An estate sale. There is nothing quite so exhilarating and well, mortifying, at the same time. Exhilarating because: It’s a whole house chockablock for the pickin’. A time capsule maybe even. Mortifying because: It’s someone else’s lifetime of treasures. So I always try to temper my excitement by (1) saying a little prayer of gratitude to the homeowners who made this all possible by taking care of the stuff for sale all these years, and (2) remembering that someday soon enough, a new generation of eager shoppers will be thrashing through my stuff, too, so I’d better approach the whole shopping experience with that karma in mind. With those reality-checks in place, here is my personal method for working an estate sale:
- Get there… whenever. Believe it or not, I do not rush to be the first in line at an estate sale. Why? 1 – I don’t “need” anything, and I know there is plenty out there, so I’ll wait for it to come to me. 2 – I feel too pressured and end up with stuff I don’t want if it’s all a rush and hustle. 3 – Getting there after the rush means there’s more room for negotiating. 4 – I’m looking for odd stuff that no one else wants, the odder the better. And, 5 – I like to sleep in. So, I get to the sale in my good ole time, on either Day One or Day Two, and trust that the Retro Decorating Gods will send me what I need.
- Do a fast walk-through. Once you’re in — quickly go through all the rooms and scan scan scan. Move fast to see if there’s something that you want to grab right away. There’s nothing worse than watching someone who came in after you, walk out with a treasure that was meant to be yours.
- Hotspots: Attic, basement, garage. In your scan, you also will have decided which rooms to scour first. I tend to think that the greatest treasures — MIB, NOS, odd, forgotten — are in the attic, the basement, the garage, and the back of closets. So I tend to go to these places first. Another place I might pounce: vintage clothes, shoes, scarves…and, paper ephemera like photos, scrapbooks and catalogs. Of course, if you are looking for certain pieces like furniture, you’re going to gravitate right toward those rooms.
- Check the perimeter. Watch for draperies, rugs, things semi-attached to walls or doors, in the rafters, and out in the garden among the bushes. For some reason, other shoppers (and even the estate sale organizers) seem to “zone” these out and focus on furniture and collectibles. I have bought many a set of gorgeous pinch pleats right off the windows, rugs off the floor, and groovy hanger-thingies screwed to the inside of closet doors or in laundry rooms, almost always at fabulous prices. (I’ve tried to buy the fabulous marbleized Crane toilet seats still attached to the toilets, but have not yet been successful.)
- What to pack. Remember to bring your measurements and a measuring tape if you’re looking for a piece of furniture to go in a particular spot, or for draperies. Handiwipes are good to have in your pocket, in case your hands get really dirty. An old fashioned flashlight can be useful. Collect a big, flexible bag or carryall to collect as you go. A protein bar and bottle of water. Go to the bathroom before you go. Bring cash.
- Don’t be a jerk. Be nice to the folks running the sale. Not only is it the right thing to do, but hey, if you’re in this game, you’re likely going to be seeing them a lot. Regarding prices: I certainly try to negotiate. I usually ask, “Can you tell me, what is your best price on this?” or “Can you do better considering how much I’m buying (or that it’s late in the day, or whatever).” Often, on Day One or at least early in the day, they don’t budge, although if I buy a lot they usually give me a courtesy discount…they round down. Around here, on Day Two, prices are generally cut in half, and even then, I usually do a little better. That’s also because I often buy lots of little stuff that is not priced – ephemera. I pile it into a box, show them the pieces in the box, and usually they just throw a single price out. Again, I’ll get the best deal if I’m not a jerk, and recognize that the sellers are only doing their jobs. If the price is not right, I don’t get huffy, I just figure it’s not meant to be, and move along.
- If in doubt, don’t buy it. Or, wait one day, go back, and see if you still want it (at an even better price.) No regrets, please, because never fear: There’s always more. You’re gonna “sell it on ebay”? Ummm, but have you already listed and sold everything you’ve ever bought “to sell on ebay”? If not, let the new/old estate sale stuff go to someone who will use it or let it clutter up their house. (I am really trying these days not let my collections take over my life.)
