There are many different reasons to hold an estate sale, and also good reasons for people who have the means and opportunity to visit a local estate sale whenever they have the chance. Some buyers are so keen on estate sales that they use an estate sale finder to locate them all.
Estate sales are typically held when it’s time to liquidate all of the holdings of an estate. Rather than being held at an auction house or on the lawn, many estate sales are held in the comfortable surroundings of a home that is associated with the estate.
When estate sales happen, the executors responsible for the sale are more likely to sell off items that once served as family heirlooms or investments. For this reason, you are much more likely to find unusual items at an estate sale than at an ordinary “garage sale.”
Estate sales aren’t only held in case of death, either. Sometimes, they can be a response to bankruptcy. There might be very good financial reasons for choosing to sell a given item.
Unusual Items You Are Likely To Find At Estate Sales
It’s important to recognize that not all items that look expensive may actually be authentic. Items are often sold “as is,” and the original owner may have truly believed that an item was an antique.
That said, you’re very likely to encounter all of the following at an estate sale:
Paintings And Other Artworks
Many older people gravitate toward art as a stable investment. Art found at an estate sale may be reproductions or could have sentimental value, but there’s always the chance of an unusual and valuable find. Only assume that an individual piece is valuable if provenance data is available.
Jewelry And Timepieces
Jewelry and timepieces can be very pricey if they are authentic. In many cases, an estate sale might invite a jeweler who is capable of discussing the apparent authenticity of items. In other cases, information about the original purchase can be used to establish the history of the item.
Books
As the popular imagination moves away from printed materials and toward electronic reading, certain sets of books can be very valuable. It is important to examine such items closely and make sure that they have been kept in a reasonable condition before making a bid. As with other forms of art, the author’s signature can greatly enhance the value.
To learn more about estate sales, call or email us at Heritage Estate Sales today.