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Estate Sale Sourcing Guide

Estate sales are goldmines for resellers. Entire households liquidated in days means quality inventory at below-market prices.

Finding Estate Sales

EstateSales.net: Largest listing site, photos, dates, addresses
EstateSales.org: Another major listing site
Craigslist: "Estate sale" and "moving sale" searches
Facebook: Local estate sale groups, company pages
Newspaper classifieds: Old school but still used
Driving neighborhoods: Signs on corners, especially in affluent areas

💡 Pro Tip: Set alerts on EstateSales.net for your zip code. Review photos before attending—you can spot valuable items in listing pictures.

Timing Strategy

Day 1 (Thursday/Friday): Best selection, full prices. Go if photos show high-value items.
Day 2 (Saturday): Good selection, possibly 10-20% off. Best balance of selection/price.
Day 3 (Sunday): Limited selection, 25-50% off. Bulk/volume buying.
Final hours: "Make an offer" on anything left. Companies need to clear out.

Arrival Strategy

Get there early: Lines form before doors open for good sales
Number systems: Many sales give out numbers—arrive early to get low number
Skip mediocre sales: Don't waste time on picked-over inventory

What to Look For

Jewelry: Often underpriced, check cases carefully
Vintage clothing: Closets, especially in older homes
Art & frames: Original art, quality frames have value
Kitchen: Cast iron, Pyrex, Le Creuset, vintage appliances
Electronics: Vintage audio, cameras, video games
Books: Entire shelves often available
Tools: Garages and workshops, especially brand names
Furniture: MCM, quality wood, designer pieces
Collections: Coins, stamps, cards, memorabilia

Negotiating

Bundle offers: "I'll take all of these for $X" often works
End of day: More flexibility as sale winds down
Cash talks: Some companies prefer cash for quick settlement
Be respectful: Families are often dealing with loss—tact matters
Build relationships: Regular buyers get preference, early access

Types of Sales

Professional estate sales: Run by companies, organized, priced higher
Family-run: Often underpriced, less organized
Online estate auctions: MaxSold, Hibid, K-BID—bid from home
Downsizing sales: Person moving to smaller space
Moving sales: Family relocating—motivated sellers

Estate Sale Etiquette

Follow the rules (number systems, room limits)
Don't dig through items others are examining
Ask before handling fragile items
Respect the home and the family's situation
Pay promptly—cash is king