Are you obsessed with estate sales? If you have a passion for unique home decor, carefully curated design, or simply love finding great deals, estate sales can be a treasure trove of exciting discoveries. Unlike traditional retail stores, estate sales offer the opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind household items that few others will have. You might stumble upon high-quality goods that would normally cost a small fortune, or even come across rare collectors' items. However, amidst the thrilling finds, there is also a lifetime's worth of miscellaneous items. Unless you want your home to be filled with incomplete board games and malfunctioning bread makers, it's important to be discerning in your purchases.
Unlocking the Treasures: What to Look for at Estate Sales
Are you a fan of estate sales? The thrill of finding hidden gems at bargain prices can be irresistible. But how do you separate the true treasures from the items that will end up in the trash? We've got you covered. Here's a comprehensive list of the most valuable things to watch out for at estate sales.
Always Browse the Art
Art has the power to transform a space, add personality, and tie everything together. However, buying art from galleries can be expensive. That's why estate sales are a goldmine for original, one-of-a-kind artwork. Look for the artist's signature, as it indicates that the piece is original and allows you to research the artist. If you're having trouble deciphering the signature, a quick Google Lens search can help you uncover more information.
If you're looking to save big, keep an eye out for oil paintings. They tend to be more expensive than acrylic paintings and sketches due to the skill required and the cost of materials. Oil paintings also offer rich texture, adding depth to your collection.
If you're feeling unsure, test the waters with more neutral pieces that will easily play with the rest of your décor. If you want to make an impact, keep your eyes peeled for big, bright, bold, or unusual paintings. Also, remember that art can come in many forms. Carvings and sculptures can help dress up bookcases, credenzas, and empty corners. Tapestries, wall hangings, and hung carpets can add richness and texture.
Watch out for solid wood furniture
If there aren't too many contenders, you can find wood furniture for a steal at estate sales. If the previous owners are elderly, there's a good chance they purchased their pieces back when timber was cheap and furniture was built to last a lifetime. Most items produced before the 1950s were made from solid wood.
To make sure you aren't buying a potential problem, carefully scrutinize pieces for woodworm damage. Look inside cabinets and drawers, investigate the underside of tables, and cast a critical eye at the legs. If you see any telltale pin holes, stow your wallet and move on. If there are any defects with a piece, like loose legs, bad burn marks, or stuck drawers, consider the extra time and expense required for repairs. Will you be able to fix the item yourself, or will you need to send it to a carpenter?
Estate Sales and Vintage Glassware
To ensure that you don't get swindled when shopping at estate sales, it's important to check for signs of superior craftsmanship. Look for hand carving, dovetail, dowel, and mortise and tenon joints. If you're interested in a veneered item, inspect the edges. If the veneers are book-matched, it's likely a high-quality piece. Additionally, if you can find a maker's mark, you may have hit the vintage furniture jackpot. These inscriptions can take the form of small plaques, engravings, or old labels discreetly placed inside drawers, on the back or underside, or on the bottom edge of a cabinet door. They usually include the name of the furniture firm or designer and its country of origin.
Estate sales are the perfect place to get pretty glassware
Colorful glasses and goblets are currently in vogue, but this charming trend has a rich history. It's a resurgence of a massive moment in glassware that took off in the 1920s and 30s when manufacturers shifted from hand-blown glass to molded items, which were more affordable. This new, cheap glassware was a small godsend during one of the darkest economic periods in modern history. A colorful cup at an accessible price point provided a small sliver of joy. Producers capitalized on this by creating a medley of pastel tones in translucent and opaque glass.
Estate sales are the perfect place to find Depression glass. To spot an authentic piece, look for seams and rough spots. Manufacturers didn't smooth down mold marks to keep costs down. Air bubbles, irregularities in colors, and flaws in the shape can also be telltale signs of genuine Depression glass.
Discover the Value of Well-Preserved Vintage Rugs
When it comes to home décor, rugs can be expensive investments. However, if you know what to look for, you can find a great deal on a vintage rug at an estate sale. Vintage rugs that have been well-preserved can be worth a significant amount of money. While any rug in good condition can be a good buy at the right price, handmade rugs are particularly valuable.
Mature Potted Plants Can Save You Some Serious Cash
If you're a proud plant parent, you're probably all too aware of how costly mature specimens can be. If the owners of the estate happened have some sizable plants, these can present a serious steal, especially if they're housed in big pots. Large planters alone can run you over a hundred dollars, so if you see any empty pots, place your claim before a fellow shopper beats you to it. To make sure you're getting your money's worth, look for planters made out of clay or cement. Handmade clay pots (which normally can be very pricey) may even have a maker's mark on the bottom.
