Shopping Tips for Buying Vintage Items at an Estate Sale

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Estate sales are one of the best places to buy vintage items. They’re also a total blast to visit because you get to walk into someone’s home and see how they live. If you’re a reseller, collector or someone that just bought a house, an estate sale is for you. Here’s my ultimate guide to estate sales, what they are and how to get the best deals.

What exactly is an estate sale?

The simple answer is: An estate sale is when someone passes away and their home and everything in it is being sold. Sometimes people will wrongly call something an estate sale when no one has passed away, they are just saying they have old items. Or someone could have an estate sale if an elderly person is moving from a house into assisted living. Basically, an estate sale means old and vintage items.

How do I find local estate sales?

The best way to find estate sales is estatesale.net and search your area. You can also find them on local Facebook yard sale groups and Facebook marketplace. Craigslist is a great place to find them too under “for sale” and “garage sale”.

Follow estate sale companies on Facebook or get on their email list. Then you’ll know about estate sales ahead of time and get to look through pictures of the listing.

TIP: Set up notifications for your area to be delivered to your email. I don’t check for estate sales every week but it’s really helpful when estatesale.net emails me and lets me know when one is happening.

Are estate sale prices cheap? Are prices negotiable?

Estate sale prices can be all over the place. Estate sales that are run by the family of the loved one that passed away can be really cheap! On the other hand if it’s an estate sale company running it the prices can be quite high. I would say that prices are higher than a garage sale but cheaper than an antique store. If you’re worried about prices being high, visit on the last day of the sale.

At every estate sale I’ve been to prices are NOT negotiable on the first day. Prices may be negotiable on the last day, you can always ask (and be kind about it!).

What day should I go to an estate sale?

There are benefits to visiting on the first day at the last day of an estate sale.

First day pros – When you get to the first day right when it opens you get the best pick of the items at the house. If you go on the last day there might not be much leftover. On the first day there’s a TON of items to look through.

Check out my list of valuable vintage items that you can look out for while vintage shopping.

First day cons – You have to get there pretty early to get good picking and you might end up waiting in your car for an hour or so until the sale opens. I recently got to an estate sale an hour early and was #81 to be let in. I waited in my car and the sale was TOTALLY worth it, but it does take time.

Also you will not be able to leisurely browse what’s for sale. There will be a lot of people on the first day and you’ll have to hurry and grab what you can. It can be a huge rush and a lot of fun or anxiety inducing, it just depends on how you like to shop.

The lines to check out can be quite long. Prices will be higher on the first day and you generally can’t haggle on the first day.

Last day pros – Items left in the house are heavily discounted generally 50%-75% off. If you’re a reseller this is the best day to go because you’ll get a bigger profit margin. If you’re looking for housewares or you’re a collector that doesn’t like to spend a lot of money, the last day is for you.

You get a much more enjoyable shopping experience. I like to go on the last day right at open so I get first pick of the discounted leftover items. But even at open on the last day there are WAY less people then the first day. You can browse and not feel anxious or rushed. Lines to check out are generally shorter. Also sometimes you can haggle on the last day.

If a rare item at an estate sale is overpriced there’s a chance it will be leftover on the last day and then it will be discounted.

Last day cons – You can miss out on the item you’re hoping to get. If you’re hoping to find a vintage Halloween blow mold or vintage Pyrex on the last day of an estate sale, good luck. Or there might not be anything leftover at all if it’s a really popular estate sale.

Sometimes you can get excited about all the good deals and end up buying things you don’t need.

What about if it’s a three day sale? Should I visit the second day? If the second day doesn’t have any kind of discount I think it’s pointless to visit. You’re not getting a good deal and you’re not getting first pick of items. But if that’s the only day you can go then go for it!

What are my best tips for scoring good deals on great items?

Analyze the estate sale pictures and try to discern where the items are that you want is. Is it in the basement, upstairs, backyard shed or kitchen? That will determine where you head first when the estate sale opens.

If you’re going to an estate sale with someone be sure to split up. Let them know what you’re looking for and they can grab an item before someone else does. At a recent estate sale I wanted a vintage radio (Pictured above) which was upstairs and I wanted vintage blow mold string lights that were downstairs (Pictured below). Cally headed downstairs and I went upstairs and we got both items.

