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Kimberly Dalferes | Author

Crazy, Southern, Irish Gal, Author

Secrets of an Estate Sale Junkie

June 1, 2012 by Kim Dalferes

“Hello, my name is Kim, and I am an Estate Sale Junkie.”

“Hello Kim!”

I wasn’t always an ESJ. I started with what seemed to be relatively harmless excursions: thrift store perusing, perhaps the random yard or garage sale were as far as I explored. It all changed when, about a year ago, my Dad introduced me to the intriguing underworld known as the estate sale network.

I’ve now come to understand that estate sales are different from the standard garage sale. A garage or yard sale is usually small in scope and tends to include items that folks are just trying to get rid of: old toys, lots of clothes, maybe the random household item. With an estate sale, the contents of the whole house are up for grabs. Another big difference: estate sales are almost always organized by professional companies.

Dad was hooked in himself when a friend casually asked him to tag along to a local estate sale. He was fascinated by the yard tools, Pyrex dishes, Christmas china – all being sold at terrific prices. He was soon calling me weekly to describe his latest “score”, and assuring me that there was no reason to ever pay retail again.

Last year, during a visit to the west coast, we accompanied Dad to see what all the fuss was about. We arrived at the first sale a full 45 minutes before it was to start. This would be my first glimpse at the ESJ sub-culture. Feeling a bit like an amateur anthropologist, I observed the tribe with its accepted rules of conduct. A hierarchy was established through the distribution of numbers which dictated where you would be placed in line for admission to the sale. I was surprised to find out that the woman who I deemed to be a tribe queen, the woman who distributed the numbers, was self-appointed! She did not work for the estate sale company that had organized the sale – she just stepped in and took charge. Fascinating.

Four sales later I began to understand Dad’s addiction: it was the thrill of the hunt, the idea that perhaps you’d find something akin to those million dollar Rhino Cups featured on last year’s Antique Road Show . I became hooked.

Back home, I subscribed to http://www.estatesales.net (the best source I’ve found for estate sale news and events). Each week I began to scour the featured sale photos. I searched for intriguing artifacts worthy of an early morning trip in ridiculous Northern Virginia traffic.

Now, a full year in, I’ve learned that there are a few “ESTATE SALE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT”: 

  1. Arrive early and respect the numbering process. I have seen two sweet looking little ‘ol ladies almost throw-down because one was not abiding by her place in line.
  2. Cash is King. Most estate sales only take cash; read the sale fine print before you arrive.
  3. If you want it; pick it up. Possession is literally the law. I once picked up a bathroom trashcan that I thought I might buy. Another woman literally stalked me throughout the house, hoping I would put it down. I bought the thing on principle (and it looks very nice in my powder room, thank you very much).
  4. Merchandise selection is best on the first day; cheapest on the final day. Most estate sales run Thursday or Friday through Sunday. Thursdays you will get the best selection, but by Sunday what’s left will be half price.
  5. The best deals are yard tools and kitchen items. For my son’s first apartment we bought just about everything for his kitchen at estate sales. Yard tools are almost always a good deal too, but they go fast so walk through the garage first.
  6. Play by the rules. I recently watched a woman go through a sale and mark items with yellow sticky tabs – she noted that this meant the items had been sold. Turned out later she didn’t work for the estate sale company – she was just being greedy! She had no intention of buying all those items, she just wanted more time to “shop.” FOUL! Don’t be that girl.
  7. Once you buy it, you own it. Inspect items carefully before you purchase. If it’s cracked or chipped make sure you aren’t paying too much.
  8. Keep your expectations low. Looking for Pyrex dishes and glass cake plates – you’re gonna score. If you think you’re going to find a tiffany lamp for $2 you’re going to be disappointed.
  9. Watch for “good bones.” Most furniture is likely to be either expensive antiques or very worn out and dated. Be on the look-out for pieces that are sturdy, but may be in need of a little update.

Check out this $17 dingy vinyl yellow that my cousin Joyce spotted buried in a basement:


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Which transformed into this beauty:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estate sales aren’t for everyone. Husband Greg won’t tag along anymore; he feels like he is riffling through the possessions of dead people. But if you are a bargain hunter and you want to meet some truly interesting people, you just might be a fellow ESJ. One of the best ESJs: Cari Cucksey who hosts Cash and Cari on HGTV. I am a huge Cari groupie and love her ESJ tips and advice.

