Estate Sale Tips (and my latest finds)

February 6, 2019

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

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.
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.
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.
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!

After Christmas Sales: FIVE Things You Should Shop For

December 26, 2018

On the day after Christmas I’m usually up and out the door headed to after-Christmas sales. It’s actually one of the things I look forward to after the hustle and bustle of the days leading up to Christmas.

In addition to holiday decor being discounted, stores will also have big discounts on winter clothing and there will be lots of everyday items on clearance too. The week after Christmas is really a great time to shop if you love a deal and want to get a jump-start on next Christmas.

In today’s post, I’ve outlined the FIVE items that should be at the top of your shopping list in the days after Christmas.

Wrapping Paper

After-Christmas is the best time to buy wrapping paper, gift bags and decorative boxes. It’s also a good time to replenish gift tags, tape and other gift wrap supplies. Along with holiday themed wrapping paper, be on the look out for deals on generic gift wrap designs that you can use throughout the year. A red and pink striped paper can be used for Valentine’s Day and solid colors can be use for any gift occasion.

I’ll be stopping by Hobby Lobby to stock up on tissue paper and gift card boxes and will also be looking for holiday embellishments I can use to wrap gifts. This gold and white striped wrapping paper is a great deal and usable year round.

My Favorite Stores To Shop For Wrapping Paper:

HomeGoods // Container Store // Target // Ikea

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Holiday Tabletop

For those of you that love to entertain, after-Christmas sales are the perfect time to buy holiday dinnerware and table linens. Shop early for the best choice but be open to mixing and matching tabletop patterns if you can’t find enough pieces in a design you love. An eclectic holiday table can be really fun to pull together.

It’s also a great time to shop for holiday paper goods that you can use for casual parties. Create and Barrel is one of my favorite stores to shop for tabletop items. I just bought these adorable holiday cocktails napkins which will also make a great hostess gift.

tip: did you know you can make a Christmas pillow from a holiday themed placemat? My friend Meg has a great tutorial that shows you how easy it is to make. Keep this tip in mind when your shopping for discounted linens.

My Favorite Stores To Shop For Tabletop Items:

HomeGoods and Marshalls // Williams Sonoma // Pier 1 // Pottery Barn

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Holiday Gift Baskets {and gift sets}

Gift baskets might not be the first thing you think about when you’re shopping after Christmas but they should be. Instead of using the basket as it is, pull the items out and create a new basket or use the items as individual gifts.

I like to buy beauty, food or entertaining themed baskets because many of the items and the container are aren’t season specific and can be used for other gift occasions.

tip: when you’re shopping, think about birthdays, weddings and other events you have coming up during the new year. You just might find the perfect components for a great gift.

My Favorite Stores To Shop For Gift Baskets:

World Market // HomeGoods // Target // Bath & Body Works // Bed Bath Beyond

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Candles

Shop after Christmas sales for winter scents like pine or cinnamon. These fragrances are classified as Christmas but they are wonderful to burn throughout the cold winter months. You can also buy a few candles to stash in your gift closet for gift-giving next year.

tip: many candles on the market have removable paper labels so the look of the jar becomes universal. Remove the label and create your own decorative wrap to fit any gift occasion.

My Favorite Stores To Shop For Candles:

Bath & Body Works // Local Boutiques // TJ Maxx and HomeGoods // William Sonoma

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Winter Accessories

Retailers will be marking down cold-weather accessories to make room for warm-weather fashions that will begin hitting stores in just a few weeks. Now is a great time to buy gloves, knit hats and scarves and find amazing deals on cashmere accessories.

The Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sales is going on thru January 2nd and there are some fabulous items on sale. I just ordered the leopard print shawl above (under $20) and this cute knit hat with fur Pom Pom (under $12).

tip: before you gift your bargain accessories next year, take them to a monogram shop to have them personalized with a monogram. A simple monogram will give your clearance find a designer look.

My Favorite Stores To Shop For Winter Accessories:

Nordstroms // Macy’s // Mark & Graham // Dillards

I’ve already started thinking about a Christmas theme ideas for next year and who knows, the theme just might find me while I’m out shopping.