If you’re waiting in line for the estate sale listen up to what the sellers have to say. They might give you instructions for how the layout of the house is. If they don’t, ask them. They might not tell you but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

If you see a sign for an estate sale go check it out or look up the address on the sign. I’ve had a few lucky sales where the estate sale wasn’t listed online at all. This is great news for you because then less people will be visiting the sale. That’s how I got my super cool Christmas disco ball and my mid century modern swag light, it was at an unadvertised sale and I got there right at open on the first day.

You can watch a video of me lighting up my $5 Christmas disco ball on Instagram.

At that amazing estate sale I started talking with the person running it. She told me that she’s hosting a huge neighborhood sale a few months from now in the senior living community where the estate sale was. I’m SO glad I talked to her and I wrote it on my calendar so I can visit again. I know I’ll get great deals because it won’t be advertised on the internet.

Let your friends, family and internet friends know you love estate sales

One of the best estate sales I ever went to was one my Mom told me about the night before. I didn’t know it was happening and she thought I’d like to know about it. Thank goodness because I bought A LOT. Also my friends on my Instagram let me know when they see an estate sale in my area that I’d be interested in.

Get there early if there’s something you really care about. And don’t sit in your car right away, be sure to get out and see if there’s a sign up sheet at the door or a number you need to take to get your place in line. Just because you’re a high number doesn’t mean you won’t get in, I was number 81 at an estate sale but I got in within two minutes.

Manage your expectations and find less popular items to go for

If you want to go in looking for a vintage ceramic Christmas tree then you’re bound to be disappointed because those are very popular. If you find the item, awesome! But look through the photos and find other items that aren’t as “well known” and sought after. For instance, I went to an estate sale with lots of rare glassware. Everyone was freaking out about that while I noticed vintage tiki camper string lights in the basement. No one noticed that or was going for that which made it a lot easier to get.

Do a quick scan of each room right at open and grab what catches your eye. A lot of mistakes I see buyers make is getting focused in just one room and missing out on all the other items! I always do a quick run through, place whatever items I want in the “hold area” and then do a slow and detailed walk through of the house a second time. I found the adorable strawberry vintage crewel pillow pictured above at an estate sale while doing a scan.

Check out my list of 25 Affordable Vintage Pieces to get an idea of what cheap and not-so-popular items you can look out for.

Look at every inch of the house, not just what’s on tables. Check inside all the cupboards that aren’t blocked off, look UNDERNEATH every table. Look up when you’re in the house, what light fixtures are there? Are they attached to the house? If it’s a detachable light maybe you can purchase it (Like the vintage swag light in the photo above that I purchased for $25). What about the bathroom mirror? What about the record cabinet that is being used as a table and is covered with stuff? Look in the backyard and in the super creepy pantry in the basement. Check out lower shelves where a lot of people don’t want to bend down and look.

Do’s and Don’t of visiting an estate sale

Do: Bring your own reusable bags (I like these foldable reusable bags that fit inside my purse), a tape measure and a face mask during Covid times because you are in a tight and enclosed space. Also bring cash, though some estate sale companies accept credit cards.

Do: Bring a buddy or someone to help you move items. Do not rely on the estate sale company or family to help you carry items you purchased. Also bring a car with lots of trunk space if you plan on buying big items.

Do: Haggle on the last day. On the last day they are trying to get rid of as much as possible. It doesn’t hurt to offer less or get a good deal on a bundle of items.

Don’t: Call or email ahead asking for prices. This is a big faux pas. The estate sale company is too busy and it’s unfair for you to get that information ahead of time when others don’t.

Don’t: Cut in line or be rude to estate sale workers or fellow shoppers. We are all in a house shopping together, be courteous. I’ve seen some super rude people acting like it’s black Friday and they end up breaking items in the house. Or if it’s run by the estate sale family, these people just lost a loved one and are selling the contents of their family home. It’s a super sad time and they are probably consumed with grief. Be respectful and compassionate.

Don’t: Haggle on the first day. First day of estate sales are very busy and they will sell a lot, haggling on the first day can be considered rude and a waste of time for the person running the estate sale.

That’s my best tips and information about estate sales. I hope you check some out by you and find some good stuff! Be sure to check out my flea market guide for more vintage shopping.