12 Tips for Shopping Estate Sales 4

Photo Credit: Paul Barrows, Hemmingway House Estate Sale

When it’s Winter in Minnesota – there are no yard sales, no flea markets, and very few outdoor auctions – so Estate Sales are my favorite places to shop for vintage treasures. While I shop at estate sales all year long, I find them especially fun in the Winter.

What is an Estate Sale?

Usually an estate sale is held when homeowners are moving, downsizing, or because one or more of the homeowners has passed away. At most estate sales, the homeowners or family members have removed all the items they want to keep, and the remaining contents of the house are put up for sale.

Most estate sales are run by professional estate sale companies or professional auctioneers. Other estate sales are run by family members, local church or charity organizations, and occasionally even the property owners themselves. Whomever is in charge of the estate sale organizes the items for sale and tags the items with prices.

Prices at estate sales can vary quite a bit, especially depending on who is running the sale. Professional estate sale companies tend to price things higher than items priced by family members. Of course, the professionals know the value of items and price them accordingly. In the case of church or charity organized sales, many times prices are “offers” – you name a price for an item you are willing to pay.  Great opportunity to get great deals… but proceeds go to good causes, so be fair with offers.

Estate sales are usually held inside the home, which often includes the garage. Estate sales in rural areas usually include the home, garage, out-buildings and barns. I especially love the barns!

Estate sales are usually held on weekends in order to draw more shoppers, but you can also find estate sales other days of the week in some areas.

Tips for Shopping an Estate Sale

Here are some tips to make the most of your time while shopping estate sales.

1. Search for Estate Sales Near You

Finding estate sales near you can be a very easy task. Consult the classified or online ads in your local newspaper for listings. Search Craigslist.org for estate sales near you. Find listings on websites such as EstateSales.net and EstateSales.org – these websites usually include photos of the items for sale, as well as details about the types of items you will find at the sale. I highly recommend these websites.

2. Make Sure You Have Cash

While some estate sales accept credit or debit cards, you’ll want to make sure to bring cash with you. And don’t expect the sellers to make change for large bills – so bring plenty of $1, $5, and $10 bills with you.

3. Get There Early

Some estate sales open at a set time in the morning and numbers are handed out to the people that are waiting in line to get into the sale. Depending on the size of the home or property, the people running the estate sale might limit the number of people that can be inside at one time. If you are not near the front of the line when an estate sale opens, you might have to wait awhile to get inside. Make sure to dress accordingly for the weather  (see #4).

4. Dress Appropriately

If it’s raining, bring a light rain jacket – not a huge golf umbrella that is ungainly to carry indoors. If it’s cold, dress in layers you can strip off once inside. Wear shoes that are easy to clean off – avoid heavy lugged soles that may carry mud and dirt into the home. And choose shoes that are easy to take off and put on… it’s rare, but we’ve had to remove our shoes in some carpeted homes that didn’t have protective covers over the carpets. Also, bring a pair of work gloves to protect your hands – just in case. You never know when the opportunity is available to browse through dusty barns, rummage through old boxes, or dig through piles of dirty garage or basement items to uncover a rare find! Speaking of protecting your hands, be sure to pack some band-aids and sanitizing wipes in your vehicle. Small cuts are battle scars of a successful day! But you’ll want to cover them quickly… and use wipes to clean off your hands after handling items – oh, did I mention tetanus shot boosters?

5. Travel Light

Many estate sales have rules about not allowing large purses, bags, or backpacks into the sale. Think ahead, travel light, and limit yourself to a small purse, or clutch.

6. Know Where to Start

Since there are usually many people shopping the sale at the same time, you’ll want to plan which room to start in. For example, if you are looking for industrial pieces, start in the garage, barn, or basement. If you are looking for dishes or kitchenware, head to the kitchen first. For linens and bedding, start in the bedrooms. You get the idea. TIP: If you found the estate sale through an estate sale company website, preview the photos of the items that are for sale – or item list if one is published. When you first get to the sale, ask the organizers which room an item is in, and head there first.

7. Scan Quickly Then Go Back

With many people shopping at the same time, it’s often best to do a quick scan of each room, then go back and browse further. Make sure to dig in boxes where some of the best treasures are found.

8. Grab It Up

If you need to think about an item while you shop, grab it and carry it with you. On a busy day, the chances are good it will be gone if you hesitate too long. You can always set it back down. If the item is too large to carry, ask the seller to put a SOLD sign on it for you. TIP: Make up a few sold signs on PostIt notes before you venture out that include your first name. Then when you find something large that you want to buy, place your SOLD PostIt on the item until you can ask the seller to put mark the item as sold however they need to.

9. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask

If you’re looking for a particular item, make sure to ask at every sale if they have one. Most estate sale organizers are happy to help you find things. If you don’t see prices on things like window treatments, light fixtures, etc., make sure you ask if these items are available for purchasing. In some cases, it’s not always clear what is or is not included in the sale – so again, ask if it’s not clear. Some estate sales have items in a garage, yard, or other building on the property. Make sure to ask if there are items for sale in these areas, as they are not always marked.

10. Stop, Ask, Listen, and Learn

If the organizers or assistants are family members, or are familiar with the contents of the estate, be friendly and ask them questions about the items you are purchasing. This is an excellent (and very rare) opportunity to learn the history of an item, and gain understanding of the previous owner’s appreciation for it. Obviously, if the sale is hopping, be conscientious and don’t tie up the seller while others are waiting to shop or pay. But if the opportunity is available, definitely stop, ask some questions, and really listen and learn the story behind the objects. Later, when you have the item proudly displayed in your home and others ask about it, you will have a colorful (or heart-warming, or sometimes creepy) story to tell them! If you are a reseller, include the history in the description of the object – buyers love to know the story behind items they buy!

11. Hauling It Home

If you’re planning an entire day of shopping, make sure you have a box or laundry basket in your trunk to corral small items. Throw in a rope, tie-down straps and a blanket for padding in case you find a big treasure. Make sure you bring help for loading large items into your vehicle, as most estate sale organizers are unable to help load. Obviously, if you have done your homework and know of large items that you plan on purchasing, drive a large enough vehicle (or bring a trailer) that will hold the item. Don’t be “that person” who tries strapping a vintage glass china hutch to the roof of a compact car with twine!

12. Be Courteous

When entering the home of the estate sale, be respectful of the property. Watch where you park and walk. Make sure you put things back in their original places if you decide not to purchase something. If a room has a closed door or is marked off limits, make sure you are respectful and don’t enter those areas. Be polite to the organizers/sellers. In some cases, they may be family members of the previous owners – and the sale may be very emotionally stressful for them. Treat others as you would want to be treated.

Do you have a tip for shopping estate sales?  Share in a comment below!

Some Of Our Favorite Estate Sale Finds (Available in Our Shop):