Estate Sale Rules Explained: Pre-Sales, Holds, Discounts & More

FOR ESTATE SALE SHOPPERS

Why can’t I buy something from the photos before the sale? Why won’t you tell me the price? Can I put this on hold? And when does everything get cheaper? Estate sales have a few unusual rules, but there’s usually a reason behind them.

An estate sale is a little different from shopping at a regular store.

For a few days, someone’s home becomes a temporary marketplace filled with hundreds or sometimes thousands of individually priced things. Add a line of excited shoppers, a few narrow hallways, some fragile glassware and at least one person carrying something much larger than they probably should be carrying, and you begin to understand why estate sale companies develop a few rules. 😂

At Restless Mommas, most of those rules come down to three things: fairness, safety and keeping the sale running smoothly.

Here are some of the questions we hear most often and why we handle them the way we do.

Can I Buy Something Before the Sale Opens?

Usually, no.

We know this one can be frustrating when you spot exactly what you’ve been looking for in the sale photos.

But those photos are a preview of what shoppers can expect to find when the sale opens. Someone may see a piece of furniture on Tuesday, rearrange their Friday morning, drive across town and get in line early specifically because they hope to buy it.

If we quietly sold it on Wednesday, that wouldn’t be much of a preview.

So generally, merchandise shown in our sale photos remains available until the sale opens.

There are occasional exceptions. We may pre-sell an unusually large or difficult item, for example, or remove something ahead of time when doing so makes practical sense for a particularly full house.

But those are exceptions rather than the normal way we run a sale.

Can You Tell Me the Price Before the Sale?

We don’t provide advance pricing over the phone, by text or through messages.

This follows the same basic idea as our pre-sale policy: we want shoppers to begin with the same information.

We publish lots of photographs because we want you to see what’s coming. But prices are part of the sale itself.

Once the doors open, come find the thing you spotted in the photos, check the price and decide whether it’s coming home with you.

How Does the Line Work?

Entry can look a little different from one estate sale to another.

For some sales, we may use the digital line available through EstateSales.NET. Other situations may require a slightly different approach, so it’s always a good idea to read the individual sale listing before heading over.

Once we begin letting shoppers inside, our goal is generally to allow as many people into the home as can comfortably and safely shop it.

We don’t use one magic number for every house because every house is different.

A large open home can handle a very different crowd than a small house with narrow hallways, stairs, packed rooms or lots of fragile merchandise.

If we need to slow entry for a while, it isn’t because we enjoy making people stand outside. We promise. 😂 It’s because everyone inside needs enough room to actually shop safely.

What Is the Hold Area For?

If you shop estate sales long enough, eventually your arms lose the argument.

We provide shopping baskets when we can, but sometimes you’ve already filled one and then you find a lamp. And three framed pictures. And a cast iron skillet. And apparently you also need that ceramic chicken.

That’s what our hold area is for.

The hold area is for items you have decided to purchase, not a place to park something while you think about it.

It is typically located near the register or somewhere our staff can monitor it. Once an item has been placed there for purchase, other shoppers should not shop from the hold area.

If something appears to have been abandoned for an extended period, however, we may return it to the sale so someone else has an opportunity to buy it.

If you’ve decided to purchase something but aren’t sure where to put it while you continue shopping, just ask us. We’ll help.

When Do Prices Go Down?

Ah, the eternal estate sale question.

Most Restless Mommas in-person estate sales are two-day sales. Merchandise generally begins at full price, with remaining items discounted on the second day.

That creates the classic estate sale tradeoff:

Shop early for the best selection, or wait for the discount and take your chances.

If there’s something you absolutely love, waiting can save you money.

It can also result in you walking back into the house the next day and discovering that someone else absolutely loved it too. 😂

Sale schedules and discounts can vary, so check the individual sale listing for the details of the particular sale you’re attending.

What Is a Liquidation Day?

Some sales have a different goal at the finish line.

If a client needs as much of the house cleared as possible, we may extend the sale and add a liquidation day.

That’s when things can get especially fun for bargain hunters.

Prices may become much more flexible, offers may be encouraged and shoppers purchasing multiple items may find especially good opportunities to make a deal.

Liquidation days are popular with dealers and resellers, but you certainly don’t have to be one. They’re also great for anyone who enjoys digging through what remains and finding a bargain.

Not every estate sale has a liquidation day, and the way we handle one can vary depending on the sale and the client’s goals. If a sale includes one, we’ll provide the details with that particular sale.

Can You Hold Something for Me Until I Get There?

Generally, we can’t hold merchandise for someone who isn’t at the sale.

If we held the dresser because someone called and said they were on the way, the person standing in front of it ready to purchase it wouldn’t have much of a fair chance.

Estate sale merchandise is generally first come, first served.

Once you’re at the sale and have decided to purchase something, that’s when our hold area comes into play.

Why Are Some Rooms or Items Off-Limits?

Remember, an estate sale is still taking place inside someone’s home.

There may be a room containing things the family is keeping, an area we aren’t using for the sale, personal belongings that aren’t for sale or a space that simply isn’t safe for shoppers.

Closed doors, blocked areas and anything marked Not for Sale should be treated exactly that way.

If you aren’t sure whether something is part of the sale, ask us before moving it.

What If I Buy Something Big?

Please bring the people, vehicle and muscle you’ll need to take large purchases home.

Our staff is busy running the sale and generally can’t leave their positions to move or load heavy furniture and appliances.

Pickup arrangements can vary depending on the home and the sale schedule, so ask us before purchasing if you aren’t sure when something needs to be removed.

Why Does Every Estate Sale Seem to Have Slightly Different Rules?

Because every house is different.

One sale may have plenty of parking and enormous open rooms. Another may have a steep staircase, one narrow entrance and enough glassware to make us nervous just looking at it.

One client may need the home completely cleared. Another may have plenty of time after the sale. One house may need a tightly controlled entrance while another can comfortably accommodate a crowd.

That’s why the information published with each individual sale is always the best place to check for that sale’s schedule, entry procedures, discounts and other details.

Really, We Want You to Have Fun

We don’t want an estate sale to feel like a building full of rules.

We want you to wander around, open the closets we’ve opened for shopping, dig through the books, discover something ridiculous, fill a basket and have a good time.

The handful of rules we do have are there so everyone gets a fair opportunity to shop, the home stays safe and the whole thing doesn’t descend into estate sale Thunderdome. 😂

And if you’re ever unsure about something while you’re shopping, ask us. We’d much rather answer a question than have you spend twenty minutes wondering whether you’re allowed to buy the ceramic chicken.

Every home has a story. Every treasure gets a new beginning. ❤️

Restless Mommas Estate Sales