INSIDER Tips

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

How to Piss Off an Estate Sale Company (Or… How Not to Become “That Customer”) I’ve been buying, selling, pricing, moving, hauling, negotiating, and occasionally hiding behind furniture for more than thirty years. Estate sale companies are generally a cheerful bunch. We love finding treasures. We love seeing wonderful things go to people who appreciate

Size Matters One of the biggest surprises at estate sales? Sometimes the most beautiful things are the hardest to sell. I recently watched a magnificent 1970s sectional sofa sit through an entire sale. It was immaculate. Great color. Fantastic quality. Comfortable enough to disappear into for an afternoon with a good book. And nobody bought

Be Prepared You may just see a sign for an estate sale and drive over.  That’s fine but if you are going to be a pro then you need to prepare. Peruse the Photos Most estate sales will post photos. The experienced buyer will study the images and see if there is anything they want,

Timing Is Everything Go Early… or Go Late? One of the questions I’m asked most often is: “What’s the best day to come to an estate sale?” My answer is always the same: “What are you looking for?” If you’re after the rare, unusual, or highly collectible, the answer is easy. Go early. If you’re