Estate sales reward the people who show up ready to look closely and make decisions. @maryhelenmaida called her latest outing the craziest estate sale of her life, and the reason was the pricing. Almost nothing was marked, and the sellers simply asked her to make a pile and wait for an offer.
She expected to spend somewhere between $100 and $150 on her first pile. The offer was far lower, and it sent her back into the house for more. Here is how the day unfolded, followed by general tips for shopping a sale where nothing has a price tag.
@maryhelenmaida
A Sale Where Nothing Was Priced
She explained that she asked about prices on her first pile and learned that the sellers had marked pretty much nothing. Their approach was simple: make a pile and they would make an offer. She admitted she felt a little nervous. She went through the house and picked everything she truly loved, but she had no idea what the pricing would look like.
Guessing at the Total
As she waited, she tried to guess. She figured a chair might be $5 and two pots might be $5 each, which would come to about $15 for those items. But she was not sure whether the sellers would want to go through the clothes she had pulled aside, and she thought she might spend a hundred or a hundred and fifty dollars. Honestly, she said, she had no clue.
The $30 Offer
Then the sellers named their price. They offered her $30 for the entire pile. She said she was shocked, and her thought was that if the whole pile was only $30, she needed to buy more. That one number changed her plan for the rest of the day.
A Second Pile and a Race Against the Rain
She started a second pile while still going through the house. Her dad grew nervous that it was going to rain, so he began packing up the cars. In the end it took three truck loads, including her mom’s items, her own and a little of her brother’s, to get everything home. She paid $20 for the second pile. Her dad, her brother and her dad’s best friend then left the sale.
Back Inside for a Third Pile
She and her mom felt like they were not done. The house was so full of amazing things that they went back in, and she made a third pile. In it were four dining room chairs and a few smaller items. When she added everything up, she had paid $70 for it all. She called it the craziest estate sale of her life and asked her followers whether she should share a haul.
General Tips for Shopping an Estate Sale With No Prices
Every sale is different, so treat these as general guidance rather than a description of how this one worked.
- Ask how pricing works. Some sellers price by the pile, by the room or by negotiation, so find out the method before you start collecting items.
- Set a rough budget. Decide what you are willing to spend so an unexpected offer, high or low, does not rush your decisions.
- Choose what you truly love. Items you will use or display are rarely a mistake, even at a bargain price.
- Bring helpers and a vehicle. Furniture such as chairs takes space, so plan for loading, straps and blankets, and keep an eye on the forecast.
- Check items before you pay. Look for cracks, wobbly joints, missing parts and odors, especially on furniture and cookware.
- Make more than one pass. Walk the whole house again, since you will often notice things the second time around.
- Be kind and respectful. An estate sale often follows a loss, so be courteous, pay what is offered or negotiate politely, and thank the sellers.
Making Offers and Haggling With Confidence
When a seller asks you to name or accept a price, it helps to have a plan. Start by grouping items so you can tell which ones you want most and which ones you could leave behind. If an offer feels high, you can politely say that you were hoping to stay closer to a certain amount, and many sellers will meet you partway. Offering to take more items at once is another respectful way to bring the total down, since sellers often want a house emptied quickly. Carry small bills so you can pay exactly what is agreed without waiting for change. Ask whether the sale will have a final day with reduced prices, because many sales cut prices late in the weekend, although the best pieces may already be gone. Finally, keep a list of what you bought and what you paid, which makes it easy to decide later what to keep, what to resell and what to pass along to friends. Thoughtful buyers leave the house tidier than they found it.
A Lesson in Showing Up Prepared
What began with nerves ended with three piles, three truck loads and a total of $70. The story shows how helpful it can be to stay flexible, speak up when pricing is unclear and be willing to go back for a second look. A thoughtful eye and an open mind turned a confusing sale into one that she will not forget.
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