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How to Buy From an Estate Sale

Member
By MIghtyDreamer
User-Submitted Article
(8 Ratings)
Money can be made from estate sales
Money can be made from estate sales

Estate sales are becoming more popular around the country and can be found online any day of the week. If you are looking for unique antique art, jewelry, pottery or old mechanical equipment such as fans, clocks and radios through an estate auction, there are a few tips in this article that may help you make wise and informed decisions in your bids.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • to want to learn about treasures before you make bids in purchasing from an estate sale.
  1. Step 1
    look for damages
     
    look for damages

    GO DIRECTLY TO the website of the estate sale if one is available and review the items to be sold. Take this time to make color photo copies of some of the items that interest you.

  2. Step 2
    find uniqueness
     
    find uniqueness

    INVESTIGATE with the pictures the value of the items on market through various auction houses and on the internet. Ebay is a place where you may find comparative items and other details about similar or the same items such as the cost, mark up and profit margin through resell.

  3. Step 3
    check for textures
     
    check for textures

    CHECK FOR SIGNATURES of famous artists from famous eras and places on anything you want to buy. The more personal history too that you can find about a particular piece the higher the value may be as it is in your possession.

  4. Step 4
    seek quality
     
    seek quality

    KEEP IN MIND that when going to estate auctions, there are auction houses that some times salt the items for sale. This means that by law, they can add items that appear to have value. It could be as an example an porcelain doll or china with the look and or feel of an antique. It could be valuable in the way of costly, but not necessarily have value as in the selling of it as an antique.

  5. Step 5
    grab style
     
    grab style

    PURCHASE LOW SO YOU CAN RESELL HIGH. For cash purchases, creep your bids, especially if there are only a few people looking to purchase the same item you are

  6. Step 6
    look for expense
     
    look for expense

    LOOK FOR DETAIL, dated pieces with style, uniqueness, expense, quality, textures and that it has little or no damage. If you are thinking about making a business of reselling auction finds, you are going to need to really learn doing so as a craft.

  7. Step 7
     

    TAKE YOUR PURCHASES and transport them with care to more than one antique specialist if you believe your purchases maybe antiques and worth money. Don't sell whatever it is right away. Instead ponder of the item(s) to make a decision of whether to keep them in the family, give them away as gifts, find a dealer or sell them by way of a auctioneer or auction house who will get a percentage from the sale.

  8. Step 8
     

    REMEMBER TO INSURE your treasures immediately. The cost is pennies on a dollar for the time invested and money invested in involving yourself with auction estate sales.

Comments  

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on 12/15/2008 I've always wanted to check out an estate sale - but never have. Thanks for this advice! 5*

HairCrazy said

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on 12/10/2008 Great info for buying from an estate sale, you can find great things at these.

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on 12/10/2008 Great information. Thanks.

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on 12/9/2008 EXCELLENT ARTICLE AND FULL OF GREAT TIPS. THIS IS A REALLY GREAT IDEA AND I LOVE YOUR PHOTO'S. THANKS FOR SHARING! 5*****

dasbootjoe said

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on 12/9/2008 Great tips! Thanks for sharing*****

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