Whenever I mention estate sales on Vixen Vintage I get comments from international readers curious as to what exactly an estate sale is, as it's mostly a U.S. thing. So today when I went with my grandma, nana, and cousin pearl, I snapped some pictures after grabbing all the good stuff.
Basically an estate sale takes place after an individual passes away, and after the deceased's family takes what is important to them. All the persons items are collected and priced, and the house is open to the public, most often on weekend mornings.
Estate sale signs are posted on main roads and neighborhood streets directing treasure hunters to the house. You have to get there early if you want to get in first, and some vintage and antique dealers will get there hours early and wait in line if they think there is something there they want. It can get very competitive!
Anyway, this particular sale was terrific, I got loads of clothing and hats, most of the clothing I will sell on Etsy, but the hats are mine for keeps!
As you can see there is anything and everything at an estate sale, from towels and toilet paper, to dining sets and dressers. Some estate sales have items priced very affordably, and some are more like walking into an antique store! But if anything else, it's a great way to explore neighborhoods and see the insides of old homes :)
My grandma has been taking my to estate and garage sales since I was a little girl, and I just love them. It can be very suspenseful waiting outside a potential jackpot, and finding something excellent for nearly pennies is the best!
21 comments:
hi, thanks for the information, sounds so exciting like treasure hunting. If I lived in the U.S, I could do that all the time!
You should define it as "THE BEST EXPERIENCE OF A SHOPPING LIFETIME!". Then just snap pics of your finds.
I live in the U.S but I never see signs for estate sales! =(
Sarah
theantiquepearl.blogspot.com
Hey I see children's clothing Grandma left!
Oh wow, thanks for sharing. I dont recon they have estate sales in Australia, so it was nice to see what is actually at an estate sale.
I would like to go to estate sales, but I think it would also make me sad that the person passed away and all their loved possetions are being sold.
Looking forward to seeing what you found anyways :)
Rose
Hi, this is my first comment on your blog - I love your pictures and they already started to inspire me. :)
The story of your wedding dress is amazing! We don't have estate sales here in Hungary but I keep looking at every wedding dress I see in second hand clothes shops, no luck yet, only horrid 80s things... But your case gives me hope! :)
Thanks for the explanation! I've been months trying to understand that event.
It looks very exciting.
goodness I don't think they do these sales by me but that is amazing!
I've only been to one, but I've been wanting to go to another soon! I never have any luck driving around looking for them, I may have to start looking in the paper :)
Congrats on your great finds!
Looks like a great haul! Haven't been to a good one in a while now...hopefully soon!
www.prettydamncute.etsy.com
oh my! all those clothes!! great haul :)
~Lily
Hehe I'm going to my first estate sale today!
Man, I so wish we had estate sales in England! Normally dealers will do a 'house clearance', and then selectively dump or sell off the contents (sometimes at car boot sales - there are a few dealers that show up every week at the sales I frequent)
Looks like an amazing haul for you today - so jealous!
xx Charlotte
Tuppence Ha'penny Vintage
swoooooooooooooon. I live my estate sales through you :)
We don't really have estate sales here in alaska and i'm always so jealous when i see that people are going to them! looks like a blast.
I wish we had sales like this in the UK. They look great! Daisy Dayz Home
Ooooh I can not wait to see your finds in your shop! what fun!
an accurate descriptions ;)
can't wait to see the shop updated with your finds!
I'm fairly certain we do have estate sales in Australia just not so often (my friend went to one a few years ago and told me after that she thought I would have loved the stuff there), I would say. I think it's pretty rare, here!
Looks like there was some really neat stuff at this one!
-Andi x
I am so fantastically jealous of US estate sales – they are impossible to track down in the UK, if they happen at all. This one looks like a real treasure hunt!
We love estate sales!
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