The Estate Sale Etiquette Rule You Should Avoid Breaking At All Costs

Estate sales are an excellent opportunity to score valuable items for less money. However, before you get carried away by the excitement of decorating your home with your new finds, it's important to understand a few unspoken etiquette rules. For instance, take care not to damage items. While the things might not be worth much in your eyes, they have immeasurable sentimental (and perhaps historical) value. Damaging these things could be adding insult to injury for the estate owners. Similarly, don't shift decor pieces around without reason or make things messy while going through sale items.

Another great rule to follow is not to litter the house. Sure, you'll get hungry and thirsty while perusing the items on sale, especially if the property is substantial. But that's no reason to dispose of food packaging and empty water bottles at random. Either bring your trash home with you or dispose of it adequately. Remember, you're a guest, albeit a paying one, at someone's house. They would appreciate you being on your best behavior and treating their property with respect.

Estate owners often hold a sale after the death of a loved one or due to other personal reasons, like financial issues and divorce. In any case, they'll likely be going through a difficult journey mentally and emotionally. So, be mindful of how you behave and what you say, or you risk kicking someone when they're down. Suppose the home's decor and design scheme are too tacky for your tastes; keep these thoughts to yourself and refrain from saying anything insensitive. Moreover, avoid rooms that aren't open to the public and don't bid on pieces that feature an NFS (not for sale) tag.

Besides respecting the property and your host's wishes, be kind and friendly to the employees running the sale and your fellow shoppers. Some examples include not cutting in line, throwing elbows, blocking someone from perusing items in a room until you're done, and fighting over things. Just like you wouldn't want strangers to have a shouting match inside your house while you're upset, the estate owners expect the same. 

Additionally, don't hoard or tag items you don't intend to buy. In a similar vein, don't buy things from the holding area or knock sold tags from claimed pieces. Following these simple etiquette rules will help you make the most of an estate sale and create a positive and fun experience for all concerned parties.