How to Tackle an Estate Sale! | Do This to Prepare for Success

We're helping an old friend who has a huge variety of vintage fun stuff to sell at her estate sale this week! She's on the South Hill of Spokane, Washington, a place we've never held an estate sale. How can we know what to do differently here than we'd do in Seattle or St. Petersburg?
The answer (as it often is)...Go Shopping! Scouting other people's estate sales when you're in a new market is a great way to see what people expect in terms of quality, display and pricing...and a great way to find bargains on the stuff people here don't want that our customers do elsewhere.
We arrive early to one sale, so we scoot off to another that's already running in an 1890s Gingerbread cottage with lots of sheds full of stuff! Like our upcoming sale, these folks were serious collectors of a lot of fun and unserious things, and the prices are bargain to just right. We find a deal on the newest decoy in the row that will pay for everything else we bought, along with 50c drip-cuts, $1 sprayers and even a folding estate sale sign we can reuse! After seeing that we concur with their pricing on bulk books and paper ephemera, we're ready to go back to the original sale.
There we learn that while costume jewelry might go cheaper in this market, people will come to even a small sale here in big numbers! This makes our sale an exciting prospect, with a lot of hungry vintage hunters out on the prowl. We find $36 worth of cool stuff from Spokane's Expo '74 World's Fair to 1930s costume jewelry that somehow gets discounted (note to self: no day 1 discounting!), say our thanks and head on for sale number three.
By now, it's looking like our formula for how we run and price our sales are pretty consistent with what people in Spokane are used to seeing, so it's our turn to give back when we kibitz with the estate maven about two of her art pieces and how they're priced! It's always nice to give back when you're out sourcing merchandise...and sourcing ideas. We pick up a fun photo album to add to our growing estate sale haul, and return confident that we have the right plan to make our own estate sale a success!
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Music from filmmusic.io
"Sweeter Vermouth" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/b...)
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[@brendabatt6874]

My mom had that gomd flatware. She hauled it out, along with the china, for holidays in the 70s. Of course it all had to be handwashed. One year my aunt tokd her she wouldn't come for the holidays anymore if everything had ro be handwashed. They both laughed and we were paper plates after that. Mom is 84 and we still use the paper plates for big family gatherings.

[@janetpogue4970]

Hi George- Fans, great fun to introduce him to a friend.and a way to thank him🎉 Click Share Arrow and send to a friend 🎉

[@misswildlife7905]

Oh George, the minute I saw that hat, I just knew..LOL

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

Oh yes, I couldn't help it

[@judyparmentier9699]

As always, George. You never disappoint. The visuals, the info and last BUT MOST DEFINITELY NOT LEAST.. your charm and humor. Absolutely precious. Thank you so much.❤️

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

(Blushing) thanks!

[@judyparmentier9699]

@@TheAntiqueNomad ❤️❤️❤️ You really are a “treasure.”

[@karensmith7157]

I type so slow i could never keep up with chat live. Your knowledge makes your videos fun if yoz shop goodwill or not

[@lightmarker3146]

The red stool is still the best made ,modern ones cant compete. I always have had one , grew up with my parents step stool and found one in the trash years ago , in mint condition . Built to last ! 😊

[@nadiacarpenter442]

Ive learned more from George than any other reseller his shenanigans are a bonus 😅

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

Lol thanks!

[@lynncombel1106]

Love listening to jazz! Those migrant camp photos were super intriguing!!

[@Deborah4Antiques]

I would have no problem moving right into that little Vic. I love repairing things and all my stuff would fit right in!❣

[@marthaball8029]

You are a very nice man, George.

[@Melinda_Ross]

That cottage is adorable. I would love to live there.

[@patricialyle1656]

Lots of neat items but you had me at railroad, lol! The hat made you look rather tall so it was a no for me, lol! Thank you George & I know you’re estate sale will be successful!❤️

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

As for hats, I need something that makes my nose look less prominent lol

[@george.carrasco]

Great video George! Thanks for sharing!

[@EBMFlowers]

I loved the bit about the park and the world's fair 😊

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

Oh thanks! Spokane should be justly proud that they figured out how to fix their downtown and make a fun event out of it

[@arlenefelicion5240]

George, I am always learning from you, plus I enjoy watching. I am not a thrifter , nor do I sell, but I do have fun seeing your purchases.

