Garage sale case study number one

Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone!There were some garage sales this weekend despite it being a holiday weekend. Since not many sales happened, I want to devote this post to one particular sale and use it as an example to help people if they should embark on thier own garage sale.

I went to a sale yesterday and the seller happened to be very into dolls. Not just the run-of-the-mill barbie doll, but "collectable" baby dolls with wardrobes bigger than most hollywood starlets. She was asking $40 on up (some were being offered at $80!!) for these dolls that I'm sure only another collector would buy.

However, across the garage was a very nice Noritake snack plate and cup set in the Violette pattern as shown in the photo.

The seller was offering the set-eight plates and eight cups for $15.00! According to the Replacements web site which buys and sells china, crystal and silver, ONE placesetting alone is being offered at $23.99! The web site notes that this Violette pattern #3054 was sold between 1948 - 1958. That makes sense considering the seller mentioned it was one of her wedding gifts!

The moral of this post is, if you want to have a successful garage sale, research the value of any china, glassware, antiques or collectibles which you are selling-not just the items that you are really interested in! If the seller took the time to research the value of the Noritake set like she did her dolls, she would have made a bigger sale on the china than just $15.00. And I'm sure her dolls went back into her house with her after her sale.

The second day of a sale is always the best......

Happy Monday! I started this week by returning to that estate sale from yesterday which was still packed full of items. Alicia, Ken, and their team from Priceless Find worked very hard to organize the multitude of items and give buyers fair pricing. Truth be told, pricing is better on the second day of the sale, if there is anything left!

As I was walking through the house-and it was a beautiful house-I bumped into Judy, whom I met a few weeks ago at another sale. Judy runs a catering business called Beyond Delicious Catering and the menus on her web site are truly tantalizing. ChecK her site out here.

Well, have a good week. I have a few garage sale blog projects I'm working on so, stay tuned!

A sunday sale

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Even though I've been blogging about garage/estate sales for just a short time, I am learning a great deal based on my own research and speaking with the experts as well as the buyers who start waiting on line at the crack of dawn.

There was a sale today and usually there are very few Sunday sales. It was orchestrated by Priceless Find, an estate, house sale and contents liquidation service. I think having a sale on Sunday and Monday is a great idea because they have very little competition on those days. The buyers who go out often don't have to choose between sales because the Sunday sale will be one of the very few.

It was a very interesting sale because the items were very diverse - vintage clothing and jewelry to dolls and stuffed animals. Truly something for everyone.  They even were selling unopened model kits and star wars action figures. People were buying dolls, clothes, lamps and coming back for more.  

Like the Priceless Find web site states "It is amazing what people will buy; We have sold post cards, matches, manuals, unopened food, cleaning supplies, clothing, linens, towels, clothing, sheets, and glassware." I couldn't agree more, because I have actually witnessed people buying these things and more! A big seller as well, in what I've experienced,  is tools. Yes, many people will directly head down to the basement first in search of that very handy power tool.

All in all, it was a  unique sale based on what was offered and I might go back to visit again tomorrow because I was told they haven't unpacked everything yet.

Thanks again, Ken, for being patient and answering my questions!

Seller Beware!

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Well, I had a great sale weekend because I met a lot of nice people who asked me to e-mail them about my blog. Fawn and Debra, it was nice meeting you and I hope you found some great things at that estate sale. Also hello to Tommie who is from Cove Carpet in Summit. I did find one record at that sale! More on that estate sale in my next post.

This will be a short post because I wanted to separate it from the other happenings of this weekend because I am dedicating this post to something I bought for just $2.00 that I believe is worth a considerable amount more. I don't want to mention what it is just yet, until I can get it appraised. But what I will tell you, is that it is a piece of jewelry that is stamped 14k. It was among many items in a tray of mostly costume jewelry a person was selling at his garage sale.

The moral of this post is-keep your eyes open and even if it doesn't look real, spend a little more time examining it because it just might be something valuable-or at least more valuable than the asking price! Stay tuned....

Wishful thinking works!

The other night as I was going through my garage sale finds, I thought to myself that I need a screen to divide the room that they are stored in. I searched on Amazon.com, but I didn't find anything that I would buy because they all looked kind of flimsy. I should note that the reason I am now actually shopping garage/estate sales, is because I am going to announce some "challenges" during the next few months. One being, the challenge to furnish a guestroom  for $500 or less. After the challenge is over, I will be raffling off some of the pieces in the room. Another "challenge" is for me to find something at a garage sale item that is worth much more than I paid for it. Stay tuned for that one!

Getting back to my screen dilemma, I put that in the back of my mind as I was preparing for the sales for the next few days. I unexpectedly found an estate sale run by Brenda Hogan Devereux and her great team from The Real McCoy.  I love that name, by the way!

