What Is an Estate Sale?

My mother got into attending estate sales when I was a teenager and would often bring me along to help scout for deals. Over the course of one summer, we furnished her entire beach house on a modest budget with one-of-a-kind furniture, furnishings and artwork found at local sales.

Each was an adventure, as different as the people who had lived there, offering a fascinating glimpse into the lives of others. Read on to learn all about estate sales so you can begin your own adventure.

What Is an Estate Sale?

An estate sale liquidates, or sells, the entire contents of a person’s home. Often conducted by professional companies who organize, price and manage the sale, items can include furniture, tools, clothing, collectibles, artwork and antiques.

Kate Martin, owner of The Perfect Thing, a consignment, estate sale and appraisal company in Wheaton, Illinois, describes estate sales as “events where everything in a home is for sale, from a piece of fine heirloom furniture to the Saran Wrap in the drawer.”

Often held after the death of a homeowner, estate sales can also be useful for homeowners experiencing debt or divorce. It’s also a way to downsize. Estate sales most often take place over the course of a weekend, allowing potential buyers to browse and make purchases.

Estate sales are different from garage sales or yard sales. As Jillian Delaney, owner of the estate sale company Caring Transitions of South Central Massachusetts says, “you’re getting rid of everything in a whole house, not just certain select things that you’re bringing outside into the yard.”

Estate sales are also a place to sell items of higher value. “You wouldn’t sell a piece of expensive artwork at a garage sale, but you would at an estate sale,” Martin says.

How Do Estate Sales Work?

The morning of an estate sale, shoppers arrive well before the advertised start time to get in line. If there’s a lot of interest, the estate sale company may issue numbers. “We allow a certain limited number of people in the house at one time to keep the volume low and keep everything manageable,” Delaney explains.

Once inside the sale, shoppers can freely browse through available items, organized by room or category. When a shopper decides to buy an item, the estate sale company staff handles the payment process at a checkout area. Some are cash-only — check this before you go — but some may accept credit cards or other forms of payment.

After making purchases, shoppers are responsible for loading and transporting the items they bought. “Cash and carry,” Martin says, “Be prepared to remove the item from the home yourself, if not immediately, then by the end of the sale.”

In some cases, estate sale companies may be open to negotiating prices. “The first day, when we first start out prices are very firm, we don’t negotiate,” Delaney says “Then Sunday. things are usually half price, and we’re willing to make deals on multiple items or larger items that we want to clear out of the home.”

Delaney says this especially holds true for furniture, which can be hard to sell in a limited time frame. Furniture flippers should note that deep discounts can often be found on the last day of a sale. “So if you’re looking for a piece to restore, there’s a lot of potential,” Delaney says.

Advantages of Estate Sales

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For the estate holder

• A fast, efficient and organized way to liquidate a large number of items.
• Estate sales companies can handle the entire process, saving estate holders time, energy and stress.
• Sales companies accurately appraise and competitively price items to maximize sale returns.
• Attracts serious buyers more likely to make purchases.
• Avoid the emotional process of selling their loved one’s possessions.

For the shopper

• Find one-of-a-kind pieces, vintage items and antiques not typically found elsewhere.
• Items are often priced below their market value, and prices can be negotiated.
• A huge variety of items for sale for any interest and need.
• Estate sales companies are often locally-owned, so shopping them supports the local economy.
• Shoppers can meet like-minded people at sales.
• Shoppers can inspect the item in person to assess colors, quality and condition, unlike online shopping marketplaces.

How To Find Estate Sales

Popular sites like EstateSales.net and EstateSales.org list upcoming sales by city or region. Along with the dates, times and locations, companies also often post pictures of items, so shoppers can get a sneak peek at what will be found at the sale.

Another method is following the social media accounts of estate sale companies, where they post updates and announcements about upcoming sales. Shoppers can also subscribe to newsletters or mailing lists.

Many estate sale companies still advertise their upcoming sales in print, so check the classifieds section of your local newspaper, too.

Tips When Shopping Estate Sales

Martin’s recommendations: “Be kind. Be patient.” There can be a lot of people inside, and company staff works hard to complete sales, answer questions and keep things moving. So a little of both can go a long way.

“Do your research ahead of time,” she says. “Look over any photos of the items posted online and make a list of the things you like. If you want something in particular, be there early and be prepared to wait in line.” Then, she says, head straight for those items when you get inside.

Delaney encourages shoppers to speak up. “Don’t be afraid to talk to the staff and ask questions,” she says.

She also advises shoppers to come prepared with boxes, bags and packing materials.

“Estate sales people won’t have these, and you don’t want to buy a bunch of glasses and have them break on the way home,” she says. “When I see someone come in with their own boxes and newspaper, I know they know what they’re doing. This is not their first rodeo.”