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You guys know I’m alllll about shopping thrift stores. But there’s another kind of secondhand furniture phenomenon called ESTATE SALES. If you haven’t shopped estate sales, you’re missing out on some awesome deals. Keep reading to learn more about how to shop estate sales.
P.S. I bought that bench at a thrift store for just $25!!
How to Shop Estate Sales
1. Search EstateSales.net
If you want to find estate sales listed in your area, check EstateSales.net. I actually used EstateSale.com to find my estate sale. But one reader pointed out that the most inclusive listing site is EstateSales.net. Upcoming sales will be listed, but addresses may not be displayed until a day before the event. Be sure to check back when the address is available, or call the company that is hosting the estate sale.
2. Play hookie from work.
Am I correct that most estate sales (Day #1, at least) happen on a weekday? (And according to one reader, even some garage sales are starting to take place on a Friday!). Then, Day #2 is on a Saturday? If that’s true, then that means you’re probably hard at work at the office while some other used furniture ninja is “stealing” your phat deals! The solution?? Play hookie from work. Yep–call in sick if you need to…..pretend you’re on an extended bathroom break….whatever you have to do to slip out in order to get to the estate sale if it’s on a week-day, and be the first (or one of the first) people there when it begins. Otherwise, all the good stuff will be gone, and there you were sitting at your desk, counting the minutes until you can “officially” leave. Too late!
3. ALWAYS counter-offer.
Because you’re getting there on Day #1 of the estate sale, things are going to be marked higher than Day #2. That’s the price you pay by going early and having free-range of the inventory. However, because things are usually marked down on Day #2, there may be wiggle room to negotiate. I guess it just depends on the estate sale company.
Offer your own price. If something is marked $100, it’s not unreasonable to ask $75. In my case, I was offering $50! And the only reason is because as we were leaving the first time around, the estate sale rep whispered, “You know, tomorrow everything is going to be 50% off….” Because I knew that everything would be cheaper tomorrow, I count-offered on a $700 pool table (retailed at $4,000), and the estate sale rep sold it to me for $400! (Although lugging that baby home, uuugghhhhhhh. I didn’t know slate could be so heavy!)
4. Cash is king.
Bring cash, and lots of it. Be sure to check the estate sale listing to find out what method of payment is acceptable. Checks may be accepted, but remember to bring your I.D. Some estate sales accept credit cards (like mine did), but you may be charged a surcharge. My estate sale was a 3% surcharge. On a $100 transaction, that’s “only” $3.00. But really, why pay anything extra if you can avoid it? Also, if you’re using cash, it might help you to stay within your spending limits, so you don’t lose your financial mind! Trust me–when you walk into an estate sale (hell, just walking up to the door), you’re giddy, and feel like a kid in a candy store! Keep your head on straight, as well as save those few dollars by using cash.
5. Bring a van or truck
It’s much easier if you have a way to get things home immediately. Of course, you could always return with the right vehicle, but that’s an extra trip and extra gas…Check with the estate sale company to see if you are allowed to come back to pick up items.
Of course….if you’re brave like me, you can totally pimp out your trunk with bungee cords. 🙂 It really works!!!
6. Leave your friends at home.
Let’s face it–if you take your friends, there
could be competition over who gets first dibs on something! That happened between a friend and me over this bench.
I won’t get into all the details, but yeah, there was some confusion over “whose” bench it really was to buy, but it’s sitting in MY basement office, so you know what happened there…. 😉
One reader pointed out that taking a friend along can slow you down, but can also be beneficial if you need some help with snagging an item. I guess it just depends–on your situation, and on the friend you bring along! Me, personally, I prefer to hunt alone rather than in a pack ;-).
7. Buy things you can resell or give to friends.
Even if you’re there to find things for yourself, always keep an eye out for things you could easily sell on eBay or vintage things you can sell on Etsy, or give to friends. These shoes were only $5.00, and although they fit (I’m a size 10), they are a size bigger and a little floppy. I can easily sell these on eBay!
