Estate Sale Tips (and my latest finds)

I haven’t always loved shopping estate sales.  In fact I really didn’t get into it until about 8 or 9 years ago.  Prior to that,  I thought the only thing you found at an estate sale was furniture and tools.  Little did I know that estate sales are a treasure trove for all kinds of items including decor, tabletop items and vintage jewelry.

Several years ago I subscribed to EstateSales.net and their website changed the way I shop estate sales forever.  EstateSales.net is national listing service were companies list upcoming sales.  In addition to providing the when and where details, companies also give you a preview of the items in the sale.  As a subscriber you can choose when to be notified about upcoming sales near you.  And the sale listings include both in home and online auction sales.

Launching in 2002, EstateSales.net now gets over 30 million page views per month and is the best way to keep informed about sales in your area.

Beside the fact that you can find some amazing pieces at great price, there are several other reasons why I like shopping estate sales.

WHY I SHOP ESTATE SALES

1. Estate sales are a great source for vintage furniture.  Just about every estate sale I attend has a drop-leaf table or two, upholstered ottomans as well as antique chairs and lighting.  In most cases the pieces are good quality and just need a face lift with fabric, paint or refinishing.
2. I love a good bargain.  Like I mentioned early, you can find some real treasures at rock bottom prices. If you’re furnishing your home or looking for items to re-sell, these sales are a great place to shop for both vintage and new pieces.
3. I’m looking for a DIY project.  Every now and then I’m looking for a specific item to DIY for my home.  Often times I can find the perfect piece that makes an ideal DIY project.
4. I’m inspired by home design. I love walking through homes and being inspired by different design and architectural details.  Estate sales give me an opportunity to look at both old and new homes for design inspiration. In some cases, the homes are being torn down and some architectural elements might even be for sale.

 

Now that you know why I like to shop estates sales, let me show you what I found on my last outing.

A couple of weekends ago Mr. Confetti and I stopped by an estate sale on the last day.  Like most estate sales, the prices had been dropped and on this day everything was 75% off. All clothing and handbags were just $1.00.

The house was jammed packed, mostly decor, tabletop, apparel and jewelry.  We arrived early and upon entering the house, I stayed on the main floor and Mr. Confetti headed to the basement.  After about 30 minutes of shopping we met up in the living room to sort through out finds and decide what to keep.

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My Latest Estate Sale Finds…

I bought 8 of these gold-rimmed dinner plates for $1.00 each.  There are no markings on the plates so I’ve been trying to find the style name and manufacturer. My gut tells me they are made by Noritake but I’m not sure.  If you know anything about this plate design, let me know.

I’m always on the hunt for blue and white pottery and found a few pieces I love.  The first was this double happiness ginger jar that was in perfect condition.  I also found this shaped lidded dish which was just a few bucks.

This set of 7 brass napkin rings were wrapped up in a plastic bag and severely tarnished.  A quick polish and their beauty was revealed.

One of the things I was most excited to find were these wood risers.  I snagged each of them for just .75 cents each.

I couldn’t pass up these three small blue and white pieces.  The blue and white flower frog will be a cute accent on a bathroom vanity or desk.  And I imagine using the two small cups to hold jewelry or office supplies.

This brass tray was another amazing find.  I immediately fell in love with the floral blossom design and bamboo style edging.

Mr. Confetti found this handled urn in the basement and it wasn’t until I got home that I noticed it was two-toned.  I love the combination of silver and gold.  The urn is a perfect for an orchid arrangement.

This brass container is a classic design and can be used for so many purposes.

I’m jazzed about the pieces I found at the sale.  Some of these items are keepers and others will be going into my Etsy shop soon.   If you’ve never been to an estate sale but are intrigued, I’ve listed a few shopping tips below that should help you.

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TIPS FOR SHOPPING ESTATE SALES

First day–to get the best stuff, plan to arrive early.  Any trending or under-priced items will be the first pieces to go.  The early bird definitely gets the worm at an estate sale.

Second/Third day–by the second day, the sale will be picked over and prices will most likely be slashed. The second or third day of the sale is typically the slowest which will give you a better opportunity to inspect items.  You’ll also have a better chance at negotiating prices on these days.

Last day–this is when you’ll find your best bargains. Sellers are motivate to see everything go and will definitely be open to offers.  You can even try to offer a bulk price for all the items you are interested in.

Grab and go–do a quick walk-thru of every room when you get to a sale and grab anything of interest. Once you have a pile, go through the items more throughly to determine what you’ll buy. When you find a furniture piece you like, pull the price ticket off and take it to the check out area so it will be held for you.

Look everywhere–check inside any open and accessible areas like closets, the garage and basements.  Like items aren’t always grouped together so cover every inch of the house for treasures.

Ask about unmarked items–appliances, draperies and rugs may not be marked but are often available for sale if you ask.

Cash or Check–estate sale companies like when buyers have cash or write a check to avoid the added credit card processing fee.  Make sure you have your checkbook and cash on hand when you go to a sale.

Know you measurements–if you’re shopping for furniture, have the key measurements of your home with you.  You’ll want to make sure items will fit through doorways and in the spaces you have planned.

You buy it, you load it–most estate sales will not load furniture into your car.  Make sure you have additional hands at the ready to help you load your purchases.  You might be able to come back at a later time to pick your items up but there’s always the risk that an item getting damaged or mistakenly sold to someone else while you gone.

All sales are final–check the condition of everything before you buy it.

 

  I hope you enjoyed today’s blog post.  I’m headed to Scott Antique Market tomorrow to do some shopping for a client so follow along on Instagram.  If you’re not familiar with the market, you can read about my previous shopping trips here.

For more tips on bargain shopping, read my post on 10 Tips For Shopping Flea Markets Like A Pro!