this question. If you shop a lot of local estate sales than you tend to get an idea of the different companies that run them. You can then compare how and what they price high and low. Then you can plan on going to certain sales for certain items. I have always usually found something at an estate sale for a good price. You will get a good idea of where to shop for what items at the best price. Some wonder if you can negotiate and typically I don’t unless I have a bundle of items with no price tags. Remember the last day is usually the bargain day if you would rather take the chance to wait and see if what you wanted may still be there.
Is it creepy to shop an Estate Sale
This for me is a no. I think it is better to let others enjoy the same items that were enjoyed by the former owners. It is just like going to an antique shop or thrift shop it is all second hand and you are bringing new life to an item that was obviously loved or cared for. Sometimes you can get a great story from a piece at an estate sale that you might not get at an antique shop too.
I hope that I have inspired you to go hunt down an estate sale and shop till you drop. If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments!
Giveaway Winner will be announced next Saturday. I decided to give everyone one more week!
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