Looking for some new plants? Consider buying "second-hand" to save money. While a tall ficus tree in a 30-inch planter may cost over $400 at a nursery or plant center, you may be able to find one at a lower price at an estate sale. Keep in mind that the condition may not be as fresh and perfect, with a few dead leaves being acceptable. However, if you notice any signs of mites, bugs, or blight, it's best to pass on the purchase to avoid spreading disease to your other plants.
Lamps and light fittings can also be a good find
If you're in the market for some unique light fixtures, estate sales are a great place to look. While you may come across some corroded and questionable lights, you can also find stunning candelabras, high-quality chrome options, statement floor lamps, and more. For relatively new lamps, you can easily compare prices online to see if you're getting a good deal. Researching prices for older light fittings can be a bit more challenging. Antique and vintage lights can range in price from $30 to over a hundred thousand dollars on marketplaces like 1stDibs. If you believe you've found a vintage or antique lamp, check the base for a maker's mark or date. Additionally, you can determine the age of light fittings based on their style.
Don't disregard vintage sofas
You may be tempted to give vintage sofas the side eye, but great skeletons can lurk under dated upholstery. Yes, older settees aren't always the softest or the most cushy, but this might be something you're willing to compromise on if vintage décor is close to your heart. Reupholstering a vintage sofa can leave you with a one-of-a-kind, high-quality piece that's updated and fresh. You'll also get the opportunity to choose a color that's in perfect conversation with the other pieces in your space.
Estate sales are a great source for unique coffee table books
Looking to add some character to your living room? Consider adding a few coffee table books. However, purchasing new books can be expensive. Instead, check out estate sales for some unique finds. Estate sale books often contain photography and illustrations that are not available online. Plus, vintage coffee table books are becoming a popular trend, driven by TikTok and nostalgia. So, instead of opting for the usual expensive and predictable books, go retro and make a statement with your coffee table literature.
Retro pieces from coveted designers can be worth a small fortune
Snag a cedar chest if it suits your design style
Cedar chests are another solid estate sale steal. Hope chests have a strong place in American history and were originally designed to house brides' trousseaus. Antique chests often sell for thousands on marketplaces like eBay, but with a bit of luck, you can still pick up these old-fashioned treasures for a relative song at estate sales. Because they have very few moving parts, are made of wood, and are sturdily constructed, there's usually very little wrong with these old chests.
Looking for some unique and versatile storage options? Consider repurposing a hope chest as a coffee table, seat, side table, or entryway bench. These cedar chests not only provide extra storage space, but they also add a touch of charm to any room. Whether you need to store throw blankets, board games, or winterwear, a vintage chest can complement traditional, transitional, rustic, bohemian, or eclectic design styles.
Pyrex and Corningware casserole dishes have a certain amount of resale value
Don't underestimate the value of vintage casserole dishes. Pyrex and ceramic CorningWare dishes are now highly sought after by collectors. These dishes not only evoke nostalgia but also offer practicality. Known for their durability and non-stick properties, Pyrex glass and CorningWare ceramic are both timeless and functional.
However, it's important to be cautious when purchasing vintage Pyrex and ceramic cookware. Like old glasses, these dishes may contain lead. If you plan to use them for cooking, it's recommended to test for lead or consider buying new Pyrex for added safety.
Vintage vinyls can be very valuable
Do you love the sound of analog audio? The right estate sale can be a veritable treasure trove if you're looking for vinyl records. While CDs and cassettes dominated the 90s, vinyl sales plummeted. Fast forward to the 2010s, record sales have rebounded, and vintage vinyls are now a popular collectible.
But before you fill your arms with albums at an estate sale, take some time to check their condition. Carefully remove each record from its sleeve and scan it for scratches. Hold it up and make sure it's not warped or bent. If you can feel a scratch with your fingernail, you'll probably hear it too. If the record is very shiny, this can be a sign that it's been barely played, and you should probably snag it before someone else does. If you want to try and gauge a record's rough resale value, scrutinize the jacket and the LP label for information that will help you figure out the album release, such as the barcode or catalog number. If you run into records that aren't fit to play, you can also upcycle them into unique vinyl décor.
Uncover amazing deals on tools and garden implements
Looking to purchase some tools? Before heading to a store like Home Depot, consider checking out estate sales where you may stumble upon incredible deals. Second-hand tools and garden implements are often sold at a fraction of their original price. While a new spade may cost around $40, you could find the same item for just a few cents at an estate sale. Although these tools may not be brand new, their quality and functionality remain intact. Screwdrivers, hammers, rakes, forks, and hatchets are all durable items that can withstand heavy use. Additionally, you may even come across discounted power tools that were recently purchased. However, keep in mind that these items may not come with a warranty, so be cautious not to overpay.
If you happen to purchase an old manual tool, it could potentially have numismatic value. As tools become collectibles, certain antique planes have been sold at auctions for thousands of dollars. Therefore, it's worth researching your finds before utilizing them in a DIY project.