- Finally, take time to enjoy the house…look for all the little touches that made mid-century homes so special. Even if you don’t buy anything — you get a free historic house tour out of the deal.
Mich B says
Here’s an idea for sniffing out estate treasures beforehand. A couple of years ago, I was looking at houses for sale online. The photos of one home showed it to be jam-packed with mid-century furniture and artwork. On a hunch, I called the realtor and asked if this was an estate, and would there be an estate sale any time soon? It was an estate, and he put me in touch with the seller. She let me come in and browse the house days before the estate sale, and put a post-it on anything I wanted a price for. She had an appraiser come in and price those things, then I came back and bought what I wanted. It was like my own private sale! I got some wonderful furniture, including a danish modern dresser, plus light fixtures, a painting, and one of my favorite things- an egg-shaped sculpture that now graces my coffee table.
Happy Daze says
Thanks for the tips, Pam! You are correct that garages are usually a gold mine, especially if they are really messy/disorganized. Typically, most of the stuff is not priced and you can get some good deals on tools, vintage hardware (often MIB), and garden items. Plus, digging for the stuff is so much more fun that just picking it off of a table! 😀
Becky says
Wow. great tips Pam and from everyone else. Thanks.
I’m more of a Re-Store, Thrift Store shopper because I have always thought “Estate Sales” were for big spenders/dealers. Now I know better.
handyandy says
Talk about house karma. I attended an estate sale in a house that my grandparents had built and lived in 60 years ago. I had never been in it before. My grandfather was an engineer with the State Highway Department of Oregon, and was transferred within 10 years of building grandma’s dream home. The current owners had lived there at least 40 years and it was their belongings that were being dispersed. I spent HOURS in that house examining every nook and cranny, imagining my family’s daily life. It was a beautiful house and an amazing experience.
kate mckinnon says
What a great followup post, Pam. I want to go thrift shopping with YOU. Come to Tucson anytime; we are awash in treasure. I’ll put you up at my Atomic Ranch and we can look at all of my salt and pepper shakers!
pam kueber says
Kate, we have some other friends in Tucson — and my husband lived there for a while after he went to college and is wanting to go back sometime soon for a visit. We’ll be sure to look you up if we do and you bet — go thrifting!
kate mckinnon says
I was inspired by you yesterday to go over to an estate sale in my neighborhood, and what do you know, I bought a very cool armchair with matching footstool for $50.
There were lots of excellent Grandpa jars of screws and nails and bits, you know, with the lids attached to the bottom of a shelf and the jars screwing off. So smart. I love Grandpa tool solutions. I found a little cross-stitched mushroom (!) I made for my Grandma when I was a little kid, and looked on the back to discover that my Grandpa had used an old pop-top to hang it on the wall. (Not a pull-tab, but a pop-top, with two holes. One held a thumbtack into the cardboard backing of the cross-stitch, one stuck up and went on a nail in the wall.)
Jenni Kueber says
Can I go too?
Vanessa says
Thanks Pam for posting these tips! I had my own business running estate sales for a few years and another important thing I can stress is realize the people running the sale are running a business too. It’s not a glorified yard sale-it took a lot of time and effort to get that sale up and running and they are truly there to make money for the family that hired them. That was always our bottom line. They are making a commission but the money made for the family will pay for funeral costs, etc.,or possibly even nursing home care for a loved one who can no longer live alone.
