The World Can Be Found At An Estate Sale In Los Angeles
These figures are totally made up, but the estate sale story I tell at the end is true.
Last week in the L.A. Area there were:
- A Dozen estate sales.
- 378 Yard and Garage Sales.
- 10 Rummage Sales.
- 1/2 Dozen Flea Markets.
And how many deals were found?
1000’s - Thats right 1000’s! In fact there is no end to the deals that can be found at estate sales - whether run by professionals, families, or churches; and yes, you can even find them at flea markets.
Heres why…
No one knows everything!
I have been in the estate sale business for the last 13 or so years - and I have a confession “I don’t know everything.” I know a lot, a helluva a lot, way more than the average person, but I don’t know everything about antiques and collectibles, not by a long shot. But lets keep this between you and me, I mean I don’t necessarily want this getting around…
But there is a catch…
Because I know that I don’t know everything about the value of every conceivable estate sale item, I have developed a special talent - I have learned how to find out what things are, and what their potential values are.
Here is a story…
Two years ago I got a call from someone who had had a professional estate liquidation company come in and stage an estate sale for her. The sale took place over a weekend, and I am sure that hundreds of people went to this estate sale. They had advertised it, and put up estate sale signs around the neighborhood.
When I got to the house, and looked around, there really wasn’t a whole lot left. The woman who had called me, wanted me to do a buy-out of the estate sale remainders - but hey, after an estate sale professional and the public have come and gone from a sale, there really wasn’t much to entice me to do a buy-out, except for a 3 framed watercolors; which I bought for a few hundred dollars. And then I did the homework her original estate liquidator should have done. By the way -
I sold them for $4,600, and here is the moral…
If you are someone who is looking for a “real” professional estate liquidator - REALLY CHECK THEM OUT - PUT THEM THROUGH THEIR PACES - ASK THEM THESE QUESTIONS.
Sorry for the shout…
If you are someone who shops estate sales, remember, the deals are there - they always will be for those who adapt to the changes and fluctuations of the antique and collectibles market.
So tell us about one of your finds…
Fine Estate Liquidation
The Do it Yourself Estate Sales Kit
Fine Estate Blog
Inherited Fire Arms
