Estate Sales: What Kind of Shopper Are You?

There are few things I enjoy more than a good estate sale. For a vintage reseller, an estate sale can be sourcing gold. For someone decorating their home, it might be the place they discover that one elusive treasure they've been searching for.

Unlike a thrift store or antique mall, an estate sale gives you a glimpse into decades of one household's belongings. Collections, kitchenware, books, linens, furniture, tools, and sometimes the most unexpected treasures are all waiting to be discovered. And for someone like me, who loves both vintage treasures and the stories behind them, that can be a dangerous combination!

However, there’s another side to estate sale shopping that I don’t think I’ll ever completely get used to. Most of the time, we’re there because someone has passed away. You walk into a home that was someone’s life, and suddenly their things are laid out with price tags on them.

Even after many, many estate sales, I still catch myself wondering about the person who lived there. I notice the stack of old cookbooks, the collection they obviously spent years building, the dishes they saved for company, the chair beside the window. I wonder what they loved, what they used every day, and what stories happened in those rooms. I suppose that curiosity is part of why I love vintage things in the first place. I don’t just see an old object. I wonder where it’s been and who loved it before me.

Unfortunately, this can also be a terrible estate-sale shopping strategy. While I’m standing there contemplating somebody’s collection of salt and pepper shakers and imagining Christmas dinner in 1974, three other people have already blown past me and found all the good stuff.

Estate Sale Strategies

When it comes to estate sale shopping, there are a hundred different ways you can approach the activity.  Vintage lovers have some pretty strong opinions about the best strategy for finding the hidden gems.  This inevitably leads to some debate.

First Day or Last Day?

I'm a first-day shopper, and I'm usually standing in line 30–45 minutes before the doors open. I want first crack at the treasures, even if that means paying full price.

One of my favorite parts of that early morning wait is talking to the other shoppers. Some will happily tell you exactly what they're hunting for and how they plan to find it. Others are tight-lipped about their strategy. Apparently, estate-sale shopping involves a little competitive intelligence!

But I know plenty of people who swear by the last day, when prices are often reduced and the remaining treasures can be real bargains.

Which camp are you in?

The List Person vs. the “Dream and a Prayer” Person

Do you study the sale photos, make a list, map out what you want, and head directly for it? Or do you walk in with a dream and a prayer and see what finds you?

I look through the sale photos a day or two ahead of time and write down the items that I’d like to purchase and the room I believe they’re in.  Then I look at the exterior photo of the house in an effort to locate certain rooms inside the home.  Do I think the kitchen is to the left or the right when I enter the home?  I

always prioritize my list because I likely won’t be able to reach every item I want before another hungry shopper deposits it into their big shopping bag.

What’s in Your Estate-Sale Kit?

Tape measure, flashlight, loupe or magnifying glass, magnet, shopping bag, packing material, measurements from home, phone — or nothing but your wallet?

I go into an estate sale with my hands as free as possible.  I put my wallet in my front pocket, my phone in my back pocket, and my business cards in my other back pocket.  I carry fairly large sturdy bags for collecting treasures. I usually carry three bags – two folded and tucked inside the other. 

I don’t measure, metal test, or check for glow at an estate sale.  I feel like that wastes my precious picking time.  Time is of the essence!

To Haggle or Not to Haggle?

Do you negotiate with the sellers or simply pay the marked price? Is polite negotiation different on the first day versus the last day?

My general rule of thumb when it comes to requesting discounts is to only ask if an item is over $50 or if I’m purchasing several of one particular type of item.  Experience tells me that estate sale staff are not inclined to discount anything on the first day, but there are the rare occasions when multiple similar items or a higher priced item will get you a small discount if you’re willing to ask.

Where Do You Go First?

Kitchen, basement, garage, bedrooms, bookshelves, china cabinet, or directly to something you spotted in the listing photos?

I go into a sale with the intent of following the carefully prepared list in my pocket, but I frequently get side tracked by an item I hadn’t seen in the pre-sale photos.  I’m usually able to get myself back on track quickly.  I’ve missed out on enough items that I really wanted because I was day dreaming or dilly dallying to know that I need to keep my eye on the prize! 

After I’ve checked out the things on my list, I will generally head for the basement or garage next.  I find some of the best rusty and crusty items in those areas, and those are some of my favorite estate sale finds.

Does It Still Feel a Little Weird?

Do you ever find yourself wondering about the person who lived there, or have you learned to turn that part of your brain off and SHOP?

It’s difficult for me to keep moving towards my shopping goals when there are pieces of someone’s history everywhere you look.  The mystery of a piece and a life lived in the home is a strong draw for me.  I want to check out every little item, the way the rooms are arranged, the way someone organized their closet, what they read, what they watched, what pieces really meant something to them and had a place of honor in the home.  There’s a lot to wonder about in a home that’s likely seen a life time of memories.

Do You Take Things Off the Walls?

How comfortable are you touching, moving, or removing items that are displayed throughout someone’s home?

If an item has been priced, I don’t have a problem taking it from the wall, picking it up from the floor, or removing it from an accessible drawer, cabinet, or closet.  When an item doesn’t have a price, and I’m unsure if it’s actually for sale, I’ll take it to one of the estate sale workers and ask.  To date, I’ve never had anyone tell me an item isn’t for sale.  In most cases absolutely everything is for sale. 

Even though I’ve gotten more comfortable with this kind of estate sale shopping over the years, I still wonder -  who hung that picture I’m taking from the wall?  Why did they put it in that particular spot?  Where did they get it?  What did it mean to them?  I’ve learned to have these thoughts on the move rather than stopping to contemplate the lives lived in the home during an active estate sale.

Do You Open Drawers, Cabinets and Closets?

This might surprise some experienced estate-sale shoppers, but I don't open closed drawers, cabinets, or closets.  If they're already open, I'll happily look through what's inside. Otherwise, I assume the estate-sale staff will open the areas they intend shoppers to explore.

I know plenty of people who believe the best treasures are hiding behind those closed doors, but this is one estate-sale habit I haven't adopted. 

What about you? Are closed drawers fair game?

Do You Research Onsite?

I try to do as much homework as possible before the sale. Once those doors open, I don't want to spend my precious picking time looking up maker's marks or checking sold prices.

Of course, there's always something unexpected that catches my eye. When that happens, I'll secure the item first and do my research at the hold table before checking out.  Sometimes experience tells me everything I need to know. Other times, a few minutes of research can save me from a costly mistake.

How about you? Are you researching as you shop, or trusting your instincts?

Okay, Estate Sale People. Let’s Talk About It.

·        First day or last day?

·        List and game plan, or wing it?

·        Negotiate or pay the sticker?

·        Research onsite or trust your gut?

·        What room or area do you hit first?

·        Does shopping someone’s personal belongings still feel strange to you?

·        What is the one estate-sale rule you think everybody should know?

We've all got our own way of hunting for vintage treasures. Some of us have lists, strategies, and a plan of attack. Others just show up and see where the treasures lead them.

Some are first-day shoppers, some are bargain hunters, and some of us spend entirely too much time wondering about the people who once owned all these wonderful things.

I want to hear from you! What's your estate-sale shopping strategy? What's your one unbreakable rule? And what's something you do that would probably make another estate-sale shopper shake their head?

There's no single right way to enjoy the hunt. Finding vintage treasures should be fun, so you do you—always!