Tips on Attending an Estate Sale

Maybe you are an old pro at attending estate sales, but if you haven't been to one, you may be intimidated. What would you like to know? Ask us some questions!

At the very beginning of the first day (and sometimes the second day) of the sale, you may see a long line of people.
Some of these people are dealers and very serious about getting a first crack at looking at the offerings in this new sale.
It's okay for you to be there, too! Most dealers may be going quickly from sale to sale and this is "work" for them, but most are courteous and friendly people as well.
Look around or ask if there are numbers or a sign in sheet. We like to put out numbers. Then, at precisely the time mentioned in the ad, someone will come to the door and say, "Numbers 1 through 10" or "1 thru 25" etc. The reason for this is that sometimes the entrance or the house is small. We need to control the amount of people crowding into a small area so no one gets hurt and so we can see what is going on.
We put small valuable items in cases and we may have a person just to stand by those items.
Some estate sales put the numbers out the night before and some at a specified hour in the morning. This way people can come and get a number and then sit in the car, or go get coffee.
If you don't care about rushing in during this first moment, then wait 20 or 30 minutes and you can probably stroll right in. Sometime around 11 a.m. or noon things usually get very quiet if you want to really have time and room to look around. I am always surprised at what great treasures are found even at the very last minute of the sale. Some people think things will be all picked over by the second day, but I have a theory that, especially in some sales, the first layer of things may be gone, but they just reveal more treasures underneath in the next layer! Also, there just may not be anyone looking for what you are looking for and then you are in luck. When I am shopping, I like the end of the day because, if I find something, it is often a very good price as the sellers start to realize that it may be left over.

If you don't see an email list out by the door, ask if they estate sale sends out email notices. Sometimes we have special previews or special sales we don't even advertise! If you would like to be on our email list, contact us over on the right and ask to be added.