Score More Valuable Estate Sale Items For Less Money With This Helpful Tip

Whether you're looking to add to a collection or locate a hidden treasure, estate sales are a fantastic way to find all types of items, from high-priced valuables to cheap junk (and yes, there's plenty that's really just junk). An estate sale is typically organized by an estate sale company or auction house, or in some cases, a property owner who's downsizing and needs to get rid of most of their belongings. Many times, it's conducted for the belongings of a person who has died. Now, here's the thing: understanding exactly what an estate sale is, and what makes it different from other sales, is the key that will allow you to purchase the valuable items you want for less money.

How does that work? There are typically two goals with an estate sale. The first is to get rid of as much stuff as possible. The second goal is to make as much money as possible on those items since many estate sales help fund that next home. Since most are held for just a few days, there's not always a lot of time for the property owner to wait for the perfect buyer who may be willing to pay their estimated price.

That's where you can get a deal. If you know the value of the items and you have a bit of time to look around, you can ask for a great price. The trick is to bundle. Instead of paying the full sticker price on each individual item, ask for a deal if you buy everything in your pile. The art of negotiation doesn't have to be perfected to achieve success here. Instead, know value, time it, and bundle it!

There are two key considerations to keep in mind if you plan to get the best deal possible on the items you want at an estate sale. The first is timing. You may want something highly desirable, such as Hot Wheels Redline toys or Barbie dolls from the 1960s. Other times, it may be that you're after that big box of garage tools you know is valuable because of its brand name. Useful or collectible, you need to time your visit to the estate sale right. Many estate sales span several days or a weekend. The first day tends to offer the most items to choose from (since no one has come through yet) but also the highest prices. On the last day of the sale, prices are often half off, because they want to clear away anything not sold.

The trick is knowing if you can wait. If the items you want are those collectible, high-end items from the 1960s, or other fancy retro decor, waiting likely means other buyers will purchase them. The old toolset that's not as desirable, meanwhile? That could be a good item to wait on.

The second factor is knowing the actual worth of an item. Multiple methods exist for learning value, but there's a trick in your phone you can easily use. Use Google's image search feature or another image search tool. Take a photo, let Google pull up the description, and see current eBay listings for it. Now that you have both timing and knowledge on your side, it's time to bundle. 

Now that you know the value and demand of an item, you have the negotiating power to make an informed offer. Walk through the estate sale, picking up items you're considering purchasing. Even if the price looks a bit high, know that you may be able to negotiate. Make a pile of items you would like to own. Mix and match everything from those old records to the glassware in the kitchen. 

Now, approach the estate sale manager. Be respectful and courteous. Ask if they can work with you on a bundle deal. You can also simply offer a price for the pile of items you have. Individually, those items may add up to $50, but in a bundle like this, you may be able to get everything for $40, presuming that your condition for purchasing it all is the bundled price. Remember, the manager's goal by this point is to clean house, so they're going to be more willing to let lower prices slide. 

Consider making a lower initial offer. Then, haggle up. The estate team believes they are getting more out of you, but you're still under the individual prices. However, even if you don't want to haggle, ask. If there's a full curio cabinet full of beautiful vintage glass on the last day, ask the estate sale manager what they could do for you if you bought the entire cabinet of items (and maybe even the curio itself). Remember, their time is short by this point: they don't want to deal with hauling furniture to a storage unit, so this is your perfect timing to get a great deal.