[@kelleykelley549]

Always thrilled when you post! Ty, George!

[@sallyward3791]

The tribute to your Mom was delightful !!!!❤ I watch on rv.

[@morphamorpha6194]

My parents took us to the World's Fair in Spokane, but I remember nothing of it. We went to the Seattle World's Fair, too. I was a toddler then, and remember crying angrily because Mom got to go up in the Space Needle and I had to wait in the stroller with my baby sister, with Dad watching us.

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

Aww! I didn't get to go to any until Vancouver '86

[@mkborders113]

George ! You had me laughing out loud when trying on the $35 hat and saying no thanks I already missed the coronation, lol. Thank you for always educating me as a reseller on what to look for and buy !

[@kimharding2246]

I laughed out loud, too! 😂

[@raffinataonline]

Love Spokane! ❤👏👍 Always wish they'd been able to save the train station. It was gorgeous.

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

Yes me too

[@LannieLord]

3:28 I'd use the potty chair for chips n' dip bowl at a party .

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

Love it! We used to have nurses come buy enamelware chamberpots and put them in the autoclave, then use them to serve baked beans at holiday dinners. Nurses see a lot of stuff

[@janetpogue4970]

Fun video, there is a lot going on. Thank you for sharing it all with us 🎉

[@katbunniekat1962]

Always love it when you try on a hat! 🤭

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

My silly human trick

[@katbunniekat1962]

@@TheAntiqueNomad It's your thing! I look forward to it!

[@lisacates4185]

Am excited for the ride along 😊❤ 🤣😆🤣On the hat, very sweet but wrong color

[@SuzMBooth]

So much to learn!

[@jacquelynkirby1442]

Love your content. George rocks!🤗

[@Marie-oy1bd]

So sorry you didn't find that lovely hat before the coronation! 😂

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

Lol me too

[@tinakercher8768]

Glad to be one of your 50K friends! lol. Fun video.

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

Me too!

[@karlaglover9693]

Thank you for sharing. Always enjoy learning new things. Please Stay Safe Happy and Healthy Have A Wonderful Day

[@sarahj.8372]

Wonderful video..I love Spokane...thanks George.

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

Me too!

[@janetpogue4970]

I like being a friend of yours that you are vedioing for ! ☺

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

You are! Thank you

[@janetpogue4970]

😊

[@tammyreneewalker5244]

That first sale with Victorian house was so right up my alley. Loved it all, especially all the ephemera. It is cool that they all made hand made signs & I believe more people are willing to go to estate sales that don't scream high-end estate sale company. Handmade makes it more personable. Just my opinion.😂 Another great video, George.💞

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

It's interesting you say that, I hard a lot of people say they were impressed by our printed signs but I bet you're right that some people think that's too slick! Funny thing is our prices were very similar to theirs. In any event, it seemed like both sales went well and people seem to be more focused on the stuff, which is what should be anyhow!

[@goldenviolet]

Pleasant Valley reminds me of a old Monkee's song. Lots of neat stuff in the sale, ofcourse the pottery was awesome. It's hard to find sliver or sliver plate anymore. Used to find it in the thrift shops for .5O. ❤❤❤😊😊❤❤❤

[@lindateska-woodrow5835]

The Flower Frog …. You don’t sell them? I sell them as often as I can find them in my Etsy shop. That $2 cost would have brought me $18-22. They are a sure sell for me!

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

I do sell them, and I bought that big one!

[@Chereese0808]

I grew up north of Spokane then later moved to Honolulu so this was fun. Haven't lived there in over 30 years. I'll take this Hawaii weather anyway, but do miss the beauty of the PNW. South hill was one of the neighborhoods I lived in. I hope your estate sale is in a old Victorian home. Can't wait. Thanks George. Aloha for now.

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

Hawaii is pretty irresistible though!

[@elizabethhiebler6198]

Nice video!!

