10 Tips for Scoring Big at an Auction or Estate Sale

Have you ever been to an auction?  My first time was exhilarating!  I had my auction number and had scouted out a few things that I really wanted to take home with me.  There were times I got caught up in the moment and times I felt too shy to bid.  Here are 10 tips for scoring big at an auction or estate sale.

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1. Scout out the goods!

   Know what is being sold.  If you have a chance walk around, touch the things you are interested in.  Make sure they are made of materials with structural integrity.  Know what you like and where it is located.

2. Do your research.

   One of the big auctions where we live has an online catalog of some of the items being sold.  This gives me a great opportunity to look up items online.  Check out ebay or craigslist to get a realistic idea of how much an item is worth.  If you are attending an auction that doesn’t have items listed online beforehand, make sure to bring your smartphone and look up items while you are scouting.  I paid $4 for two-dozen vintage Ball mason jars (five of them were that lovely blue glass- going for well more than $4 a piece online).

3. Have a budget!

   This is an important one and I am guilty of not adhering to this tip! If you don’t set a budget, you could get caught up in the moment and seriously over pay for an item.  When I attended my first auction, I desperately wanted a dresser.  I didn’t care what condition the dresser was in because I was sure I could rehab it.  I ended up overpaying for an old dresser that is still, to this day, sitting in my garage.  It is a constant reminder to have a budget and stick to it.  Had I stuck to my original “high” price point, that dresser would be sitting in someone else’s garage.

4. Have a truck or access to a vehicle to haul your goods.

   Don’t be that person who is trying to fit a couch in the back of a Prius.  Most of the auctions I have attended will allow you to “store” your items for a few hours after the auction ends.  This may give you the flexibility to go rent a uhaul van!

5. Bring Cash.

   Oddly enough, not for your treasures.  All of the auctions I have attended that have been professionally managed, and have required a credit card to purchase items.  But guess what- there are snacks and those vendors take cash only.  If you are attending an outdoor auction in the summer in the south you will probably want to splurge for a bottle of water, so make sure you have some cash on hand.

6. Don’t be shy.

   I felt so nervous at my first auction and was oddly scared to hold up my number or shout out.  By the end of it, I felt like a pro, though.  Don’t be shy.  If you want something, speak up!

7. It’s ok to outbid someone.

   I felt a little guilty outbidding someone the first few times I attended auctions, especially for those really popular items.  Don’t feel guilty.  This is why it’s called a bidding war.  You are paying money for something- it is up to you to decide if it is worth it to outbid someone, but don’t feel guilty about it.

8. Keep an eye out for things no one wants.

   I was at an estate sale a few years back and there were so many chairs that they were going for a dollar.  I ended up taking one because, really- it’s a dollar!  Guess what?  I took the chair to my in-laws house to store in their garage and upon seeing the chair; my father-in-law asked how much I paid for it.  He explained that the caning on the back of the chair was in such good condition, it was probably worth $50 as is.  What a deal- $1 for a chair that was worth more than $50!  Since then, I have redone the chair, and it is stunning!  Check out my one-dollar caned high back chair makeover. 

9. Plan for the day.

   Don’t think you can show up for an auction and just stay for an hour.  It is a process and you definitely want to get there early (to scout) and stay until the end.  Block off the entire day!

10. You CAN get some really good deals.

    Up by my in-laws’ house, they have farm auctions.  Most of them are for large farm equipment, but sometimes they have tools like power drills and nail guns.  You can get some of these for a steal!  Keep an eye out for name brand items like tools.

So what do you do when you bid and win?  Pay for your items, take them home and put them in your home!  Here are some auction finds that I have redone and used in my home.

Still interested in finding out more?  Grab my auction guide ebook for FREE!