Do you shop after-Christmas sales? What’s on your shopping list?

I’ll be back on Saturday to share tips for shopping the Dillard’s New Years Day Sale. This sale is pretty legendary and my tips will help you navigate it like pro.

Shop Flea Markets Like A Pro–10 tips!

September 14, 2015

I’ve been shopping flea markets and antique stores for years now and have learned quiet a bit over that time. When I first started shopping for vintage I really didn’t know what I was doing or what to look for in items. I simply shopped and bought pieces that I was attracted to. Since then, I shop both for personal decor and also for items that I can resell in my Etsy shop and new Instagram shop, The Vintage Box.

Here are 10 tips that I’ve learned over the years that will help you go from a novice flea market shopper to a pro.

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Research flea markets and antique stores before you travel to a new city. Online reviews and Facebook photos will tell you a lot about a shop and help you pick the places with the most items and best selection. And don’t pass up those small cities you pass along the way because they often have antique stores filled with items that haven’t been picked over.

If you love it, buy it or at least put it in your bag! I’ve walked away from items before telling myself that I’ll come back to look at it when I finish walking the entire market or store. Of course when I return the item has been snagged by someone else. If you see something you like, put it in your cart or bag and consider it as you continue to shop. If you decide not to purchase it, let the vendor or the store cashier know when you’re paying and they can put the item back on the shelf.

Trust your gut. This goes along with pt. #2 above. Just like most things in life, you gut will tell you if an item is meant to be or not. If you have an immediate reaction to an item than most likely the piece is something that you’d love having in your home or would be able to sell.

Engage in a conversation with the vendor BEFORE asking for a deal. Taking the time to engage in idle conversation and show interest in the sellers booth and wares will set the tone for price negotiations. If I’m alone shopping I always make eye contact with the seller, compliment them on their items and ask a question or two to break the ice. If my husband is with me, that’s his job so I can spend time looking.

Group items from one vendor or booth together and request the seller’s best price. The more you buy the better the deal you’ll get from the seller. And when asking for prices always ask ‘Is this the best price you can offer?” instead of “what kind of discount can you give me?”. You want the vendor to feel they have control when negotiating so how you ask for a better price matters.

Don’t discount an item if some of the parts and pieces are missing. Jars without lids can be used for vases, you can mix and match linens and related items like milk glass or brass can be sold in groupings so look at the value instead of the flaw.

If you’re looking for a particular type of item, ask vendors who carry similar pieces because you never know what they may have in storage or can bring to the next market.

Check the quality of each prices before you buy it. There are usually no returns or exchanges at antique stores and flea markets so know what you’re buying before you lay down your money. Look for hair-line cracks, sturdiness of furniture and makers marks which will help you assess the quality of a piece.

Shop early for the best selection. This is especially true at flea markets which tend to attract a large number of people early in the day. If you’re looking for highly collectible pieces, you want to shop early before items are picked over and sold.

Shop late for the best prices. Shopping late in the day and on the last day of the sale will often yield you the best prices. Vendors don’t want to pack things up and take them back home so they are much more likely to offer discounted prices at the end of the day or end of a show.

You can find lots of amazing items at flea markets and antique stores so use these tips to help you snag some great bargain the next time you head out to shop.

Want to know what essentials you need to carry when thrifting? Check out my post Thrift Shopping 101.

Tricks-of-the Trade Retail Shopping Tips

March 20, 2014

Where’s the first place you head when you walk into a big box store like HomeGoods, World Market or Target? If you’re not shopping for something specific do you start at the front of the store and make your way around the store or do you head to your favorite department first?

I have a system when I walk into one of these stores, a system that comes from having worked in the retail industry for over 20 years. My years working in a department store, as a buyer and retail executive have given me an insider view of the tricks-of-the-trade that most retailers use when it comes to merchandising products.

Today I’m going to share a few of those tips with you so you can find the best deals and avoid the retail traps.

