Look Before You Leap
How to Avoid Buying Someone Else’s Problem
There’s a wonderful phrase you’ll see at almost every estate sale:
“All items sold AS IS.”
It’s short.
It’s simple.
And it’s important.
“AS IS” doesn’t necessarily mean something is broken. It simply means what you see is what you get. Once you’ve bought it, it’s yours.
So before you fall in love with that gorgeous lamp, antique cabinet, or set of crystal glasses…
Take a closer look.
I’ve bought thousands of items over the years.
I’ve also bought my fair share of expensive lessons.
Here are a few things I’ve learned.
Glass Isn’t Always Perfect
Beautiful crystal and vintage glass can look flawless from a distance.
Then you get home…
…and discover the tiny chip on the rim that somehow escaped your attention.
One simple trick:
Run your finger gently around the rim.
Then around the base.
Your fingertips will often find a tiny chip long before your eyes do.
If it’s for your own home, perhaps you don’t care.
A tiny chip on a vase filled with flowers may never bother you.
If you’re buying to resell?
That’s a different story.
Even small chips can dramatically reduce value.
And if you spot damage before you buy, politely mention it to the estate sale staff.
We don’t always catch every flaw, especially when we’re pricing thousands of items.
You might even earn yourself a discount.
Listen to Your China
Here’s an old collector’s trick.
Gently tap fine china with your fingernail.
A healthy piece usually produces a clear, ringing sound.
If it sounds dull or hollow…
Look again.
Hairline cracks can be almost invisible but often reveal themselves through the sound.
It’s not foolproof.
But it’s another useful clue before you spend your money.
Lamps Can Break Your Heart
One of my favorite purchases was a fabulous pair of Mid-Century Modern pottery lamps.
Perfect colour.
Perfect shape.
Only $28.
I was delighted.
Until I got them home.
One had a fine hairline crack I’d completely missed.
Do I still love them?
Absolutely.
They’re in my house today.
Would I have bought them to resell?
Probably not.
Sometimes a bargain is still a bargain.
Sometimes it’s simply a lesson.
Furniture Has Secrets
Never admire furniture from across the room.
Open everything.
Every drawer.
Every cupboard.
Every door.
Check that drawers slide properly.
Look underneath.
Is a leg loose?
Is one missing?
Does the dining table still have its extension leaf?
Are the shelves included?
Does the cabinet wobble?
Most problems aren’t deal-breakers.
But they should affect what you’re willing to pay.
Fix It… or Forget It?
One of my smartest friends—an absolute estate sale queen—has one rule.
“Never buy anything that needs fixing.”
Do I follow her advice?
Of course not.
Which explains my storage unit.
Over the years I’ve confidently purchased:
- Artwork that “just needed a frame.”
- Dining chairs that “wouldn’t cost much to upholster.”
- A beautiful mosaic tabletop with “just a few stains.”
The artwork eventually found a lovely new frame.
Success.
The dining chairs?
Turns out upholstery cost about $80 per chair.
I could have bought beautifully upholstered chairs for less.
The mosaic table?
After five different YouTube restoration techniques…
The stains were still there.
The polished wood around the mosaic wasn’t.
Sometimes enthusiasm is more expensive than buying the finished version in the first place.
Unless…
If you’re genuinely good at restoring furniture…
Go for it.
Estate sales are full of incredible opportunities.
People make wonderful businesses restoring furniture, refinishing cabinets, rewiring lamps, and giving tired pieces a second life.
If you have the skills…
Those “problem pieces” can become your biggest profits.
Just don’t confuse watching three YouTube videos with becoming a master craftsman.
Trust me.
I’ve tried.
To Paint… or Not to Paint?
Mention painting vintage furniture online and you’ll discover there are three kinds of people.
The Purist
“Never paint original wood.”
The Perfectionist
“If you’re going to paint it, at least do it properly.”
The Profit Maker
“What will actually sell?”
The answer depends on the piece.
Mid-Century Modern furniture?
Generally, leave it alone.
People love original finishes.
That gorgeous walnut grain is part of its value.
Heavy Victorian furniture?
1920s dark oak?
A tired display cabinet?
Sometimes a professionally painted finish can transform it.
I’ve seen navy blue cabinets with patterned wallpaper backing that looked absolutely stunning.
Just don’t paint everything.
And please…
Don’t attack a rare designer piece with a gallon of chalk paint because someone on Pinterest did.
Does the Set Matter?
Sometimes you’re buying for yourself.
Sometimes you’re buying to sell.
They’re very different decisions.
Three wine glasses instead of four?
Not a problem if they’re going in your kitchen.
Three dining chairs instead of four?
Perfect if you only need three.
One print instead of a matching pair?
Buy it if you love it.
But if you’re buying to resell…
Complete sets almost always command better prices.
Collectors love completeness.
Trust Your Gut
This may be the most valuable advice I can give.
If something feels…
…off…
Pay attention.
Almost every bad purchase I’ve ever made started with me ignoring my own instincts.
“Yes…the sofa is bright purple…”
“But someone will love it.”
I’m still waiting.
“Yes…it’s a strange mix of folk art and what can only generously be described as ‘enthusiastic amateur painting’…”
“But it’s kind of cool.”
Kind of.
“Nobody in Palm Springs wants Victorian flower presses…”
“But they’re fascinating…and they’re so cheap!”
They’re still fascinating.
They’re also still mine.
Buy with Your Eyes… and Your Brain
The excitement of estate sales can make even sensible people a little impulsive.
I’ve been doing this for over thirty years, and I still occasionally convince myself that I’m one clever repair away from making a fortune.
Sometimes I’m right.
Often I’m providing future entertainment for my friends.
The best estate sale buyers aren’t just treasure hunters.
They’re careful observers.
They inspect.
They measure.
They test.
And when something doesn’t feel quite right…
They walk away.
Because there will always be another estate sale next weekend.
But there doesn’t always need to be another storage unit full of “great ideas.”