A Guide To Shopping Estate Sales

What is an Estate Sale?

Drive around Chicago on any given Friday or Saturday morning and chances are you'll pass at least one estate sale sign, especially between the months of March and November. Some turn out to be glorified garage or yard sales; however, a few contain undiscovered treasures for the savvy shopper who does their homework online.

Chicago has quickly become one of the hottest markets for estate sales. Stephanie Fenza of Chicago-based Cameo Estate Sales says Chicagoans can find as many as ten or fifteen higher quality sale events in a weekend.

Fenza attributes this popularity growth to several factors, including demographics, population, education about the sales and even green living.

"Buying things second hand maybe is not so taboo anymore," as she explains it's due to the new move for consumers to reuse and recycle.

Jennifer Farrell, host of A&E's Find & Design, notices two main types of estate sale shoppers: those who attend garage sales hoping for a bargain and antique shoppers looking for a hidden Rembrandt.

To bargain shoppers she gives this advice: "Be prepared for sticker shock. Usually estate sales are more expensive."

Hot ticket items include original art work, designer clothing and vintage jewelry. Furniture is always a top purchase while games from the 1960s and 1970s are becoming popular collectible items today.

Celebrity designer and author Kathy Peterson says those looking for a bargain, those who enjoy antiquing, and anyone, "Seeking out unusual items that may not be produced today," would most likely enjoy shopping an estate sale.

While estate sales are often lumped in with other types of sales, Christine Acosta co-owner of Chicago's Key Estate Sales defines the traditional estate sale as a sale after which, ". . . someone has passed away and everything in the house, all of the household contents, would then be sold."

Today a home owner's death can precede the sale, but so may a divorce, foreclosure, desire to downsize or even a cross-country move.

Whatever the reason, the idea of an estate sale is to sell most or all of the home's contents, which includes everything from high-end furniture down to cleaning supplies. What is not sold is often packed up and taken away by charity groups.

Pictured above: Photo courtesy of Cameo Estate Sales

How to Shop an Estate Sale

Those who regularly attend estate sales often say the sales are more like events than just a day of shopping, which makes them not only a great place to browse but also a fun way to spend part of the weekend.

Acosta, who has held nearly 500 estate sales, has met shoppers who have driven all day and across several states in hopes of landing the perfect purchase, whether that is a love seat that matches a recently purchased sofa or a vintage watch or necklace from someone's jewelry collection.

Most estate sales are held on Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., which has proven to be the most populated days for these events. It is not uncommon for shoppers to arrive early: some, says Acosta, have been known to sleep in their cars overnight.

Unlike the frenzied all-rush-in approach shoppers use on the day after Thanksgiving, estate sales avoid any push and shove by handing out numbers and admitting only a certain amount of people depending upon the size of the estate. If the quantity of shoppers dies down throughout the day, the number system is abandoned and shoppers enter as they arrive.

Since the goal of most estate sales is to clear out the contents of the home, each room contains merchandise on display, which means the shopper will travel from kitchen to bathroom to bedroom as they hunt for the perfect buy. Items are generally pulled from closets and drawers, laid out on display tables and tagged with a price.

But Peterson recommends pulling out drawers of furniture items, as you never know what might be lurking within. In fact, Farrell once had a friend who purchased an older chair from an estate sale. While in the process of pulling off the seat's fabric to reupholster the chair the friend discovered $10,000 hidden inside.

When asked if the prices marked on items are negotiable, Acosta answered yes and no. "Typically the first day of a sale is very competitive. People line up outside, waiting for their number to be called, and most are willing to pay the full price of the item on that first day. By day two, though, the price of many items are more negotiable."

Fenza agrees, adding that companies often discount items by opening time on Saturday morning in hopes of a quicker sale. Furniture can be reduced by 20 percent while other items might see a 50 percent mark down.

Other companies may wait until noon on Saturday before slashing prices, but on some larger ticket items, the price may remain firm. This is especially true if the owner of the home has an attachment to the item and is unsure about selling.

If you are exploring the option of decorating with antiques but are not familiar with how to find great deals, do your research before heading out to the sale. Talk to antique dealers, search the Internet and, says Farrell, "Pay attention to what you are buying."

That ornate chair may have been spectacular back in its prime, but it will not hold its value today unless it is still in pristine condition.

Farrell also recommends entering an estate sale with a little sensitivity, as it is highly likely the people who are selling the items have just lost someone they loved, and the items mean something to the seller. Adds Fenza, "[These are] the contents of someone's life and we are all attached to our things. I find that I respect everything there because they lovingly collected everything just like I have."

Pictured above left: Photo courtesy of Key Estate Sales
Pictured above right: Photo courtesy of Cameo Estate Sales

Tips for Shopping Estate Sales

Shopping an estate sale affords the buyer a great opportunity to find high-ticket items at a fraction of the cost. These tips will help ensure your estate sale shopping day is successful.

Peterson recommends checking to ensure the items are in good condition. "Feel the rims of glass items to ensure no chips, check the strength of the chairs so no broken legs."
Arrive with cash in hand since not all estate sales accept credit cards and personal checks.
Bring your own shopping bags, as not all estate sales provide them.
If you are seeking something specific, do your homework first. Know the average retail price so you can spot a great bargain when you find one.
Flip items over. Antiques are generally embossed with a name, so this is good practice when trying to find that hidden treasure.
Fenza recommends visiting the website www.estatesales.net, which offers a map of estate sales listed in your area. Also, estate sale companies oftentimes list their estate sale's directions and photographs of items available on their websites, so visit these first before heading out.

◊ February 2008

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