Estate of the Union

O’Brian Gunn

These days, secondhand is sometimes better and more affordable than firsthand. Rather than paying an arm, a leg, and a kidney for the latest technological twitterditzit or fashionable flibberdygibbet, you and your bank account might be better off starting your search for treasure in someone else’s estate. The next time you see that an upcoming estate sale is being held nearby, plan on making room in your schedule and room in your budget for some mighty fine savings.

Helping Out Your Fellow Man

Just like garage and yard sales, estate sales are a way for people to get rid of unwanted items. What’s unique about estate sales is they allow people to get rid of an entire household of items at one time rather than having to settle for selling things one at a time. Estate sales are usually held when someone passes, has a divorce, files for bankruptcy, or is moving long distance and doesn’t want to bother with hiring movers or figuring out how to get everything to the nearest charity.

You and other buyers can find plenty of unique, vintage, and antique items at estate sales, and the seller has an opportunity to make money and get rid of unwanted items. It’s a win-win situation. Even better, you might even have a chance to haggle while at an estate sale, so be sure to brush up on the art of the deal and your haggling skills before you go.

Who’s Responsible for This?

What sets estate sales apart from garage or yard sales is they’re often set up and run by a professional company rather than an individual or group. Professional estate sale agents and auctioneers are usually the ones in charge of running estate sales, and they make money for their efforts by taking anywhere from 25 to 35 percent of the total profits. These individuals are also often the ones who decide how much an item should sell for.

Policy & Procedure

If you want to snatch up the best items at an estate sale, it’s best that you get there early. Sales operate on a first come, first serve policy, and that policy is maintained throughout the entire residence, meaning that the people who arrive first are the first to see everything throughout the entire house. You’ll want to keep track of who is in front of you and who is behind you as you’re browsing. Depending on the estate sale company, there’s a chance there will be a number system in place to make things easier for everyone involved. There’s no need to start droppin’ bows on ‘em over that luxurious cuckoo clock.

Whenever you find something you and your bank account like, you can take it to checkout or have it marked if it’s a heftier item. If you decide to bid on an item rather than haggle for it, know that your bid can be rejected if someone is willing to pay more for the item, so be sure you make your bid accordingly. Something else to keep in mind is that most auction sales only allow bidding for items that are at least $100.

Improve your bargain hunting prowess by checking out local estate sales. While everyone is crowding and clamoring at the weekend yard and garage sales, you can keep cool at an estate sale and look even cooler when you save money on a great find.