In response to the experience above, it’s very unfortunate a family allowed their loved ones to be present during the sale of their own belongings. That was something we never allowed and was understood when we were hired. That being said, I’d like to state how important it can be to hire a reputable company to clear your loved one’s estate. It’s a tough job and it’s very hard for a family member to be objective during that time. A good estate company will run a very organized sale, make sure fair prices are acheived, treat the home and it’s belongings with the utmost respect, and also maintain a safe environment with little or no theft because they have staff members to run the sale. Too many times I’ve been to sales where clearly the family has attempted the sale and items are practically being given away. It always makes me so sad! They are quite obviously dealing with their grief as well as dealing with the material items and it can really take a toll. I’ve heard so many stories of families being ripped off on valuable paintings and antiques simply because they were unaware of what they had.
Ang says
oh wow, Tami…..that IS awful. Its especially sad that the family was clearly unaware that material “things” often trigger memories more clearly than spoken words for people with Alzheimers. I recently loaned a vintage wedding gown to an Alzheimer’s Care facility for that very reason, and was happy to be able to help in my own small way.
I miss going to estate sales!!!! I never get to go anymore, my shop is open on Saturdays. I guess the trade off is that now people just bring stuff to me….but I miss digging into people’s homes and seeing how they decorated.
The only thing I would add is if you collect anything specific or deal in anything vintage, giving the estate sale company your business card w/ contact info can be a *very* helpful thing. Sometimes they’ll get estates so small they sell only to people they know collect/deal certain items or so MUCH of something that they can’t process it into a sale and will call you!
gavin hastings says
I keep a 2 screwdrivers and a pair of pliers in my trunk and I usually only attend sales within a short radius. If I pass up an item at 10am, and it haunts me, I can easily go back. If it is still available, great…if not, I guess I REALLY didn’t want it anyway.
I try to keep the “Greedies” in check. My favorite sales are the homes of elderly folks that lived very simply. I wish I could be like them: I have multiples of everything . Sometimes I feel like Dickens’ Jacob Marley….dragging chains of mixers, sewing machines and bakeware to the grave.
Adrienne says
Oh Gavin! I’m right there with you! Listen for the clanking of my silverplate and clanging of my china patterns. It’s like I can’t pass up a lovingly polished bit of shiny business! 🙂 ………… And THANK YOU Retro Renov for writing in the article to be SENSITIVE in the house! You never know if some of the family is around, and invariably I hear people saying things like “what a bunch o’ junk” and I just cringe.
Em says
Great tips! I agree with not rushing yet grabbing things that you are really attracted to. I also agree that people tend to forget about things like curtains. I would add bringing your own cushioning for treasures–I just had a 1930s bud vase chipped by an overly eager seller
TappanTrailerTami says
Tip 9 – be prepared for anything.
Estate sales are not always because the homeowners have passed away….sometimes it is because they can no longer live on their own.
I will never forget attending an “estate” sale for an elderly couple, in which the husband was on site (and who was on board with the sale), but then I had the horror of watching his wife who had semi-advanced Alzheimer’s, but who completely understood that the crowd at her house were taking all of her things from her, and she became extremely agitated. It was more than heartbreaking….the husband started yelling at her to calm down, and the other family members literally had to drag her away.
I will never forget it, and to this day, do not understand what her family was remotely thinking to have had her present at the “estate sale” of her belongings. Maybe they thought just because she had Alzheimer’s and troubles remembering anything that it would be no big deal because she wouldn’t understand what was going on.
After that, I couldn’t begin to lay my fingers on even one item and had to leave. Quite upsetting to say the least. I think I was most upset with the family and husband for the cruelty of having the wife/mother on site while dozens of people were milling in her house shopping.
Amy says
It’s amazing how clueless and insensitive some people can be. I would have left empty-handed just like you did. Any item purchased would have instantly brought you back to that upsetting spectacle.
jen says
i’ve had the opposite experience with the woman present – she talked me into buying her corelle spring blossom set 🙂 it was kind definitely a reminder to appreciate the items we introduce into our homes and their past lives. i love knowing where things came from, and i loved hearing her stories. i just had to go through my grandmother’s things, and feel so blessed to introduce all those silly objects into my world to remind me of her.