On occasion, folks ask some variation of “How do estate sales actually work?” I get it! Before I started dating Erik, I felt similarly. I didn’t really know what estate sales were, or how they worked. You … had to wait in line and get a number? Was it like an auction? What are the rules??
Turns out, I was vastly over-complicating things, and I suspect this is a common misconception given the number of questions I get about How To Estate Sale. So, though I may increase my own competition for the Cool Stuff at local estate sales, I thought I’d demystify them a bit:
- What Is an Estate Sale?
It’s essentially liquidating all of someone’s stuff. Probably they died, their relatives have taken the stuff they care about, and they’re selling off the rest. Possibly the person has simply downsized into a smaller home. - How do you find Estate Sales?
There are a few big companies here in Lincoln that do estate sales as a service:- Changing Spaces SRS is the biggest. They usually have a sale every weekend, and often online auctions as well. They have a strong following, which means auctions get bid up, and in-person sales are competitive.
- My Silver Attic has raised their game. As Changing Spaces has become busier and ended up with more “contemporary” sales, My Silver Attic has really become a strong contender for the “quirky vintage” stuff.
- Basset Estate Sales is a relatively recent addition, but I’d put them on par with My Silver Attic.
- Traton Estate Sales is a newer business trying to get going, but they often have less-interesting stuff, or sales outside of town.
- Home2Home is another, but they tend to have Thurs/Fri sales, which is difficult for folks with a normal office schedule.
You can follow these folks on social media, but it’s better to get on the email list. The week before a sale, they’ll send out an email with photos of the merchandise.
Sometimes you’ll also happen across privately run estate sales, but they tend to over-value their stuff, either because of sentimental value, or using Etsy/Ebay as a pricing guide. It’s not that those valuations are wrong, but it’s a different market. Selling online, that listing can sit until someone wants to pay that price. If you’re trying to clear a house in two days, it’s unlikely you’ll find someone who values that object at the same price you could sell it for on Etsy.
- What kind of stuff is at an Estate Sale?
Literally everything. Cut crystal party dishes. Half-used perfume from the 80s. Books (it’s striking to me how many people seem to only own religious books). The entire contents of the kitchen utensil drawer. Jewelry. Furniture. Linens (I’ve developed quite a collection of vintage tablecloths). Craft supplies. Vintage fur coats. Non-perishable foods out of the pantry. SO MANY TOOLS. Seriously, I will never buy a hand tool or yard equipment in a hardware store again. You can get solid, quality tools for almost nothing. - Ok, but how do you… actually go to a sale? Do you have to wait in line? Take a number?
If you show up first thing in the morning before they open, yes, you’ll take a number and wait in line. That is the way to go if you saw something in the photos you just HAVE to have. For example, a few months ago there was an estate sale with a lot of high-end vintage audio equipment. There were a whole lot of enthusiasts who were there first thing on Friday morning, and it was all picked over within an hour of opening.
However, this is not the way I do things. Most sales stack discounts the further into the sale you get. Generally sales run Friday and Saturday. Depending on the company running it, things may be half-price all day Saturday, or start at 25% off and go to 50% off at noon. This is when I prefer to go.
When you arrive, the first challenge is usually finding parking. Be respectful, park legally, don’t block anyone’s driveway. Then, you just… walk in the front door. Occasionally they request you take off shoes or wear shoe covers, but this is a minority of sales. Mask mandates do apply in this situation!
Once inside, you go from room to room. Stuff will be set out on tables and shelves, and everything will be priced. One of the reasons I like going to sales is just to see the inside of cool houses! Check the garage, basement, back yard… there will be stuff everywhere! (Don’t open any interior doors that are closed, this is rude.)
There will be a cashier’s station set up, usually in the living room. There will also be Hold Shelves in this room. You can set stuff there while you continue to shop, if you find treasures. This room will usually also have jewelry, or any other small valuables. (So the workers can keep an eye on them.)
If you decide you want a piece of furniture or other large object that can’t be easily moved, take the pricing placard (it will also have a description of the furniture written on it), and go talk to an employee. You can keep shopping, but that way they know someone wants it. They may write up a SOLD tag. (You’re responsible for moving your purchases out, though usually you have until the end of the sale, in case you need to round up some friends, or a truck.)
When you’ve gone through the house, pick your stuff up from the hold shelf, and check out! Sales by the larger companies take cards or Venmo, but it’s not a bad idea to take your checkbook, just in case. - Can you haggle?
It depends. Generally, the more you’re buying, the more expensive the object and the closer to the end of the sale, the more room for haggling. No one will cut you a deal on the first day of a sale. Probably won’t cut you a deal in the first half of the second day, either. But if you’re closing in on the last hour, it’s possible they’re willing to make a deal (beyond the existing generous discount).
So go forth! Have fun! Estate sales can really enhance your quality of life. You can get high-quality items, often things that were considered a luxury in their time, for a pittance. You can get Real Art or vintage jewelry for the cost of mass-produced items from Target. And you get to learn more about your own taste along the way! When I first started going to estate sales, I picked up a lot of vintage jewelry that seemed cool, sitting on a table. I got it home, and discovered I never actually wore it. I’ve become much better at picking out stuff I’ll actually use/wear.
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