What to Bring to An Estate Sale, According to the Pros

“Estate sale shopping is an exhilarating adventure, though not for the faint of heart,” comments Libby Rasmussen, who is the owner of LIBBY & MY and an avid secondhand enthusiast. “Be ready for ample waiting, swirling dust, overpriced items, and occasional modest spoils.” If you’re new to the world of estate sales, you might be wondering what exactly you should plan to pack with you before heading out the door and embarking on this magical type of shopping journey. Below, Rasmussen and seven other estate sale experts chime in to share the key items you’ll always want to make sure to have on hand before kicking off a day of secondhand shopping. 

Water and Snacks

You’ll want to have some sustenance to make it through a long day of shopping! Rasmussen recommends packing a water bottle and some snacks prior to leaving the house in the morning. Jess Ziomak, the owner of Thrills of the Hunt, agrees. “These days there can often be long wait times to enter a sale, so packing food and water is helpful in case what you think will be a quick trip turns into hours.”  

Measuring Tape

A portable roll of measuring tape can easily fit inside a purse or fanny pack and will help you capture a piece’s dimensions in no time. “If you're looking at a piece that several people are interested in, having a tape measurer on hand might be the thing that allows you to beat the competition,” explains Lily Barfield, the owner of Lily’s Vintage Finds. “While your fellow shoppers are asking to borrow a tape measure from the group running the sale, you already have one in your bag! You'll have measured the piece and know if it works before they even return.” A tape measurer will allow you to determine whether a large item will fit in the back of your car, too, she adds. 

Basic Cleaning Supplies

Barfield also keeps a simple pack of wipes or travel size-all purpose cleaner and paper towel on hand as she shops secondhand. “Dirt and dust often conceal the condition of pieces, and a simple wipe down can tell you a lot,” she notes. “You might pick up some beautiful crystal glasses thinking they are just murky due to grime, but they are actually cloudy from misuse, something that often can’t be remedied.”

A White Pencil Eraser

Stacy Harvie, the owner of Capitol Vintage Charm, always keeps a white eraser on hand when estate sale shopping, as she finds it will remove tarnish from silver and silverplate. “Often when I am inspecting an item, I struggle to see if some of the blemishes are just tarnish or if the plate has worn off,” she explains. “I rub the eraser on the piece and it will remove tarnish if that is the case. While I don't recommend using this method to polish an entire piece or for something extremely valuable, it has helped me pick up some gorgeous silver pieces.” 

A Sharpie and “SOLD” Tags

Virginia Chamlee, the author of Big Thrift Energy, says that she always brings a Sharpie and some tags with her when estate sale shopping. “Companies have different rules, but some ask that with larger items, you pull the price tag and write ‘SOLD’ somewhere on the item to ensure no one else snags it,” she comments. 

Cash

Making a quick stop at the ATM before heading to an estate sale may help you score some deals. “Most estate sale companies accept Venmo or credit these days but are still willing to offer extra discounts if you pay in cash,” explains Kate Pearce, the founder of the blog Kate Pearce Vintage. Carrying a variety of bills on hand will make it easier for sellers to give you change, too. Plus, as Chamlee notes, many sellers issue credit card fees, so cash truly never hurts. 

Your Phone

Most of us don’t leave the house without a smartphone in hand anyway, but definitely make sure your device is fully powered up and ready to use as you shop. Pearce likes to take a look at comparative pricing for items online while browsing. You’ll also want to have your phone accessible to contact delivery people as needed or to take down contact info for a moving company. “Most places will have someone they work with locally if you don’t have your own delivery contact, so be sure to ask,” says Melanie Gowen, the founder of Melanie Gowen Design. 

Moving Blankets and Boxes or a Tote

That said, if you plan to handle your own moving, you’ll want to come prepared. “I always bring moving blankets, towels, and either a reusable bag or a cardboard box or two so I can easily take any small items I purchase outside,” Chamlee says. “Many companies don’t have the manpower to help you pack up breakables, and some don’t even have shopping bags.” A large tote will often come in handy, too—Nicole Letts of Grandmillennial Shop swears by her canvas L.L.Bean bag. “I've found that as sales go on throughout the weekend, they often run out of shopping bags or boxes,” she shares. “My tote bag makes for soft cushioning for my finds making them easy to consolidate and carry to my car.” 

Prefer to shop secondhand finds from the comfort of your own home? For a streamlined experience, shop estate sales online at all hours. Explore sales near you.

Written by:

Sarah Lyon

July 26, 2023     Updated 11:08 AM

Sarah Lyon is a Washington, DC, native living in New York City. As a freelancer, she frequently covers pieces pertaining to interior design, travel, and other lifestyle topics. Her pieces have appeared in outlets including Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and more. When she isn't writing, Sarah works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots (and can't stop rearranging and redecorating her own apartment, either!). She has a penchant for shopping secondhand and loves giving preloved pieces new life. Sarah’s own spaces have appeared on Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, Houzz, and Washingtonian.com. Her Dupont Circle apartment was featured in both the spring 2019 print edition of Small Space Decorating and the January 2019 print edition of Washingtonian Magazine.

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