How to shop estate sales.

Understanding how estate sales work will help you navigate them successfully and make the most of your shopping experience.

Understanding how estate sales work will enhance your shopping experience.

Know what to expect upon arrival, how to find merchandise and how to make purchases. 

Arriving at an estate sale.

Estate sales can be hugely popular, drawing large numbers of shoppers. Upon arrival the estate sale entrance is usually clearly signed. It is commonplace that there will be a line of shoppers at the door and an entry system managed by the estate liquidator running the sale, usually operated on a first-come-first-served basis. This is because estate liquidators normally limit the number of shoppers inside a property at any one time as a precautionary measure to safeguard shoppers, the property and its contents from the risks inherent in crowding a confined space. The busiest times are usually upon the sale opening with wait times generally easing as the sale progresses. 

Many estate liquidators will respectfully prohibit shoppers from bringing large bags, food and pets in to the property. Again, this is a precautionary measure to safeguard the property, its contents and other shoppers.

Inside an estate sale.

Once inside the property it is generally the case that all visible household items are for sale unless marked otherwise. This may even include the property’s fixtures and fittings.  Keen estate sale shoppers are adept at inspecting the sale space thoroughly for treasure! It is usually the case that some areas of the property will be inaccessible to visitors and clearly marked as such.

Purchasing at an estate sale. 

Sale items are normally tagged with a price sticker. The purchasing process is similar to any conventional retail store in that shoppers take their intended purchases to a clearly marked checkout point where they can pay for their goods. As would be the case in any retail store, expect sales tax to be added to the tagged price as this is required of the estate liquidator by law. Estate sales differ fundamentally from auctions in that bidding is not part of the purchasing process. 

Payment options available may differ between estate liquidation companies so it is useful to take note of this information if it’s available in the estate liquidator’s advertisement before arriving at the sale. It is common for estate liquidators to accept cash, credit cards and other electronic payment platforms. Some estate liquidators may not accept checks and may pass on credit card fees to the shopper.

If you intend to purchase a number of items at the estate sale it may be advisable to ask a member of the estate liquidator’s team to hold them while you continue to shop, rather than carry multiple items around the property with you. Unlike conventional retail stores, shopping carts and baskets are unlikely to be available at estate sales. Be aware however that the estate liquidator will likely not hold items for long periods of time, especially if you leave the property prior to making your purchases, as it’s not fair to other shoppers who may want to buy those items. 

Typically shoppers will take their purchases with them when they leave the estate sale, just as they would from a retail store. However in some cases, for example with heavy furniture that cannot be safely removed during a busy sale, a pick-up day is usually scheduled to take place shortly after the estate sale ends. It’s also important to note that estate liquidators generally do not accept returns because unlike a retail store, they are unable to restock and resell items at a later date and may already have passed the sale revenue to their client after the sale. This is usually referenced in the estate liquidator’s terms and conditions published on the estate sale advertisement. For this reason it is very important to inspect your purchases thoroughly before buying.

While most estate liquidators will not pack or remove items for you they may make provisions to facilitate this process by having a third party moving company on hand.  

Estate sale discounts.

Because an estate sale may take place over two or more days, it is sometimes the case that inventory will be discounted as the sale progresses in order to maximize its potential to be sold before the sale closes. For this reason some shoppers prefer to attend estate sales later in their duration in the hope of finding bargains. Of course there is a trade off between a discount-based shopping strategy and arriving earlier and having more choice before items are sold. If you do plan to arrive later it’s important to remember that there is no guarantee that an item will be discounted or even still available. Usually once the estate sale is closed there is no further opportunity to purchase sale inventory. 

This subject is covered in more detail on our blog post, estate sale shopping tips.