Let’s start with Target. When they receive a new collection of product, one of the places they display that product is on the front end of an aisle also known as a End Cap. This product placement allows shoppers to see what’s new at a glance before they head down the aisle to take in the full offering of merchandise.

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While seeing what’s new at the front of the aisle is always good, it’s the back of the aisle, the back end cap that will usually yield you the best bargain shopping. The back of an end cap is typically where stores place their sale items and once items are part of a markdown cycle this is where you’ll find your best deals. Target is currently in the midst of taking markdowns on lots of home décor items and some good clearance deals are landing on the end cap. Here are few bargains I spotted earlier this week.

This black and white duvet cover was a great deal at $21.98 for the full/queen

I loved this mustard yellow quilt. It was on clearance for $19.48 for the full/queen

Fun wall plaques for under $5.00

Geometric pattern embossed lamp shade for $ 9.48

This was a great looking wood and metal tray for $17.48. Great for a men’s gift.

This gorgeous peacock blue glass jar was marked down to $31.48

I shared these rattan tables on Instagram. They were clearance priced at $34.98 and were are stuury with a nice tight weave. (The Northpoint Target had about 10 of them in stock)

And there were lot of picture frames marked down and all under $10.00.

Another tip for shopping big box stores is to look in multiple places for trend product and new collections. Many stores like HomeGoods and Target will double expose products that are a seasonal trend statement in a group with related pieces and also in the specific department where those items are housed.

Lampshades may be merchandised with a collection of items and also in the lamp department/aisle.

A third tip to remember is that not all stores are created equal. When major department stores take a markdown on an item that markdown typically happens at all stores across the country. Most product that come into a big box store are coded with a barcode that includes the receipt date. This receipt date is usually the trigger for when a markdown is taken.

If one store received an item weeks earlier than another, one store may have the item marked down while the other still has it at regular price. I’ve seen this happen a lot at Target and typically if you bring it to managements attention the store with the full price item will look it up and honor the sale price.

This point is also good to keep in mind because with different receipt dates triggering markdowns, you may find the same item on sale and also in the regular price section. The sale item will be towards the back of the store or on a back end cap because the store hopes you’ll pick up the regular price piece first without ever making it to the sale area.

It’s been proven that the majority of people turn right when they enter a store (because most people are right handed) so retailers often place new item displays or even more expensive items to the right, inside the door.

Did you know that in many stores, especially clothing stores that sale racks are kept messy on purpose. Stores don’t want to make it easy for you to shop the sale area hoping you’ll get frustrated and shop the regular priced, well-organized and well stocked racks. This trick works on me more times than not.

The trill of the deal can only last so long before I need to move on to calm and clutter free!

And the final shopping tip I want to share with you has to do with the cash register area. The impulse items placed near the cash wrap are there because they are proven to be items that people will pick up without much thought. Sometimes you can find some bargains in this area but most of the time this area is planned as an easy add-on sale for the stores. TJMaxx, HomeGoods and Marshalls are the master of cash register sabotage and I’ve fallen into the trap by picking up a roll of gift-wrap, stationery, paper products and even a treat or two (just yesterday as a matter of fact) 🙂

I hope you enjoyed these tips. The next time you get caught at the register with an impulse item, leave me a comment and let me know what you bought.

Happy shopping and happy first day of spring!

Treasure Hunting and Tips for Shopping Scott’s Antique Market

February 14, 2014

I’m back with part 2 of my trip to Scott Antique Market this month. Today I’m sharing some of the furniture pieces that caught my eye along with some tips I have for shopping this market.

I mentioned in my last post that Scott Antique Market is made up of two buildings, North and South as well as outdoor vendors at each building. I can’t even begin to estimate how many vendors show as Scott’s each month but there well over 300. Because of the size of the market, Scott’s has claimed the title as the World’s Largest Indoor Antique Market. You can find just about anything at Scott’s from rare antiques and silver to antique reproductions and vintage pieces. And, just like every antique store and flea market around, there is junk to be had as well.

This beautiful wicker and cane chair was a favorite from the show. The scale large enough so that the chair could be used alone as a cute accent chair.

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