Update: The estate sale we went to 100% said “estate sale” in the ad, but based on the feedback from this post, it sounds like we were at an estate auction. And since this was our first experience, I don’t really know the difference.
Andy and I bought a 1900 square foot house. That’s basically double the size of anywhere else we’ve ever lived. We kind of think we live in a mansion, ha! And since we doubled our living space, we clearly needed some new furniture. We did accumulate a ton of free goodies in Florida (more on that here)! But, literally, 80% of the furniture in our house were given to us for zero dollars or my really nice mama bought it for us ; ) We needed a few things, and randomly decided one Sunday morning to hit up a local estate sale.
We ended up spending $300 and got 4 awesome items. But, before I get to that, here are 8 tips and tricks for estate sale beginners (that I wish we’d have known)!:
- It’s an auction. You get a number and everything.
- They sell the furniture and tools last. We sat around for a couple of hours before it was furniture time.
- They add on a 10% estate tax (I think this is how the auctioneer makes money!)
- Bring a lawn chair, lots of people do. We didn’t know to do this. Oh and maybe an umbrella and water bottles too.
- Bidding is going to be scary at first. Get over it, quick! Or you won’t get anything.
- Make sure you know exactly what you want and how much you are willing to pay for it. Bring something to write on or use your phone.
- Our auction took credit cards, but I don’t think all do. Check before you go.
- Investigate the art. It there is a signed artist name on a piece of art, google it on your phone right there. This painting by Woody Crumbo sold at our auction for $25, according to this website, you can sale Crumbo’s art for anywhere between $400 and $1200 dollars! Oh and of course you could take it to the antique roadshow, which would be super fun! You will have plenty of time to do this at the auction!
So, what the heck did we get at the estate sale?
1. Honda lawn mower
Andy started us off with a Honda lawn mower! We snagged a working Honda for $110! Andy says it works like a charm. Here she is:
2. Octagon table
A medieval looking, giant octagon, solid wood table for $5! No one else wanted her! I can’t imagine why, she’s a beaut. Seriously though, I have big plans to turn her into an ottoman or an outside table… or something really awesome.
3. Coffee table
This dainty girl came home for only $7.50. I just couldn’t pass her up for 7 1/2 bones! She’s going to get refinished soon.
4. Round circle vanity
The other big purchase of the day was the vanity. I picked her up for only $115! I’ve always loved these little vanities with the big giant round mirrors. I’ve almost bought one about 18 times on craigslist! Pretty happy I waited because this sucker was an awesome deal.
Grand total: $237.50 + $24 (10% estate tax) + $21 (sales tax)= $282.50
Have you ever been to an estate sale? What did you think? I’d love to hear…
Comments & Reviews
Looks like you snagged some awesome items!! I love the picture of you with the vanity, lol. You look all sassy! 🙂
haha! Taking pictures of things that have mirrors is SO hard!
You did great! I really want to steal that little coffee table. I love it.
I work retail, so I don’t get to go to too many estate sales (they’re always on Saturday mornings up here!). I’ve been to a few and gotten some good stuff – jealous of your finds!
Here in the Northwest, an estate sale is NOT an auction. What you went to should have been called an estate auction. That description was very misleading. I would have left. I just went to a 3-day estate sale. The property was inherited by 3 children. They hired a group to come in sort, price and manage the sale. They get a percentage, but there’s no tax (probably because OR doesn’t have sales tax). What doesn’t sell was to be disposed of by the family.
I am the owner of an estate sale company and you attended an auction which is really not the norm in most cases……a true estate “sale” is where the company comes in and cleans, displays, prices and sells every item in the home (unless it is a moving sale and they are keeping some things). Prices are usually firm the first day and around here (Chicago area) second day is 1/2 price and sometimes even less if the house has to be emptied. You can get some amazing bargains at these sales!!
