You all know how I love my Estate Sales!
I have found so many wonderful things...
like china
And furniture
And Tole Trays
And Silver Trays
I thought it would be fun to take a look at an Estate Sale coming up tomorrow and go through my process for hunting down the best Estate Sale bargains.
First, browse through EstateSales.Net and find the Sales in your area. Look at all of the pictures to decide which sale you want to go to first. I usually MapQuest the sale and have the directions sent to my phone. From that address I MapQuest the next sale and so on... I really take it seriously!
Things to bring with you:
Cash, checks, credit cards- some take cash only, some take checks(I hardly ever write checks anymore, do you?) and cash and some take Cash, checks and credit cards. They will usually say on Estatesales.net what their policies are.
Bags or boxes- You have to carry your things around with you so it's easier to put them in something.
I always have grocery bags in my car from Trader Joe's or Whole Foods so I just stick one in my purse. I keep a box in my car with packing paper just in case I buy something breakable.
Furniture Pads- I keep a couple of furniture pads and a small blanket in my car in case I find a great piece of furniture.
Tape Measure- Know the measurements of your space at home if you are looking for a particular piece of furniture. Things sell fast! You don't have time to go back and measure.
Water and a snack- Hey, you get hungry and thirsty bargain hunting!
Let's take a look at my first stop tomorrow:
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| EstateSales.net |
Pretty Silver. I really like that champagne bucket and I am always looking for Silver Trays to add to my collection. I have certain things on my list that I always look for; Silver, China, Table Linens, and Landscape paintings. Get to know the people who run the sales. They are always very nice and they will point you in the direction of what you are looking for.
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| EstateSales.net |
The description says: Wallace Grande Baroque sterling flatware 60 pc set. This looks like a nice set. If I were really interested in the set then I would compare the price on Ebay before I went to the sale. Let's do it just for fun!
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| ebay |
Ebay says $3,250 for this 59 piece set! Wow!!! Now I am excited to see what the Estate Sale price will be!
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| Add caption |
I always find it interesting what people collect. It gives me insight into what they might have been like. I think the little dogs are cute. I like the Secretary desk too.
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| EstateSales.net |
This is a nice piece of furniture. That means that there will be other nice pieces too. I like the lamps also. I am looking for some with black shades.
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| EstateSales.net |
Here is a lamp that might just come home with me!
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| EstateSales.net |
The Basement and the Garage have the Hidden Treasures. Often you will find antique dishes that the homeowner has had packed away for years and lots of Vintage items. I usually spend the majority of the time in the basement or the garage.
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| EstateSales.net |
Sooooo, They were Really BIG Drinkers!!! I told you that you get a sense of what the people were like!
OK, wish me luck!
I'll report back tomorrow,
Until Next Time,
Beaux R'eves
XO Cindy
Read my follow up post to see how I did!
How'd I Do? My Estate Sale Follow Up
Joining Stone Gable for Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits
Susan's Tablescape Thursday
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
From My Front Porch To Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
Poutpourri Friday at 2805
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Read my follow up post to see how I did!
How'd I Do? My Estate Sale Follow Up
Joining Stone Gable for Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits
Susan's Tablescape Thursday
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
From My Front Porch To Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
Poutpourri Friday at 2805
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Cindy, you have a great strategy! I will have to use your tips! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteCindy,
ReplyDeleteIt sure looks like your going to have a great day. Now that's my kind of a shopping spree. Thanks for the tips. I love the sterling flatware.
Dee
Don't forget to tell us what you bought! ~ Maureen
ReplyDeleteI'm sitting here in Paris waiting for my plane to fly me home after three weeks of fun in the French countryside on bicycle. I discovered your blog by total accident and think I might be hooked. I read several of your entries and really enjoyed them.
ReplyDeletePlease let us know how you go and how much the flatware went for I dream of sales like that. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Cindy! They were all really good tips, good luck on your next hunt! I'm off to check the sales in my area! ;)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what you find!
ReplyDeleteWe don't have many estate sales here, just garage sales. Not fine quality items!
Cash only, here.
I don't have faith in ebay, I looked up plates I got for .99 and they wanted 20 plus shipping! Lots of other things were way overpriced compared to what I paid too. I think they rely on people not checking to see the real value! :)
Happy hunting!
You are a hoot! I have tried going to estate sales, but they make me so sad to think the person is dead. I need to get over that because I'm missing out on some really great stuff!!! I think whoever comes through my house for an estate sale when I'm gone is going to go bonkers!!!!!!! :-) Good tips, Cindy!
ReplyDeleteHi Alycia! It was hard for me too when my BFF started taking me to Estate Sales. But we always pretended that they were "downsizing" and moving to Sunny Florida! LOL
Delete@Alycia not all estate sales are done because the person is dead...some are just because the person is downsizing and can't take all to their next house. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them. Maybe I shouldn't have told you about that side of a sale. Hmm then more for me. LOL
ReplyDelete@Cindy I like how you think girl! I keep a basket with wrapping in the van, shopping bags and yes I do always drive the van when I go...just in case I find that awesome furniture piece.
Thanks for all the great tips and inspiration! Thank you fro sharing your project at Potpourri Friday!
ReplyDeleteThese are such useful tips, Cindy--thank you so much for sharing them with us. I have been to very few estate sales, so may have to check out what's available in my area.
ReplyDeleteI'm want to go to an estate sale with you! Such great things! And I love your tips... especially remembering boxes and a tape measure. Great post. Thanks for participating in TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS!
ReplyDeleteI love that first set of dishes, Cindy! I'd love to find something like those! Are they a Johnson Brothers set? I love all their seasonal dishes.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about estatesales.net although the companies in our area do send emails and pics of their upcoming sales. I've spotted and bought things and it's neat when something you've seen in a picture comes homes. I didn't think about checking prices of things on ebay to see what exactly is a good buy -- good tip!
ReplyDeleteHave fun! Can't wait to see what you get!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great strategy. I would love that silverware. Have fun at the sale and I hope you score some great finds.
ReplyDeleteOur estate sales in the Dallas area don't allow people to bring in their own big bags or purses; they provide them, shoplifters have made it necessary.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! Love the Johnson Brothers!! Thank you for joining HSH!
ReplyDeleteSherry
OMG! I love all of the tips you gave us. Especially the MapQuest directions from one point to the next. I have never been to an estate sell. My daughter and I love the yard sales and flea markets, but boy oh boy, just wait until I tell her about this! Another great Mother and Daughter outing! :0)
ReplyDeleteGreat!! This post is very helped me. Really convinced me. I'm so interested!! basement remodeling
ReplyDelete