Twas the night before the sale

Twas the night before the mega estate sale and I had a plan!

Estate Sale shopping/hunting is unlike anything you've done before.  I am a seasoned garage sale-er and I've been holding my own garage sales for years.  I know that dance.  I've had people waiting for my garage door to open before 7am, and I see the regulars year to year.  I know how to negotiate with them and know the drill.  But Estate Sales are NOT garage sales.  They attract a different crowd.  A professional crowd -  skilled pickers thirsty for deals, salivating and peeking in the windows, ready for the hunt.  They all seem to know each other and have secrets you are not privy to...until now!

I am heading out first thing in the morning to a fantastic estate sale and I have been prepping for about an hour.  I have a game plan (no, there is no face painting involved) and I am ready.  After months of hits and misses when it comes to estate sales, I am pretty well seasoned and I have a tried and true strategy.  Here are some things I've learned, and some tips for beginner estate sale-ers.

1.  Get on the list so you know in advance when a sale is scheduled.  The professionals, dealers and pickers know about a sale weeks before it is in the classified ads and long before you see the "Estate Sale"sign on the main street.  There are websites like Estatesales.net that list by date the upcoming sales in your area.  You are alerted by e-mail when a sale is happening within 100 miles (adjustable if you are not willing to travel that far).  Also, the e-mail will link you to photographs of the sale merchandise.  Some of the old-school estate sale companies will have their own e-mail list with a loyal following and won't bother with the big websites. So, when you are at a sale, make sure you ask about their e-mail list or how they promote their sales.  It is also important to tell them how you found out about their sale so they know which sites are working for promotion.

2.  Look at the photos.   No, study the photos.  No, look at every inch of the photos.  Here is what I look for:  I not only look at the main subject in focus centered in the picture, but I look in the dark corners, in the background and in the shadows.  You might see something you really want that other people didn't necessarily see.  Take notes (mental or otherwise) and go straight for your favorite picks once at the sale.

3.  Know the floor plan in advance.  You don't have to do a drive by, or stalk the sale, but you can tell a lot by the listed photos from the email alert.  By looking carefully at the photos, you can get to know the layout or the floor plan of the house and where you need to go first in the house for the goods.    When you walk in the sale you will know exactly where your picks are hiding and make a bee-line straight to it whether it's in the basement or upstairs child's bedroom.  I used to just go in and wander from room to room and would see people fly by me with their eyes on the prize.  Then, damn, you see a cool item go walking right out the door.  Know what you are doing by planning ahead, get what you want, beat out the other sale experts...then, you can wander around until you've seen everything.

4.  Get a number.  What most newbies don't know is that you have to get a number when you arrive early at a sale.  The pros will show up an hour early, grab a number and wait in their car.  The numbers will always be at the front door, on a step, in a stack.  Grab the top number - that is the order you will be called into the sale.  It's like the line at the deli counter.  First come, first served.  If you get to the sale at 5 minutes to 9, don't be deceived if you don't see a big group waiting on the lawn - the pros are staying warm, scheming, and planning their sale strategy in their vans.  Once 9 o'clock rolls around, they come out of their cars like roaches.  If you want a good number, you've gotta be there an hour before the sale starts.  Bring a coffee and wait like the pros.

5.  Make friends  Once the sale begins and while you wait for your number to be called outside on the lawn, smile and make eye contact with the other people waiting in line.  This will benefit you once you get inside the sale.  Someone you were nice to outside will be nice to you inside.  When was the last time you stole something out of your friends hands or played tug of war over an item with someone you liked?  Don't show your cards, don't tell them what you want, don't tell them you're game plan, don't let them know you are a pro...that can be detrimental, but do chit-chat, be folksy, be flirty, and be KIND!  It goes a long way with these old men.  At the next sale, you'll see them again as this is a little underground cult type group and they will remember you as a nice girl who plays by the rules but knows her stuff.

6.  Remember everybody wants something different.  You might be intimidated by the big crowd gathering outside, and worry that all the good stuff will be gone by the time they call number 75, but you must remind yourself that you and the old man next to you are probably not going for the same things.  He's going to go to the garage first or the basement - not the master bedroom and not to the linen closet!  Don't worry, there will be enough treasures for everyone!

7.  Bring a bag.  There are no carts at estate sales, and if you plan to purchase a few items, you'll need a bag.  I bring a large re-usable grocery bag that has a plastic coating.  It can take the weight of just about anything and it frees my hands while I dig.  If you see something you want to think about, pick it up, put it in your bag and you can think later - after you've claimed it!

8.  Start a pile.  Gather a few things and take them to the gal by the door - the one who takes the money.  Give her your name and ask her to start a pile for you.  She will gladly set your things aside for you.  Once you have a pile started or claimed - no one else can steal it from you.  Yes, stealing is sometimes a concern.  If you don't want to have a confrontation involving nasty language and flailing arms, just involve the cashier!

9.  Bring cash, but have your limit.  Go thru the ATM before you go and know exactly what you can afford to spend.  They love cash and exact change and many don't accept credit cards.  Some do, but the best bet is to bring cash.  By looking at the photos in advance, sometimes they have already priced the items...look closely and estimate how much you'll need based on the prices listed.  Look on the walls of the photos for big signs like "All Paperback Books $1.  Hardcovers $2"

10.  Go DAY TWO  If you go on day two of a sale, almost always things will be at least 30% off the first sale day prices - even as much as 50% off.  But, do know that the pros and the pickers have scoured thru things already.  But, since everyone is looking for something different, your faves might still be available - half off!!  Most prices on day one are fixed and you can usually only negotiate late in the day on day one.  Don't even think about making a low-ball offer in the rush of the first morning.  You'll lose because there is someone breathing down your neck with more cash.  If you want a better bargain, take the risk and go day two.

11.  Leave emotion out of it!  Estate sales are necessary.  People go thru life changes and need to liquidate all of their stuff.  Often it's a death and the living relatives need to purge grandmas stuff to sell the house.  But, in this economy, more and more people are having living estate sales to get a little cash to pay for expenses, or make the move into an assisted living facility.  My girlfriend came with me to a sale once and was overcome by sadness that someone's entire life was up for sale.  Yes, I am emotional as the next girl, but leave these feelings at home and remember it's all about the CASH!  The family wants CASH!  Your CASH!  They have been thru the process of sorting, pricing, and organizing the sale and they are willing and ready to see the stuff go.  They have had lots of time to get the stuff that matters and now they just want you to move the merchandise out of their basement!!  So go for it!  Everyone is happy!