Be Prepared: What to Bring to an Estate Sale

Estate Sales are so much fun.  I love to go and shop them for both my home and my antique business and I have found some really cool things over the years. I have also learned a few things along the way!  Today, let’s chat about some of the “supplies” that you may need for your estate sale travels!  There are a few items that I like to have with me – things I pack before I leave the house for an estate sale – and while I may not use them all, it’s always better to be prepared!  Let’s discuss what to bring to an estate sale.

Tote Bag

There have been times when my two little hands just weren’t enough to carry all of  the items that I stumbled upon while shopping at a sale.  With that in mind, I have learned to always pack a few bags. I like the plain old canvas bags that you can just toss in the wash afterwards!  While most estate sales will have “Hold” tables – a table, shelf, or other area where you can place your treasures while you continue to shop – you may not want to take the TIME to walk over and place things on that “Hold” table.  There have been a few instances when I have missed out on a really cool piece just because I couldn’t carry it and someone else came in right behind me and scooped it up.  Sure, you could “claim” it out loud to the universe, but when an estate sale is super full and busy, that just won’t cut it.  I have found that gently placing your items in a bag (you may even want to bring a few pieces of packing paper or an old dishcloth in case you find things that are small and fragile) can make a difference when there are lots of shoppers and a mad rush.  In addition to also saving time, having a bag handy to place small items in is an effective way to help you maintain your focus on shopping the sale … because you don’t have to worry about carrying all of your goodies!

This leads me to my next suggestion ….

Tape

What happens if an item is too heavy to pick up or too big to place in an over-the-shoulder bag?  Ahhhh – man this has happened to me so many times in the past – and I have a few solutions.  First, many times I will bring painters tape (cut into strips) with my name, cell phone number, and the word SOLD on it.  I usually write them out before hand and just tape them to my jeans before I walk into the sale so that I can easily and quickly claim the things that I want.  For example,  let’s say I am out in a barn and I find a big old tool box that is too heavy to move, I can just slap that tape with my information onto the tool box to claim it.  I do suggest always asking the people running the sale if that is alright to do.  Also, be aware, if you slap your sticker on an item then you are basically agreeing to pay for it in that moment.  It would be considered rude to change your mind later so be intentional when deciding what to claim!   

Brush

Another great item that I tend to carry with me is are old brushes!  I use this OFTEN – to brush off any dirt, cobwebs, rust, etc… from old pieces that I purchase.  I like to knock off the “debris” from old things before I load them up into my car! There have been times where I have forgotten a brush and when that happens I simply find one to buy at the sale and they are usually really cheap!  

Blankets & Packing Supplies

Blankets and packing supplies are great to have on hand too!  I like to wrap up anything fragile really well so that it doesn’t break on the ride home.  For example, I found several large crocks at an estate sale that was about an hour and a half away.  I was happy to have several blankets to wrap them in because I had to drive down several winding backroads and they would have been tipping and rolling all over the place had I not come prepared!  You may also want to plan on bringing a tarp or an old blanket to cover your upholstery in case you fall in love with a large piece that is dirty!

Gloves & Sanitizing Wipes

Gloves and sanitizing wipes are a must for me.  While I like to walk through a beautifully staged house, I really prefer to dig through a really old and messy barn.  This almost always results in getting dirty – especially my hands!  I have found that the best way to stay clean is to wear work gloves – but I don’t like doing that.  I prefer to be bearhanded.  Sanitizing wipes have really become important to me because I am able to clean my hands right there on the spot – without running water.  (Side note:  usually the bathrooms at estate sales are off limits, at least in my area, so don’t count on that as being an option.)  Another tip that an instagram follower suggested was to bring a squirt bottle of water and a little bottle/bar of soap to wash – I haven’t done that yet, but I though that was clever.  

Snacks & Water

This may seem obvious to mention, but I do always like to bring water and a small snack.  Sometimes I end up spending a LONG time at these sales – especially when there is a lot to go through!  I usually always end up being grateful for having a snack on hand!

Cash

Finally, I suggest that you bring cash.  Many estate sale companies do not accept credit cards and some won’t even take checks.  Unless you are willing to check an estate sale company’s website to confirm their accepted methods of payment, I would always bring cash in order to be on the safe side.  

I was so excited to share these tips with you and while I am sure this isn’t everything, my hope is that these few tips will help you walk into your next estate sale feeling prepared, confident, and excited.  Being prepared for the experience can help to ease any worries you may have and can also empower you to get out there and find your next treasure!  Happy hunting!