Estate sales are common sources of great deals on valuable items. You’ve probably been to several of them throughout your life.
Estate sales take place when a person has passed or has had a major life change. For whatever reason, they no longer need the majority of their belongings.
In most cases, it’s left to family members and other loved ones to handle the estate sale. This can place a tremendous amount of stress on the person. If you find yourself in this position, don’t worry, we’ve got your back.
Keep reading for our top three tips on how to get the most out of local estate sales.
1. Hold Your Estate Sale at the Right Time
In many ways, garage sales and estate sales are quite similar. In fact, the estate sales you’ve been to in the past were likely found while out looking at garage sales.
As such, estate sales should be held at similar times. If possible, hold off on your estate sale until the beginning of garage sale season. We also recommend running your estate sale during the weekend.
Of course, garage sales typically sell unwanted items and junk, with a few good finds here and there. Estate sales, on the other hand, are full of valuable and useful items. Before moving on, click here to learn more about the difference between a garage sale and an estate sale.
2. Price Your Items Carefully
One of the most important rules in running local estate sales is to price your items strategically. There’s a fine line between giving things away and pricing them too high.
The average estate sale shopper is looking for the same deals they’d find at garage sales. Yet, if you’re selling valuable items, you should get a fair deal on the sale.
We recommend getting valuable items appraised. List the appraisal value for customers to see but be open to negotiations.
For smaller and less valuable items, keep your prices low to move more inventory. Make sure shoppers know you are willing to entertain offers.
3. Market Your Estate Sale Long in Advance
Finally, to maximize attendance and publicity of your estate sale, market the event several weeks in advance. Use newspapers, social media, and other sources to let your community know about the sale.
We also suggest posting fliers throughout your community. Make sure all of your advertisements provide descriptions and pictures of high-value and in-demand items. This will boost the amount of interest you create for the estate sale.
In some cases, it can be beneficial to work with estate sale companies. They can help you advertise and organize the entire event. If you’re struggling to do everything on your own, this is a fantastic alternative.
Are You Planning an Estate Sale?
We don’t know why you’re hosting an estate sale, but we’re sorry to hear about any loss or tragedy you might be experiencing. We hope this article helps you sell as many items as possible.
And if you’re looking for more lifestyle tips or marketing advice, stick around. Check out some of our other articles to find more answers to all of life’s questions.