Think the best estate sale finds are gone by Sunday? Think again! Insiders reveal why the final day often yields the biggest discounts, surprise items, and incredible hidden gems you won't want to miss. Click to learn their secrets!

Why It’s Always Worth Visiting an Estate Sale on the Last Day 

The next time you happen to drive by an estate sale on its last day and are wondering whether it’s worth pulling over and exploring, do it—estate sale enthusiasts agree that Sundays can make for excellent shopping days. 

Here, four avid shoppers are sharing their reasoning behind why the final day of a sale can be a great opportunity to score major gems. 

You Can Save Major Cash

The last day of an estate sale is a prime opportunity to scoop up majorly discounted goods. Writer Kristen Garaffo likes to frequent estate sales on Sundays because it makes her thrifting hobby a bit more budget-friendly. “I’m currently not in the market for anything super specific, so it's also kinder on my wallet and helps curb my impulse spending,” she says. Most of the time, she explains, items are marked down between 25 and 50 percent off on the final day. Garaffo adds, “I even find myself hesitating more when I go on a Friday or Saturday because I want a better deal!” 

In fact, you may be able to leave a Sunday sale having spent just a few dollars. “It’s the perfect chance to snag treasures—with bundles and deals so good, you might just walk away with items for less than $5,” says Marisa White, the co-owner of Irving Road. 

Her co-owner and sister, Sophie Schiff, agrees. “The last day of an estate sale is a must—not only are the prices slashed, but the sellers are eager to clear the house, which means you’ll find the best deals of the whole event,” she explains. 

On this note, don’t be afraid to make an offer if you’d like. “Lots of estate sale items get donated on Mondays to the local thrift stores for free, so offering something other than the sale price often works in your favor,” explains Lisa Hogan, the founder of House of Happies. “The company is at least making some money for the homeowners/family.” 

You May Spot New Items

Note that you may even find never-before-seen items on the last day of a sale, too. “Sometimes the company even puts out more items since there is usually more display space,” Hogan adds. If you went to a local sale on Friday or Saturday and liked what you saw, it may be worth driving back over on Sunday to see if anything else has been added. You may also come across items that other shoppers had been holding but then ultimately put back or discover things that had been hidden under piles of other goods. 

You Can Easily Score Hidden Gems

Don’t assume that all of the “good” pieces will have already been picked over by an estate sale’s final day. “We once scored a stunning large tobacco leaf bar monkey at 50 percent off, and let me tell you, we still can’t get over it,” White says. Schiff adds that not all items for sale will have been photographed in the original listing, so going in person is the only real way to determine all that is for sale. “There are always hidden surprises waiting to be uncovered in boxes, drawers, and corners you wouldn’t expect,” she says. 

It’s also likely you’ll come across high quality items that may have been too pricey for day one and two shoppers but are excellent deals by day three. During one Sunday estate sale trip, Garaffo spotted not one, but two, designer handbags for sale—a vintage Louis Vuitton and a Gucci—which she considers her “greatest estate sale find ever.”

She shares, “I was told there was tons of interest in the bags on the first day of the sale, but no one purchased or came back for them.” 

Written by:

Sarah Lyon

March 29, 2025     Updated 02:04 PM

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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