Estate Sale?

[Debbie6221]

Has anyone here ever done an estate sale or known anyone who has? The funny part about it is that we are not moving and no one died........
....I JUST HAVE THAT MUCH STUFF!!!!!!!!!!!!! Years of things! I just wonder if that's my best option???????

 

[Dizneydawn]

I say go for it! We have been selling things with garage sales and craigs list since summer. Even sold old Gold items we had to downsize and got over $400! Have made over $5,000 total very easily and you feel better not having all the extra's around. It's amazing when you want a trip and not pay anything OOP what you decide is not important!

I see you live in the cold climate as well. The only issue is that some poeple might not feel okay comming into a house. Most estate sales here are spring-fall and are indoor/outdoor. Or people rent a space to have them at.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

Yes, We (DH and I) have done several, we are in the Antiques business so comes with the territory.

Not sure where Dizydawn lives but here if you rent a space to have an Estate Sale you cut down your customers by 1/2. They feel like it is not a real estate sale.

Since you are going to have a living estate sale and can do it in your garage or part of your home, it is a better option. You also do not have the overhead of renting a space.

Is what you are selling mostly new or close to new? If so you can probably handle it yourself if not you may need help with pricing.

 

[Dizneydawn]

Not sure where Dizydawn lives but here if you rent a space to have an Estate Sale you cut down your customers by 1/2. They feel like it is not a real estate sale.
I live in Minnesota - I agree I do not like the indoor ones as well and when my grandparents died - my uncle decided to do theirs at a location simply because there was so much and it could not be displayed as well. I was not a fan.
Since you are going to have a living estate sale and can do it in your garage or part of your home, it is a better option. You also do not have the overhead of renting a space.
Totally agree!
Is what you are selling mostly new or close to new? If so you can probably handle it yourself if not you may need help with pricing.

I am glad you chimed in and actually gave me some pointers for our next one. Any idea how to get the best deal on selling thousands of baseball cards. All in Mint condition. Just want them gone.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

sorry baseball cards are not my field maybe eBay?

 

[Purseval]

We typically avoid estate sales unless we know they are private because you're paying for the commission of the selling agent. Other than that if you advertise it they will come. All collectibles have taken a big hit due to the poor economy, see if you have some cards you can highlight (like the rookie card of a marquee player) to draw people in, otherwise you will end up with a bottom feeder offering you pennies.

 

[prncess674]

There is a big difference between estate sales and garage sales. unless you are getting rid of 10,000 of dollars of stuff you are having a garage sale. Estate sales are a complete different animal. Unless you are selling literally rooms full of stuff please don't advertise as an estate sale you will just have a bunch of PO'd buyers.

 

[wendyinoc]

I agree with the last poster. If your not letting them walk into the house and its a free for all its not an estate sale. Also, I recommend hiring someone if you don't know the value of things. My employee bought a $5.00 ceramic piece at an Estate Sale. Sold it at Southerbys for over $10K.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

I agree with the last poster. If your not letting them walk into the house and its a free for all its not an estate sale. Also, I recommend hiring someone if you don't know the value of things. My employee bought a $5.00 ceramic piece at an Estate Sale. Sold it at Southerbys for over $10K.

even the experts can not be experts in all....that is why we go to Estate sales. You never know what you will find and usually our best buys have been at Estates Sales run by Estate Sale People not Private. Private estate sales more times than not the people having the sale are afraid of selling something too cheaply and price everything way over what it is worth.

While we have never had a buy that good. We have had several great buys even at other antique stores.

We once bought a Weller squirrel yard ornament at a yard sale for $2 sold it for $1000 but I wish we had kept it since they are so rare.

Bought 3 chairs for $80 sold 2 of them for $800 each.

There is a big difference between estate sales and garage sales. unless you are getting rid of 10,000 of dollars of stuff you are having a garage sale. Estate sales are a complete different animal. Unless you are selling literally rooms full of stuff please don't advertise as an estate sale you will just have a bunch of PO'd buyers.

I agree. That is why people around here do not go to "estate sales" held offsite they are usually just a glorified yard sale with higher prices.

Some people think that if you put "estate sale" in the title you will get more people to come and you can ask higher prices.

 

[Debbie6221]

Sorry I was MIA here thx for the advice i am going to research this more. I don't want people coming to my house for this so we will see whats out there!