Best Tips for Estate Sale Shoppers
Indeed estate sales are a fantastic embodiment of the phrase, “One man's trash is another man's treasure.” At estate sales, you can find virtually everything from clothing to jewelry, furniture, appliances, artwork, etc. You'll be surprised to find some amazing antiques and valuable items at reasonable prices.
And that's why it makes fun and worth investing time in attending estate sales held locally. However, not all estate sales are created equal. Some estate sales are great events to shop while others are a complete rip-off. Where, how, and who you shop with can make a huge difference.
We have curated a list of the best tips to help novice estate sale shoppers have a great experience.
Know What To Buy
Estate sales are very exciting. When roaming through the house with the possibility of finding hidden treasure around every nook and corner of the house is a thrill like no other shopping experience. This joy and excitement can get you caught up in the moment, and you may end up buying things that you don't need or want.
Therefore, to avoid shopping remorse later, make sure you want to buy before you go to an estate sale. Also, ask yourself two questions before you purchase anything:
1. Would I buy this item if it were for sale in any other context ?
2. Am I buying it so I don't go home empty-handed ?
Reach Early Before The Gates Open
Unlike a garage sale, an estate sale has the entire house items on sale, and more importantly, these items are often well-advertised. So, you should arrive early if you already know what you want. Also, sometimes estate sale companies limit the number of customers inside the house at a given time. So, if you already have an eye on an item, your goal should be to get in with the first group once the gates open.
Ask About Payment Terms
Before you attend an estate sale, always ask the organizer about their payment terms. It is important to have an adequate amount of cash or your credit card in hand if you want to commit to a large purchase.
Individual organizers rarely accept credit cards; they operate on a cash-only basis. So, cash is still king. However, carry your credit card if you plan to buy luxury items or know that the estate sales company accepts credit cards.
Haggle Strategically
Although haggling in some situations works and is acceptable at estate sales, it is advisable to brush on your negotiation skills before you wish the estate sale. Haggling is never successful on the first day of the sale as estate sale companies have a fixed percentage they will take off of the price tag, which increases with each subsequent day of the sale.
However, it might work with private organizers who are willing to entertain such offers, and on the final hour of the last day of sale, companies are trying to clean and clear out all the remaining items.
Also, when you negotiate or haggle, make sure you have cash in hand and are prepared to take the item with you right away. You can't expect them to hold it until you arrange the money.
Check Estate Sale Company Reviews
The quality of an estate sale largely depends on two things :
1. The belongings on sale.
2. The company organizing, managing, appraising, and selling the merchandise. The majority of estate sale dealers or companies will work on a property for a percentage of the sale's proceeds. This is usually in the range of 30 and 50 percent, depending on the skill level, marketing, time required to complete the work, and the city or area it is being held. So, you need to make sure that the company doesn't overprice items for commission and more profits.
One of the best ways to get all this information is to check estate sale company reviews. Find out what past customers have to say about attending their sales. Learn from their experiences to make sure that you buy items at reasonable rates and not pay more. .
Reviews are a great way to compare estate sale companies based on pricing and customer service. They also help you discover whether the company manager or staff is willing to negotiate, if they start on time and if have well-organized events. All this information can ensure that you enjoy a great estate sales shopping experience.
Need Guidance? We’ve Got You Covered.
If you are interested in reading reviews about estate sales companies located in your area, you have come to the right place. We provide you access to transparent customer reviews about estate sales companies. These reviews are by real customers who have either attended the estate sale s or hired one to dispose of their goods.
Based on their feedback, we create a Basic Report Card for the company for our members. You can use it to review different companies, compare them and make your selection confidently.
Our goal is to bring transparency and ensure that unbiased information reaches estate sales shoppers and service users so that you can enjoy good customer service and experience no matter what end of the spectrum you may be.
Join our community today.