Since this is your first time going to an estate sale, you may want to know what to expect and how to prepare for the occasion. Luckily for you, we’ve got you covered.
Here’s a list of ten tips for estate sales that you should follow before you start buying.
Tips For Estate Sales
You can find some amazing deals with the right strategy. These are our top do’s and dont’s for buying from estate sales.
Do Start Looking for Sales Ahead of Time
There are a ton of estate sales going on, and you want to be prepared and know what you want to buy. Search the newspaper and Google to see what’s going on in the neighborhood.
Do Go Early
The early bird catches the worm, or in this case, it gets first dibs on cool stuff. Get in line early, especially if the sale is held indoors. Organizers may limit the number of people who can be inside the house at any given time, and you want to be one of the first to gain entry.
Don’t Take Your Purse or Backpack
Most estate sales won’t let you in if you have a large bags or a backpack. The best way to go is to take a wallet (or even a fanny pack) to carry your money and any relevant notes you may have.
Also, having extra pockets is great for carrying a small flashlight and some hand sanitizer (because you don’t know what that vase has been through).
Do Be Ready for a Price Shock
There’s a good chance that you’ll find something that costs far more than you think it should. Remember that the owner of the items isn’t selling unwanted goods, so not everything will come with a thrift store prices.
Conversely, you’re also likely to find prices way lower than you expected. High-quality and well-cared-for pieces, but since they are still second hand, way below retail.
Don’t Be Afraid to Do a Fact Check
Learn about the backstory of an item from the owner or one of the attendants. If you’re not sure whether the price is actually a good deal, do a quick online search to find out.
Do Look Everywhere
And we do mean everywhere. Spaces like the garage, basement, and attic are almost always searchable and full of good stuff on sale. If an area is off-limits, it should be marked as such.
Do Remember to Be Polite
This should go without saying, but in the middle of a sale you may forget your manners and feel the need to bare fangs.
Make sure you know the rules of the sale and be kind to the workers and shoppers, and everything else should fall right into place.
Do Bring Cash or Credit
Most estate sales will accept cash or credit, but will not hold items for later payment, so be sure to remember the card you’d want to use, or stop by the bank to grab a couple of bucks first.
Do Know How the Pickup Policy Works
If you come across some cute furniture, you’ll want to know the pickup policy before you buy.
In some cases, you have to take the item with you once you purchase it, but sometimes the owner will let you come back later with a bigger vehicle.
It’s also a smart idea to bring a friend or two to help with the heavy lifting.
Don’t Buy Just to Be Buying
If you don’t see anything you like, that’s fine; you don’t have to buy anything. There will always be another sale.
Contact Us
If you need help finding the next estate sale or are trying to plan one of your own, Prestige Estate Services are the professionals you need to call.
We can help you with everything about the selling and buying process to get you the most out of your sale.
Check out our page to get tips for estate sales, estate auctions, and appraisal services. Want to talk instead? Reach out to us and we’ll be sure to get back in touch.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