I’m wondering how may other ESJs are out there? What advice would you give to novice bargain hunters?

Cheers,

Kimba

PS: Being that it’s now June, an early Happy Father’s Day wish to my Dad. Hope you find some great stuff this weekend; but just remember that 16 blue and white Chinese vases are probably enough.

Filed Under: The Middle-Aged Cheap Seats Tagged With: blog, Cari Cucksey, DIY, Estate sales, HGTV, I was in love with a short man once, Kim Dalferes, Kim Dalferes Author, Kimba

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  5. Kimberly Turner says

    June 8, 2012 at 11:28 am

    What a beautiful transformation! Great job! I love this time of year because of all the yard sales and great auctions going on when people do their spring cleaning and purging! Repurposing is a great way, and a fun way to save money and add some fabulous pieces to your home!

    • Kim D says

      June 8, 2012 at 11:48 am

      Hey Kimberly, also be on the look out for "barn" sales, which can have great items for repurposing. 

  6. Elise says

    June 8, 2012 at 10:49 am

    Oh gosh, I just loved this! Very informative and totally motivating! 🙂
    Thank you for clearly pointing out the differences between an Estate Sale and a Garage Sale.
    Lovely post, thank you!
    ~Elise.

    • Kim D says

      June 8, 2012 at 11:46 am

      Happy hunting Elise; be warned that it can become addictive! 🙂

  7. Elizabeth says

    June 8, 2012 at 10:12 am

    Hi Kim,
    I too have never heard of Estate Sales and it really does sound fascinating. Unfortunately we do not have them here in Germany so if I get to travel to your part of the continent, I will make sure I look up one of those events!

    • Kim D says

      June 8, 2012 at 11:45 am

      Wow, Germany, I don't know of a estate sale directory for Germany, but I will keep a look out for you Elizabeth!

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    June 6, 2012 at 1:42 pm

    Normally I do not learn post on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very compelled me to take a look at and do so! Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thanks, quite nice post.

Trackbacks

  1. #OBBigBang Orangeberry Big Bang – I Was In Love With A Short Man Once by Kimberly Dalferes | Books & Beyond says:
    January 2, 2014 at 5:14 pm

    […] do you do to unwind and relax? I am a crazed estate sale junkie (http://kimdalferes.com/360/kim-dalferes-blog/secrets-of-an-estate-sale-junkie ). I love the hunt for a buried treasure amongst the pots and pans and rusty garden tools. My […]

  2. Stray Dogs and Ugly Pumpkins | Kimberly Dalferes | Author says:
    November 4, 2013 at 12:06 pm

    […] hobbies. I’m a bit of an estate sale junkie. I love to find something that is old, discarded, or forgotten and make it pretty again. Maybe […]

Hello!

Author photo #2 in colorI hope you enjoy your time here and that you come back often. Wondering what makes me tick? This favorite quote from one of the grand dames of writing, Erma Bombeck, might help: Hook 'em with the lead. Hold 'em with laughter. Exit with a quip they won't forget. This seems to be a good overall life goal, don’t you think?

Hello!

Author photo #2 in colorWelcome to The Middle-Aged Cheap Seats,  the blog of Kimba Dalferes: slayer of king salmon, estate sale junkie, sometimes writes books.
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Beaches, Bathrooms, and Books!

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Kim Dalferes’ Latest Book…

Crazy Southern Irish Gal Two-Book Bundle

Humor writer Kimberly “Kimba” Dalferes dishes on a wide variety of topics–from days of her youth spent blissfully on the shores of Florida’s beaches to menopause and empty nests–in her nonfiction collection Crazy Southern Irish Gal Two-Book Bundle. In both titles: I Was In Love With a Short Man Once and Magic Fishing Panties, Dalferes’ crazy Southern Irish gal perspective inspires her illustrations of life’s quirky twists and turns. Together, these books offer descriptive and colorful essays on subjects such as getting a tattoo in midlife, unique uses for kitty litter, handling a rabid bat, public speaking gone wrong, and naked hot-tubbing in Vegas. Dalferes skillfully weaves what at first glance may appear to be dissimilar themes into a tapestry that invokes her life’s motto: live out loud, laugh often, and ‘occasionally’ drink tequila. Now available through Amazon Kindle.

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