Let’s get right to the point with #1:
The best website to find legitimate Estate Sales: https://www.estatesales.net
Sellers are required to pay in order to post on here which already increases the credibility of the sale. It also means they will most likely have decent items if they can justify paying for an add. You can put in your local area and look at photos of what type items you can expect at each sale posted. The addresses for sales are usually not released until the day before or morning of. I like to hop on and browse the Thursday or Friday before to see if there is anything juicy going on (talk about a good Friday night scroll)!
Look! It’s a real, live estate sale! Oh the boxes you’ll scrounge through!
#2 Timing:
The day and time you choose to go will have an impact on your experience. Most estate sales usually last for 2-3 days. The earlier you go, the better items you will find. Things to be aware of going on the morning of the first day:
- Waiting in line to get in
- A lot of people (determined re-sellers, they aren’t always great with personal space)
- Bring a box to carry your treasures in, if you haven’t paid for it, it isn’t yours! Many estate liquidators do a good job of keeping an eye on your “hold items”, but the morning rush can get a little hectic.
If you choose to go on the 2nd or 3rd day, shopping is more laid back. This is my preferred time to go and I still manage to find fun items for my home and get to enjoy the experience with less chaos. The last day there is a little more leniency on price as well, so you may get a better deal.
PSA: This is usually a full time job for the ones who run these sales, so please for the love of anything good, don’t low-ball. NO ONE appreciates a low-baller. It’s just rude.
#3 Pricing:
There will not always be a price listed on every item. Find out who is in charge and ask! Usually, the more you buy, the better the deal. If you are looking for a specific item, do some research before. You will be more prepped to bargain if you know the original value. This takes a bit of discernment as each sale has very different operators and items. The more you do it, the more you will learn the ebs and flows of proper bargaining.
A freebie: It is the WHOLE house. Walk through the rooms, open drawers, poke around. Everything must GO!!
Sincerely,
Brooklynn
