Learn how to shop at estate sales with my 7 tips and tricks for estate sale hunting!

Sadly, garage sale season is coming to a close. So what’s a thrift loving gal to do? Hit up the estate sales of course!

Estate sales are my favorite way to thrift! They are held indoors in the home of an elderly person who has perhaps downsized to smaller home or passed away and therefor can be full of vintage goodies. The home is open to the public to walk through and shop the items found inside. Items are typically individually marked or there is a sign in the room detailing the prices.

Before I ever ventured into estate sales, I found them rather intimidating. Because you are walking into someone else’s home that’s full of their personal belongings it can feel rather intimate. I worried that I wouldn’t know the proper etiquette and somehow offend the homeowner. I would have been so helped in shopping estate sales if I knew these tips I’m going to share with you today!

Here is a brief rundown for estate sale newbies who may share my same initial fears:

• The owner of the home is never there. Occasionally the sale is run and operated by family members, but most often it is run by a professional.
• Think of it as an indoor garage sale. You walk through, pick up the items you like, and at the end head to the check out.
• You will find most expensive and valuable items displayed very near the cashier in the front room. As you enter into the other rooms of the house items will be less expensive

• If there is an area where shoppers are not allowed, it will be marked off with a sign. Don’t worry. You are allowed to shop closets, bathrooms, and even behind closed cabinets, so long as they are not taped off.
• Generally, It is not frowned upon to bring children, but feel out the home. If it is in high end neighborhood there will likely be many breakables and expensive items on display. I try to go estate sales without children, or I will only take one or two older ones. It’s a great place for them to learn to appreciate things of the past and get more for their dollar. I teach my children how to make an offer and I find that estate sale operators enjoy haggling with children about the price of something and often give them a deal. 😉
• The last day of the sale everything is typically half off! This is absolutely the best time to make an offer. After the sale most things will be taken to donation centers and few things will be sold on ebay. They are more than happy to unload what they can for a little profit. So make a pile and wheel and deal!

How to find estate sales

There are 3 main ways to find estate sales:

• Websites Such as estatesale.com and estatesales.net
• Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist
• Following Signs in your area

Here are my top five tips to consistently find treasures while estate sale hunting

1. Scout the Sale Prior Using the Estate Sale Websites Listed Above

Look up sales at Estatesale.com or Estatesales.net and browse what is available before you take the time and effort to go.

You will find lots of photos of the sale so you can see before hand if there is anything you might be interested in and make the absolute best use of your time. If you are going to a sale for a specific item I highly recommend showing up early to increase your chances of actually snagging that treasure!

That being said, I do love hitting up a spontaneous estate sale by following signs. It’s exciting because you never know what you will find. I have scored some of my best finds at sales I haven’t scouted.

2. Use the Treasure Tracker Feature at Estatesales.net

When I decided to write this post, I sought out the advice of an experienced estate sale hunting friend. One of her top tips is to use the treasure tracker feature at estatesales.net. To gain access to this feature you need create an account on estatesales.net.

You will then find the treasure tracker feature on the left hand column of the account page.

Once on the treasure tracker page you can enter any item you may be looking for and it will alert you by email when the item comes up in an estate sale listing.

3. Use the Hold Table or Bring a Bag When Estate Sale Hunting

It’s important to keep your hands free so you can dig if need be! Depending on the sale I can find a great deal of treasures to take home, so you will want a bag or you can use the hold table.

The hold table will be found right next to the checkout station. It’s typically labeled, but if not just ask the cashier and they will be happy to accommodate your pile. I love using the hold table because I can set everything I hope to buy down and have free arms to continue to inspect and sort through items.

If you are buying larger furniture items, just tell them at the front the item you want and they will label it as sold for you.

4. Look Inside Closets and Cabinets

Always look inside closed cabinets and closets. Typically the doors will be opened if they want you to shop the cabinet, but not always. Keep mind that other customers may have closed the doors. If they do not want you in the cabinet of closet it will be clearly marked as so or taped closed.

This can be a good place to find deals or treasures that others may have missed because they were not willing to open the doors. I also like to leave knowing that I had a thorough look through what is available, so don’t be shy. Open those doors!

5. Always Check the Basement, Garage, and Backyard

The basement, garage, and backyard is where you will find items at garage sale prices. Items found in these areas are going to be the things that the estate sale operator is less aware of, and therefor more willing to give you a good price.

Often these items need a little more love or cleaning up, but I have found some of my favorite vintage frames in the garage. I offer one dollar for the frames and then at home I turn them into gold frames with rub n’ buff or metallic spray paint. You can hardly beat a beautiful vintage frame for one singular dollar! And that’s all thanks to hunting around in the garage and basement.

I find Baskets, faux florals, vintage books, holiday decor, and craft supplies in the basement or garage when estate sale hunting. I may find cool industrial pieces, beautiful old wooden hand tools, or wood crates when I look in the garage, backyard, or workshop. These items often need the cobwebs dusted from them, but it’s worth the effort to me.

One type of item I buy almost exclusively at estate sales and garage sales are garden tools and pots. They cost a bloody fortune brand new, but are just a few dollars at an estate sale. Again, they need a little extra cleaning, but in the end they will just be going outside and be getting dirty again anyway!

6. Bring a Tape Measure

A vintage decorator should have a tape measure with them at all times if they are wise. I can’t tell you how many times I have been thrifting and wish I had a tape measure. Someone needs to follow her own advice!

I highly suggest you keep a running list in your phone of items you are looking for and the measurements required.

For example, if you are on the hunt for the perfect antique farm table, measure your dining space and decide the maximum and minimum capacity a table could be in that space. Keep that measurement in your phone and a tape measure in your purse or pocket so that when you stumble upon a beautiful table that just might be perfect, you have all the tools you need to make that decision right there on the spot.

7. Make an Offer Within Reason

You can always make an offer at estate sales! Those price tags are not set in stone. Keep in mind that offers are more likely to be accepted towards the end of the sale and not on the first day.

However, you can make an offer anytime. Just keep it respectful, within reason and cash is best. (but be sure your bills are not larger than your offer!)

Percentage Strategy:

I tend to keep it to offering 75% off the total cost of the items as marked. Offering more than 50% off the cost is definitely too low for the first full price days of the sale. However, be bold with your offers on the last half price day of the sale! Most items will just be going to donation centers anyway.

Grouping Strategy:

If I am making an offer it’s often for a group of items. I never ask if they would take less on just one item unless it is somehow damaged or it’s a large item. Sellers are more likely to accept a deal if they see a lot of things that will be going!

What to Say:

Group your items together and ask, “would you take $10 for all?”

Another strategy is to ask “can you do any better?” and let them lower the price.

If they cannot make a deal, remain calm and just remove an item or two if you wish or be prepared to pay full price for the whole lot.

Overall, estate sale hunting is about having fun and I hope these tips leave you more equipped to go and have a great time shopping!

Thank you so much for stopping by Loving Grace Home today!

I sincerely hope you find some of these tips helpful!

Do you frequent estate sales?

Or are you like I was at the beginning and feel a little intimidated to give them a try?

I’d love to hear about which way you lean in the comments!

I have to say, estate sales have been where I have found some of my very favorite vintage and antique finds. If you haven’t given them a try yet, I truly hope you do! Estate sale hunting is absolutely one of my favorite ways to find vintage treasures.

Have a lovely day friend!

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