Everyone on Brenda's team was friendly and very helpful. I'm pointing that out because you have a lot of people walking in and out of these sales, and overseeing all the activity, in my opinion, can be stressful! I am waiting on line with these buyers and I know whereof I speak! These shoppers can be brutal and a professional, alert, and composed estate sales team deserves a lot of credit. Not only do they have to constantly keep a watchful eye on people wandering around the house, but they also carefully pack up your purchases and help you to your car! Thank you, Real McCoy, and if you send me all of your names, I will post them :)

As I was exploring the house, I found my way down into the basement where lo and behold, in the back of the room, was a three panel screen! I couldn't believe my good fortune, because, 1. it was nice, 2. it was in great condition, and 3. at $45, I could afford it on my garage sale budget! It was also a unique design that I have never seen before shopping in the retail world.

Now the screen has a new home and an important job to do. I dusted it, shined it up, and it looks great.

As a reminder, please let me know of any questions that you have about antiques (antiques are defined as items no less than 100 years old, I found out today) or vintage pieces in general or even a specific one, because now I have met professionals who have agreed to be my experts on this subject for my blog.

Have a great weekend!

A few estate sale tips

Last Friday, I went to two estate sales. I visited the first one because it was the home contents of a former DJ and he was downsizing and selling his records-about 10,000 of them! I went there specifically for the records, and purchased several of them (nowhere near 10,000). I would have stayed longer to explore the other contents but I was very dissapointed by the woman running the estate sale. Her attitude toward people she did not know who were waiting on line was rude and she would only acknowledge the people she knew-who were dealers. In fact, as I was standing next to her, she told a dealer she held the first nine numbers to give out to those she knew. That, I was told, was not very ethical.  I acually asked her if I could have a low number since she had eight left and she gave me a flat-out "Noooo." 

After waiting 10 minutes after she let the first 40 people in (I was #47), I made my way to the basement where the records were. The DJ was there and he gave me a fair price and even helped me choose ones my husband would enjoy. I walked around the other rooms and didn't find much, but what I did find was that the prices were too high for what was being offered.  Needless to say, I don't think I would attend another estate sale she was running because I don't believe I would get a fair price based on her demeanor and attitude. Something just didn't sit well with me regarding the way she conducts business.

In the afternoon, I stopped by another one of Evelyn Gordon's estate sales and the atmosphere was completely different. Her prices were fair and she also tells you about what you are purchasing and even helps you wrap your items up securely. She is also open to answering questions as well. I asked her how to tell an item is sterling silver or just plated. She explained that silver plated items do not "give". Sterling silver "gives" and bends easier. The real way to tell 100 percent is with an acid test, but carrying around a kit could be a little dangerous!

I'm learning that there are many kinds of people who run estate sales, but very few who you would enjoy talking to-and learning something from.  Evelyn has offered to answer questions about antiques for my blog so if anyone has an item to inquire about, please let me know. Thanks Evelyn!

A very busy weekend

I have way too much to write for one blog post about my experiences this past weekend, so I will write a few posts on different topics over the next few days.

I'll start, though, to blog about where I visited today. Since it was pretty close to my house, I visited Second Dibs, an antique warehouse full of eclectic and reasonably-priced antiques. They also sell their items online at http://www.seconddibs.com./ The warehouse was full of really cool furniture, lamps, wall art, and more. This is a great place to go if you need to furnish any room in your house, because I'm quite sure you will find something that catches your eye.

While I was exploring the warehouse, I noticed a postcard advertising hosting a Ladies Night Out party there. I don't know about you, but I will take any excuse to get out of the house and away from two toddlers for a little while! I spoke to Stephanie from Second Dibs, and she explained that they will provide the space to host your party (and the antiques to browse and buy), while you supply the wine and cheese or whatever strikes your fancy. I thought that was a great idea-and so did some of my friends that I mentioned it to. Come tomorrow evening, I'll be sending my Ladies Night invite out!

Take a number

This weekend's garage sales were very interesting. It was all about fundraising. I went to one church sale, one town-wide garage sale, and one middle school sale.

The church sale. It was scary! People had arrived very early because they were giving out numbers to get in! And if you didn't have a number, woe to you if you even looked at the door! I even had a few choice words with a woman who accused me of trying to get in without a number.  The funny thing was, I was speaking with another woman who gave me an earful about certain types of people who go to these church sales. She gave me her card (she is a caterer who goes to sales all the time-when I find your card, Judy, I'll link to your web site!). I told her I was going to write a random number on the back of her card to see if I get in! I chickened out of that social experiment, because she warned me that I could get beat up if I wrote a number someone else had! Seriously, I was really blown away by how aggressive people can get while waiting on line to get into these sales. In any case, I was not impressed by the sale, although I did come away with a $10 Radio Flyer Trike for my son and a kid's white wooden rocking chair for $15.

The middle school sale was crazy. They had it in one big room, with one door in and one door out. Can you say fire hazard? The sale was set up by aisle and it was very difficult to navigate. I did find a really cool Radio Flyer Retro Rocket ride on with lights and sound for $5. It looks like it was barely used, so my son made out well. 