9. Go back on Day #2.
So you’ve gotten there early on Day #1….great. You’ve found some deals. Now be sure to go back on Day #2 to see if there are any other things you could find at a cheaper price. You’ll be more relaxed because you will have already gotten everything you wanted on Day #1 (or were brave enough to leave it to see if it would still be available the next day, with 50% off). Another benefit to going both days is that the estate sale reps are now familiar with your face, and may be willing to knock a few more dollars off. Just be sure to ASK!
8. Have fun!
The hunt is an adrenaline rush, so enjoy every moment of it!
EDITED: ADDITIONAL ESTATE SALE TIPS!
A couple readers below submitted their own tips, and I wanted to highlight a few of them here:
9. Take notes.
The more estate sales that you hit up, the more estate sale companies you’re going to encounter, and you need to know the “ins” and “outs” of that particular company. Be sure to grab a business card while you’re there, and take notes of that company. Was there any room to bargain? What was their pricing structure on Day #1, Day #2, etc.? Were their prices high? Low?
10. Do a thorough check.
I will admit–estate sales are intoxicating! But in all that excitement, it might be easy to overlook defective furniture, broken nails, parts that are missing, etc. Take a deep breath and do a thorough inspection of the items you’d like to buy. It might also give you some bargaining power if you can point out some defects before making an offer. That’s how I got that bench you see above–I shook it and noticed loose arms. Hence, the 50% deal on the Day #1!
11. Dig, baby dig!
Sometimes you’ll find gems at the bottom of a box. Keep digging! Doing be afraid to pull things out, if necessary.
12. Search Craigslist. Estate sale companies are not the only ones having estate sales; individual families hold estate sales, as well. Search Craigslist for the keyword “estate” or “estate sale” and see what you can find in your area.
So what kind of awesome things have you guys found at estate sales?
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Laurie, I never said that I was an expert in estate sales. I said I was a virgin, didn’t I? 🙂 But surely, there is some value to what I said, and even more value through the comments of you awesome readers who have had way more experience with estate sales. Thanks for all the extra points!
And btw, it wasn’t a typo–I DID mean EstateSale.com. That is the site that I used to find estate sales. But you’re right in that there are other sources, like EstateSales.net, and Craigslist.
🙂
I hate to be a nay-sayer, but going to one estate sale does not an expert make…
First off, it’s estatesales.NET and it is probably THE best resource for local estate sales in your area. Sign up for their email notifications. I’m in MN, and my “main” area is the Mpls/St Paul market. A lot of the companies will list their sales in advance as they book them–nice to keep track of those in your general location.
As to the timing? You didn’t mention numbers. You need to be there REALLY early to be one of the first in the door. There are a lot of sales when a sale is slated to start at 9, numbers at 8, and people are there LONG before that to get a temporary number! As in sleeping in their car at 4 am.
Be aware that most estate sellers will NOT come down on price as much as yours did on the first day. The norm is 50% the second day on items under a certain threshold-usually $50-$100 or so. Anything over that is usually in the 35% range. Most estate sale companies also will take written “bids” for larger items that don’t sell at that 35%.
While a lot of companies DO take credit cards–a lot don’t. Make sure you know before you go or be prepared to hit an ATM. Some still take checks as long as you have ID, though.
Yes, a lot of sales want you to remove your purchases immediately. But a lot want you to wait until at least the end of the sales day. Moving big items blocks traffic flow–especially when stairs are involved. Be prepared to go back again.
I agree with the “go alone”, but only because I know what I’m looking for and bringing someone else along just slows me down. But if it’s a HUGE sale and there are multiple items in separate areas, if you have someone you can tag team with, by all means bring em!
Don’t get into a feeding frenzy. If there are others all around grabbing stuff, still make absolutely sure the item you are buying isn’t flawed. I bought a Fenton basket that completely lost all value when I didn’t notice a crack in the handle before I bought it.
And…if you are a new estate sale person…get a notebook. Take notes after each sale you go to. Start a page for each company. For example–Estelle’s Estate Emporium: No temp numbers, no bargaining on first day…high prices…unorganized. 50% 2nd day, 35% over $50, bag sale at noon 2nd day. Don’t let one sale preclude you from another of theirs, though, some end up completely opposite, but that will give you a guideline.
