Estate Sale Tips and Secrets
How to find estate sales (Best Tip #2)
This is cool, just type in the zip code of the area you want to shop in this interactive map
page to locate sales from Craig’s List, Penny Saver, and many regional newspapers. All estate sales are plotted using Google maps technology. This works for Bakersfield estate sales, plus it is really handy in new cities.
Plan ahead – A day or two ahead, check the classifieds of the local newspaper or online classifieds. (Or use the tip above) Narrow down the list of estate sales based on the description of the items included and the location of the house.
Make sure the sale is worth going to – Certain keywords in the ad for an estate sale can give you clues as to whether or not the sale will be worth going to or not. Words like ”everything must go”, “liquidation” or “moving” are often good for finding deals. If the ad has the words “antiques” or “collectibles” often the seller or dealer knows exactly what their items are worth and are not as likely to let them go cheap. However that estate sale may have really good stuff.
Carry cash – Most estate sales don’t take check or credit card. (Although some sales conducted by professional estate sale dealers do have credit card machines and some of these are now wireless, but still they don’t like paying credit card fees)
The early bird gets the worm (and the exception) – This old saying is so true when it comes to success in finding the good stuff at estate sales. show up 30 minutes early to a sale if you think it might be good (see the hints on how to judge if the sale is going to be good above). The worst that will happen is they will ask that you come back later.
Take advantage of discounts on Saturday and Sundays - Keep in mind that prices start dropping on Saturday and Sunday. Many sales start on Friday as well as dealer previews. But Saturday morning may be the best time to go because the weekend rush hasn’t taken everything yet and the discounts are starting to show up. Sunday things will be picked over but sometimes things go for half price before the get donated.
When you first get there – Do a quick walk-through. Once you’re in, quickly go through all the rooms and scan.. Move fast to see if there’s something that you want to grab right away. There’s nothing worse than watching someone who came in after you, walk out with a treasure that was meant to be yours.
You’ve got to dig for the gold – The people putting on the estate sale usually don’t take time to label everything or remove everything from desks, dressers, or closets. (Make sure this is OK first) If you’re looking for rarities and other unique items, go where no one has been willing to go. Take your time and dig the deepest.
Be willing to clean – Over the course of many years, people can acquire a lot of “stuff”. In time, some of these things become worn or dirty. These items often tend to be ignored at an estate sale, or marked with low prices.
What to bring – Remember to bring your measurements and a measuring tape if you’re looking for a piece of furniture to go in a particular spot. Hand wipes are good to have in your pocket or purse, in case your hands get really dirty.
Take your time – Be thorough. It’s easy to scan garage sales because they’re nearly all the same. But every estate sale is different. Move slowly from room to room. Dig through boxes and bins. If you’re methodical, you can often find unexpected goodies in out of the way places.
Be picky – It’s easy to convince yourself that you need some wonderful item you’ve just found, even though it’s broken or otherwise not exactly what you were looking for. While there’s merit to being flexible, it’s usually best to wait until you find something exactly right instead of settling for something close. Being patient and being picky are all part of the game.
If in doubt, don’t buy it – Or, wait one day and see if you still want it. No regrets, please, because you can’t return these items.
Be Nice – Especially to the folks running the sale. Not only is it the right thing to do, but hey, if you’re in this game, you’re likely going to be seeing them a lot.
Best Tip #1 – Make friends with the dealers who handle estate sales and get on their preferred list of people to call first and to preview first. This will pay off over time. Good connections are the secret to estate sale success as they are in many endeavors.
P.S. Check out the new facebook page for Timeless Furnishings
and be sure to click on the “like”