Last but certainly not least, was the town-wide garage sale. The coordinator was handing out maps at the  local Elks Club with addresses of the private homes having sales.  Tables were even set up at the Elks Club for people to sell their wares if they didn't want to have the sale at their home. The tables at the Elks Club cost about $25 to rent for the day and that money went to charity. I think having a garage sale for a charity is a great idea and I brought up the idea to the fundraising chair at my daughter's school who will look into it.

For all you readers searching for garage sales this coming weekend, here is a new web site I just found:
http://www.yardsalesearch.com/   It's a state-wide web site for yard sales! So if you happen to be going on a road trip, you can fit some yard sales in on the way :)

You Never Know What You Will Find......

Or what you will end up using it for. That was what I learned today.

This morning I stopped by at a garage sale specifically for my husband. He's learning how to play the banjo and enjoys Bluegrass music and funny enough, the ad for this sale advertised Bluegrass records. Yes, vinyl records. More on why records later. In any event, the couple having the sale were musicians and had not only Bluegrass records, but magazines as well. My husband was very happy. They even had a instrument stand which I bought for $5.00. I began talking to them and they are actually having a concert in the near future and we are planning on going to hear them play.

While on my way to another estate sale I saw a sign for a different one and I stopped in, only to run into an antique dealer I know from my neighborhood antique shop. John is a really nice guy and very knowledgeable. Check out his web site, Autumn Antiques.

My next stop was an estate sale organized by Evelyn Gordon of  Evelyn Gordon Antiques. If you recall, I attended one of her sales last week. She's great to talk to and answers any questions you have on a particular item. I found a blue painted Lane cedar chest with Queen Ann legs that I thought would look great in my daughter's room. Kind of Shabby Chic, don't you think? The problem was where to put it, because a changing table is taking up too much real estate.

Problem solved. I turned the chest into a changing table of sorts. The best thing is, one day I can also use it for what it was actually designed for! My daughter thinks its the greatest thing. Why she still needs a changing table at three and a half is another story.

I'd love to hear your stories about things you have found that you ended up using in non-traditional ways.

Let's Backtrack

As I am preparing for this coming weekend's sales, I want to share with you what happened last weekend and note some interesting web sites.

I attended my first estate sale run by Evelyn Gordon of http://evelyngordonestatesales.com/. I didn't expect to find anything but furniture and china, so I was surprised when I walked down to the basement to find a nice collection of Jazz cd's (yes, a few of them came home with me for my husband). Apparently, the former owners also had a love of reel to reel tapes, because there were dozens of those as well. I couldn't believe when one man actually bought the reel to reel machine and all the tapes! I asked him why he wanted them and he said he was going to resell them. There you have it-people will buy items at these sales to sell them for a bigger profit.

Other shoppers also bought books, tablecloths, old cameras, and tools. Every room had something for sale in it-even the garage.

I spoke to the coordinators of the sale and was told that more and more house or estate sales are cropping up because people are downsizing and want to live a simpler life. I just think they want to sell their things to buy other things :) As I was researching more sales to explore, I happened upon this web site: http://www.estatesales.net/. I think it's pretty cool-and it even has photos of items at the estate sales.

I hit a few other garage sales over the weekend and picked up a few things for my kids. Many of the things I found were brand new, unopened.  I asked one woman why she didn't get to open these great things and she said she forgot about them because she was hiding them from her husband! I definitely could relate -especially when she added that he doesn't mind when she brings home Yankee tickets :) Now her kids were too old for many of those toys. She also told me she actually rents a storage facility. I thought she was talking about her garage, but it is an actual storage unit!  I guess she just wanted to downsize over the weekend  before her husband came home from the Yankee game;)

On the way back I got a flat and I'm still driving around with the spare. Haven't fixed it for various reasons but I need to soon because I have to make sure my ride holds up for my weekend expeditions.

Stay tuned.

The Season Has Started

Spring has at last arrived and everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather. They are also busy cleaning out thier homes and garages. Yes, this is the time of the year when garage sales pop up on almost every block in suburbia.

Truthfully, I never bought anything at a garage sale until I moved out of New York City and found myself in a leafy suburb in New Jersey. My husband and I used to frequent the downtown antique markets in NYC on many nice weekends, but these days, I find myself exploring garage sales solo-or with friends. Many men don't enjoy garage sales, that is until you find something they like! I am saying this not only from my experience, but from many women I have met venturing out on early weekend mornings.
My blog will be about my garage sale adventures. Who I meet, what I learn from them and of course, what I find. I'll explore estate sales as well as fundraising sales. I'll share buying (and selling!) tips with you. I'll discuss sales that I have just happened upon, only to find something really great-usually for my kids :)

It is truly amazing what people actually sell and even more so, what they buy. Stay tuned, you're truly in for a bumpy ride :)