Charlene, I guess it’s good I prefaced with “from my one experience,” ha! This definitely said estate sale on the ad, but it was certainly an auction! Thanks for the info!
Hi! I go everywhere with my mommy & daddy and we have been to both estate sales & estate auctions. I like the auctions better because I can go in my personal stroller, at estate sales I have to stay in the car!
Jamie has some good tips, a few to add:
Bring a paper/pad and writing implement
Stick to a price you are willing to pay and be sure to include the premium
Many estate sale companies advertise in advance or have a web site and you can be added to their mailing list (snail mail or email)
Some companies also let you know what are the acceptable forms of payment.
If you have a state or federal resale number have a copy of yours to surrender to the company
For estate sales, ask about any discount for cash, multiple purchases or if they will deal only on the last day of the sale.
We are off to sales ourselves this weekend for our next show,
Good luck and Happy Hunting!
What awesome deals! We have never been to an estate sale but have always wanted too! Can’t wait to see what you do to all the furniture!
It’s really fun! Although sounds like we might have been at an estate auction? I don’t know. It was 100% called an estate sale on the ad on craigslist, but it was also certainly auction style!
I have been to both Estate Sales and Estate Auctions. The Estate sales were held on the property of the owner, in thier home. It is high end items usually and you go in to browse. Sometimes you can get the price lowered but more often the prices are firm. The Estate Auctions, are when an Auctioneer is hired to either come into a home and auction off their belongings or the Auctioneer holds the auction at his normal place of business. The items are everything to plain ol’ junk, some heavily used items to vintage items to antiques. This is usually after an elderly person in a family has passed, their belongs have been gone through, and what no one in the family wants goes to the Auction to make what they can from what is left over.
All of the regular Auctions I have been to have food and drinks available, while the Estate Auctions do not. It seems that all the knick knacks and trinkets take up the first hour or two, depending on how much there is and the furniture is always last.
One more thing I highly recommend is to always attend the previews, no matter what. Many times and Auction won’t allow anyone to continue to browse once the Auction begins; some do, depending on their policy. But you definitely want time to look over things. I learned this the hard way once, by going late (because I forgot) and ended up bringing home a “Butcher Block” that was made of plaster board.
money well spent! go you!
The estate sales and auctions I have attended where where the auction company gets a percentage of the sale. I never heard of that special tax you mentioned. i love to attend these. Most I have attended have snacks available, too.
This one had snacks, but they were kind of expensive and not good. I just wish I would have brought a water bottle and a chair!
Great finds! I love the dainty table. I have a waterfall vanity just like the one you scored. It’s part of my late grandparents’ bedroom suite I inherited. The only thing I need is a bigger house so I have a place to put it.
Thanks, Chelsea! I did not know it was called a waterfall vanity! Good to know!
I’ve never been to an estate sale, but I’m dying to go to one! I just need a partner in crime (with a truck!). Thanks for the tips! I’ve been to tons of swap meets and even wrote a post on that (http://vintagezest.blogspot.com/2013/05/tip-how-to-get-your-swap-meet-on.html), but I’m going to scan the newspaper for an upcoming estate sale. Hopefully I get lucky!
You definitely need a truck! I should totally put that on the list! A truck is a must have item! Adding now 🙂
Interesting. I’ve probably been to 100+ estate sales, but I’ve never been to one set up like that.
There is a difference between an “estate sale” and an “estate auction” – I am really surprised that they called what you went to an estate sale. Generally and estate sale is like a high end yard sale that takes place inside the estate. It’s most often that a company comes in and prices everything in every room in the house and then just allows the public in to shop. It’s a great way to find gems that can be really cheap, but it’s also ideal for collectors since they tend to have more high end things.
There are also numbers given, but only in the beginning of the day if it’s very busy. They will only allow x# of people inside at a time since it is a house and then the numbers are just like a waiting list.
Good to know! I need to check out a real estate sale then bc the auction thing was hard for me! Does this sound like was a typical estate auction?