Estate Sales – How to Shop Like a Pro

Estate sales are treasure hunts for grownups. The excitement, anticipation, and thrill are enough motivation for even the most experienced estate sale’r. But what if you’re brand new? Estate sales can be intimidating, but worry we‘ve got you covered. Here are our top five tips to help you feel like a pro.

Arrive Early

The old saying “The early bird gets the worm” couldn’t be truer. Any experienced estate sale’r will tell you to get there early. It’s not uncommon to see folks lining up before the sale starts. Please note, we don't post the address of the sale until 6:00 am on sale day.

The biggest reason you want to be early is to take advantage of all the selection. This also means you won’t likely get to negotiate, but if you had your heart set on a certain item it will likely be available.

Do your Research

Most estate sale companies, including Honest Estate Sales, will have specific information on their website for each of their sales. On our website, we have plenty of photographs and information on what you can expect from each sale.

The research will help you focus on finding sales that have the items you’re most interested in.

Getting Larger Items Home

If you’re on the hunt for larger pieces, like furniture or even vehicles, make sure you can get them home. We recommend you bring a tape measure with you to measure the furniture. It’s also a good idea to know the rough measurements of your home so that your new furniture will fit nicely.

If you buy a vehicle, remember it might not be drivable, so make sure you have a plan to have it towed to its new home.

Dress Comfortably

Estate sailing is a fun hobby for many, especially in the summer months. With that, we recommend folks dress comfortably and bring snacks and water (to be enjoyed in your car). Comfortable shoes are a must, as you will be spending a good deal of time on your feet.

Know how to Negotiate

When visiting estate sales, we know you’re looking for a good deal. But estate sales are much different from garage sales. Often at estate sales, the client places a “reserve” on certain items, which means that estate sellers are contractually obligated to not sell the item below a certain price.

But you can always try, here are our tips to help you make the most of your dollar:

It’s our policy that negotiations don’t start until the second day of the sale. If you’re at another sale, just ask what their policy is, or check out their website.
Be polite, don't assume you are due a discount just because you are buying items at an estate sale.

So whether you’re an old pro, or just getting started we look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming estate sales today!