And some other tips: Look under tables. Look in boxes. Digger sales are SO much fun!
While you don’t think you’d want any garage items, sometimes there are hidden gems out there.
Have an ‘estate sale box’ ready–throw in some bags (both paper and plastic), packing paper, a flashlight, and hand sanitizer! Some sales just need this stuff!
And don’t limit yourself to just that web site. Do a Craigslist search. Garage sales then plug in “estate”. That’s where you’ll find most of your family run estate sales.
Yep, 3 heavy-ass pieces of slate that were hard hauling home and pulling out! But you are correct–I have already started calling around for installers. And I think I got a fab deal, because in my research, most nice used tables go for $1500 at least. $400 was a steal. Came with 6 cues, brushes, set of balls, cue stand….
If the pool table is really slate, I’d highly recommend getting a table installer to help you put it in. They go through a LOT of trouble to make sure the slate is level in every direction and won’t bunch up the felt. If you plan to play with any regularity, it’s the difference between playing on a real pool table and one made out of warped plywood.
Kris, HA! You’re the one that sparked me to go!! I saw your post on your blog that I happened to stumble upon that week, and there you were, talking about it. And I decided to do a search, and found my estate sale! 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration! And your $10 table sounds AWESOME! You’ve got me beat. My dining table cost $12.00. LOL
Serena,
I so glad you found some goodies. I told you that Estatesales.net site was amazing. It really is my new addiction. I’m happy others are finding treasures too. I got a dining room table yesterday for $10. It had been taken apart and laying in agarage. Solid wood. Just needs refinishing. I’m off to two more today. Happy Hunting – Kris ipinit.blogspot.com
Oh, I meant to say, the chaise bench I bought did have a defect in one of the arms, which is how she took the $25 offer I made her.
Scott, I can always count on you for wisdom!! You are so right– the enthusiasm can blind you to te flaws. I sure hope that the pool table we bought is a good find!! I’d been wanting one forever….
Recently, I went to an estate sale and seen a piano for sale (first day). I have been looking for a piano, even though I do not play, to paint it white. I think they are beautiful. Anyway, the price was way over what I wanted to pay $1,250.00 so I thought I would place a bid for day #2. Not really expecting to win the bid, I get the call letting me know I won the bid. Now how am I going to explain this to my husband. Who calls me the “trash lady” because I am always buying or picking up things off the side of the road (that is another story). Anyway, come to find out it was a Ivers & Pond Player Piano from 1966. To move it was a task in itself. That thing weighed well over 400#’s, or it felt like it. On a personal note: my daughter reminded me that everything in our house is from ESTATE SALES. I think I have a problem. Bought a scale for $4.00 / worth $45.00. So having said all this – that was the best $300.00, I have ever spent!
Pam, oh wow! My husband definitely would have killed me if I had come home with a piano! LOL. But sometimes you can’t pass up good deals like that. $300 is a STEAL! Do you have plans to play? I’d LOVE to have one! I don’t think we’d have the space for it, though. I’ve crowded up much of this house with my thrifty finds, too! 🙂
Thanks, Pam!!
My other comment about estate sales: although your enthusiasm is running high, it helps to check everything thoroughly. If it’s in a box, open it up. Look for missing/worn parts, wobbly legs, chipped finish, etc. While the thrill of a good buy is awesome, when the high wears off and you start noticing flaws in your prize you start feeling like you got taken and you only have yourself to blame for that.
Rule #2 also applies to garage sales. I’ve noticed a spate of Friday-Saturday sales in the area and I *always* try to get there on Friday. That’s how I managed to score a vintage Underwood typewriter for $5 and a bag of vintage Tinker Toys for a quarter! If I had a little more scratch in my pocket that day, my kids would be playing with a complete Erector set right now! I contacted the seller (long story, but we exchanged e-mails) and the set was long gone to another lucky kid.