Discover undervalued solid silver items
When estate liquidation companies prepare to open homes to the public, they first evaluate the contents. Any highly valuable items are typically sold separately before the estate sale. This means that by the time regular folks have a chance to look over the home, anything big made of precious metals has likely already been sold. However, that doesn't mean there aren't still opportunities to find small items at a steal.
The key to finding a silver treasure is to search through the junk piles. Items that are prominently and neatly displayed are unlikely to be underpriced. Instead, focus on disheveled drawers of kitchenware where you might find well-used silver cake servers, small forks, serving spoons, and more. Keep an eye out for small shiny items mixed in with the bric-à-brac. While a complete set of solid silver tableware kept in a case is likely to be noticed by experts, a gold cigarette case, pen, or flint lighter could slip through the cracks. Additionally, be on the lookout for anything tarnished. A green-tinged tray among scratched chopping boards could turn out to be a valuable silver item. And don't forget to check for small odds and ends of jewelry mixed in with low-value trinkets that collectors might overlook.
Antique Christmas decorations can command a small fortune
Old Mason jars might be worth much more than meets the eye
Old Christmas decorations might not be the first thing that comes to mind when tracking down valuable treasures at an estate sale. Modern Christmas ornaments don't have much of a resale market, but it turns out that certain antique baubles can be relatively valuable. German Kugels are some of the most sought-after. These antique globes are the OG of Christmas ornaments. Handblown in Germany, Kugels quickly became a must-have holiday ornament throughout Europe, partly thanks to the likes of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria (the original influencers, it seems). Some of these decorations made their way over with the early settlers and became particularly concentrated in areas with a high German-American population, like Pennsylvania. Made out of glass, these charming ornaments have a reflective colored film inside and a brass attachment point at the top.
German Kugels can sell for between $100 and $200 per ornament. But resale values can vary widely and depend a lot on the condition, color, and shape of the bauble. Round, silver Kugel globes are the most common. Certain colors are highly sought after, like black and muted tones of green, light blue, and bronze. Grape-shaped Kugels tend to be rarer and more valuable than globes, as well as the very scarce pinecones, berry bunches, and artichoke shapes. Even if you're not particularly interested in the resale value, adding a few of these antique finds to your Christmas décor will imbue your tree with a touch of historical charm and help you decorate for the holidays on a budget.
Vintage kitchen appliances are becoming super sought-after
Over the past few years, vintage kitchen appliances have been gaining popularity as home decor items. However, they are not just aesthetically pleasing, but some of these appliances can also be worth a significant amount of money. While you can easily find vintage kitchen appliances at thrift stores, not all of them have resale value.
Antique kitchen appliances, especially those from estate sales, can be a great find for collectors and enthusiasts. If the family had a large home and a tendency to hold onto things, there is a higher chance of finding valuable vintage appliances. However, it is important to note that most antique kitchen appliances do not sell for exorbitant amounts of cash. Even very old and rare appliances usually do not sell for more than $300. The majority of obviously old specimens are typically valued between $20 and $50.
One way to determine the age of vintage kitchen appliances is by inspecting the logo. Brands like Mason and Ball went through various iterations over the decades, and the addition of adjectives like "Improved," "Special," and "Perfect" indicates older models produced between 1858 and 1960.
While antique kitchen appliances can be a profitable investment, they also hold value for those who appreciate farmhouse or shabby chic design. An antique kitchen appliance, such as a vintage Mason jar, can add a touch of nostalgia and charm to any home decor.
Original Article:
Source: House Digest
Are you starting to get the feeling that everything that was once outdated is now a cool collectible? Well, you're not far wrong. Even old kitchen appliances are coming into vogue. Companies have been releasing retro lines of fridges, toasters, and kettles to feed the hype. But these appliances are often priced high and made to profit from a trend rather than stand the test of time. Vintage appliances can be even more expensive, sometimes selling for a few thousand dollars. But if you're lucky, buying an antique appliance at an estate sale could allow you to make a big design statement on a small budget.
Old appliances aren't always hot ticket items, and a lot of people shy away from them in fear of hard-to-fix faults. Anytime you buy a second-hand appliance, you run the risk of it not working, but true vintage models might not be as risky as you think, as most were built to last. For instance, those pretty pastel fridges from the 1950s can be surprisingly robust thanks to their porcelain finishes and copper tubing.
Of course, before you hand over your credit card, you should always try to verify that the item works. If you're forced to take the estate sale company's word for it, try to bargain them down, because you'll need to get it professionally checked over. For most electrical appliances, you'll also have to get them refurbished and brought up to code, which will add to the cost. Even if they're immaculate, you'll need to (at the very least) get any cords and gas lines replaced.
