The Ultimate Guide To Estate Sales: How to Navigate an Estate Sale
"Estate Sale Today" sign indicates where the estate sale is and has a smaller orange "50% off Today" sign.
The Ultimate Guide to Estate Sales Series
(Part II)
What You Should Know About Estate Sales: How to Navigate an Estate Sale to Find and Get What You Want
The day of the estate sale you’ve wanted to attend is finally here! You’ve arrived early, signed in on the check-in sheet, and are patiently waiting in line.
But what is actually going to happen once your name is called and you enter the estate sale?
How You Can Navigate an Estate Sale Strategically and Confidently to Find Everything You Want
This is the second installment of The Ultimate Guide to Estate Sales Series where I share valuable tips to help you navigate an estate sale efficiently so you can find everything you want. If you haven’t read the first part of The Ultimate Guide to Estate Sales Series: How to Prepare to Go to an Estate Sale, you can read it here.
As simple as it seems, navigating an estate sale can get quite tricky, very fast. It’s always good to take some time and consider several situations before you head over to the sale.
I’ve been attending estate sales for over twenty years in multiple states and while every estate sale is different, I feel I’ve gathered quite a bit of firsthand experience with them that you can use too!
As I share my experience in this series, I’m also going to imply the following:
You know what an estate sale is.
You know how estate sales operate.
You may have already been to a few estate sales yourself.
Estate sales can be…quite an experience. They’re a great opportunity to meet interesting people from surrounding areas, find some incredible pieces, and of course, purchase those coveted items you’ve been eyeing for the last week in the estate sale listing’s photos.
Here’s a few tips and tricks I recommend being aware of to help you navigate an estate sale with confidence and, most importantly, have fun along the way.
Waiting in Line is worth it.
If you find yourself having to wait in line to get into the estate sale, don’t fret!
The truth is, we live in a day and age where marketing estate sales online is the norm and yes, you’ll have tens if not hundreds of people interested and attending the same estate sale you are. Changes are, they are also there for the same thing you want.
Think of waiting in line as a reconnaissance opportunity! Find out what others are there for- are you both looking to get the same thing? Where are the items located that they want? Are those items in proximity to the items you are wanting? Did someone mention an item you didn’t notice in the listing and perhaps you want to take a look at it yourself? Are there any resellers looking for specific items at the estate sale? While it may not seem like it, frenzies over items occur more often than you may believe at estate sales and it’s always best to be self-aware. Yes, it is possible to find items of high resale value for only a few dollars.
Have a plan of attack for the items you want most.
Before you go into an estate sale, make a list and rank the items you want in order from most coveted to less and make sure to acquire them in order of importance to you. Chances are, someone else ahead of you in line or someone who is allowed into the estate sale at the same time wants the same items as you do. And chances are, they may get to it before you. So make sure to prioritize finding the pieces you want the most first.
Everything at an estate sale is fair game.
When you’re looking at something, pick it up or place your hand on top of it to indicate your interest. Yes, this may seem a bit absurd, but unless you respectfully “lay claim” to a piece while you’re looking at it, someone else may reach around you and grab it in front of you. And that behavior is perfectly acceptable!
Always greet the staff with at least eye contact and a smile, nod of the head, or a verbal “hello.”
The staff has been working hard to get the estate sale ready for shoppers for at least a week and all that prep has come down to this. They’re on edge looking for shoplifters, people getting into arguments over who gets to purchase an item, people cannibalizing sets of pieces, and damaging or breaking goods sometimes just to get a discount. I’ve seen it happen. An estate sale can become a playground and the staff members are the referees so be sure to show kindness and respect to them.
5. It is rude and often considered to be shoplifting to place items in a bag as you are shopping the estate sale.
If you find yourself struggling to carry items, ask a staff member if you can place items in a shopping bag and if they can hold it at the register with your name on it as you continue to shop. They’re usually more than happy to oblige.
6. Always be self-aware and pay attention to your surroundings.
Estate sale organizers always have disclaimers before entering a sale. They are not liable for any injury you may incur while shopping and you are liable to pay for anything you break. Remember, estate sales are typically held in a person’s private home that has been prepared to sell goods, and it is not a worksite or business. Stairs can be narrow, landings short, and miscalculating steps happen. Accidents happen but the estate sale company is not liable for you not paying attention to your surroundings.
7. Be prepared to negotiate prices.
The last day of an estate sale is my personal favorite day to go since all items are typically half off. Sometimes 50% off an item is still too much for me to comfortably pay for an item. I’m not deterred though since I know the sale organizers want to make the most amount of money as possible. Even more so, the organizers do not want to have to move all of the items from the home once an estate sale is over. If I know the estate sale accepts cash as a form of payment, I’ll directly ask a staff member if they would accept “x” dollar amount instead of the half off price. I’ll offer anywhere from 10%-20% less than what the price would be at half off. The larger and heavier the item is, the more likely the estate sale organizers will be accepting of your offer. You’ll have the most success using this tactic in the last few hours of the sale, so you may want to wait until then to attend.
Another negotiation tactic is to make an offer for an item and leave the offer with your name and number with the organizers. If the item has not sold by a certain time on the last day of a sale, often organizers will happily call up the people who have expressed interest in an item and accept the offer. Oftentimes, they’ll accept even less than what your offer initially was to ensure you’re going to pick up the item. Should you use this tactic, be sure to have your phone available and accept all incoming calls right away as most organizers will not leave a voicemail.
I’ve been going to estate sales for over two decades and absolutely love them! Over the years I’ve learned quite lessons from first-hand experiences. Being prepared for what is to come at an estate sale will help you enjoy all the sale has to offer. I hope these pointers I’ve listed above will help you prepare for your next estate sale.
Be sure to check out the third installment of “The Ultimate Guide to Estate Sales: How to Clean and Revive Estate Sale Finds”!
Read the first installment of “The Ultimate Guide to Estate Sales Series: How to Prepare to Go to an Estate Sale” here.
Happy Hunting!
Cassandra