[@OriginalNethead]

Word of advice to George: quantity discounts are a Thing, and negotiating on the first day is almost required in my area (Central Connecticut). Not sure about Spokane, but discounts never hurt even if it's only 10%. Speaking as an estate sale veteran, a non-local area code for a contact number can be a red flag. If the contact number is out-of-area here, I don't even go any more due to past experiences (bad at best). Overpricing things and being unwilling to negotiate are two of my pet peeves, and unlike George most out-of-towners don't do their homework. As for the franchise ones... you pays your quarter you takes your chances. The $35 hat at the end...makes you wondering what the homeowner was drinking when she bought it, and what they estate sale runners were smoking when they priced it.

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

I’d be curious how people there price to begin. If estate sellers are automatically expected to discount on Day one, it seems like they just price things higher to give a “discount”…I see that happen a lot in antique retail. To me if you want quantity discounts, we need to be talking a LOT of quantity…not a few items but boxes full

[@MimisTreasureCottage]

Prices are firm on the first day in my area. That's why I almost always go only on the last day.

[@None-685]

On west side of Ct, have you gone to white elephant? Haven’t been there in a while.

[@OriginalNethead]

@@None-685 Never been. Can't any more - The effin' MS won't let me.

[@OriginalNethead]

@@TheAntiqueNomad Usually the quanity discounts I see don't start until the buyer at least hits the $100 mark. Even as little as $5 off can make the sale on a first day. But if you're charging way too much to begin with and won't budge, don't be surprised around here if you have a house full of stuff at the end of the day.

[@babalua7044]

I have been enjoying your videos so much!

[@janelchambers6791]

Very informative, I believe you will do well

[@levcath13]

You found some pretty neat stuff! That hat was rather interesting:) Hope you have great sales ❤

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

Thank you, we did! I was happy to get to shop on a good weekend. The hat...

[@dtruetheeness]

Great tips !

[@sharonchartier1592]

Enjoy your show!❤️

[@lkvintagepa]

Wow what neat things this sale had! I'm so curious what they had the first day if all of this was still there when you went!

[@Ireneginori]

Always love your informative videos. I hope your sale is very successful! I’m in SW Florida, close to Kat. So I won’t be going. 😏

[@dorisbern6539]

George you found some very nice stuff today I loved the pictures at the last estate sale they were magnificent!!!!!

[@laneyjames2946]

Love Spokane. Beautiful area.

[@joannnelson9847]

George, Where is your estate sale???? I'm so excited to meet you!!!!

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

Details here: bit.ly/3D5f74W

[@CONSTELLATION_PEGASUS]

Good evening, George! That was a monster flower frog. I'd definitely go for that poison sprayer. OMG! I would've gone bananas with those decoys. That was an instant collection. That OZ book interested me. The "Mother Goose Rhymes" interested me. I'd like to know when it was published. There were some furniture keys, at the second sale, that I would've had to get. The Royal Albert "Silver birch" creamer and sugar were pretty. Loved the pyrography mug, with the monk on it. Lots of items that interested me, in each sale. Thanks for the take-along!

[@laraemitchell9064]

I have noticed a few places in Washington state and sometimes in Oregon, when development goes in to a residential area, they leave some of the big trees and I LOVE that! I first noticed it in my aunt’s neighborhood in Vancouver WA. Lack of mature trees is what I hate most about new subdivisions.

[@seaside2001]

The Egg and I - I acquired that book. Can't remember how, but I do recall when reading it quite a few years ago, how socially and politically incorrect the language would be now.

[@erinnkemp]

I wished I was there❤

[@None-685]

Those are real pumpkins, or gourds. Fed with milk. Always at the fall fairs it’s a big competition. Were the other postcards leather?

[@tumbleweed7283]

Thank you !!! My uncle craved decoys in Soap Lake WA. I have two that look like the green headed ones. Clark Whitmore do you recognize the name ? Love you man

[@markandrews2942]

Those prices you wouldn't make a dime in central NY

[@rkevghas]

I haven't seen a step down into a living room since the 1970s!

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

I love the step down! I imagine they're deadly to live around though

[@LannieLord]

I have been buying / selling / collecting since the 1980s. My venues were flea markets , garage sales and thrift stores. BIGGEST MISTAKE of my LIFE was ignoring ..ESTATE SALES because the word "estate" made me think "huge Hollywood mansion" with harps , diamond jewelry , fur coats , pianos and huge oil painted portraits of some J.R. Ewing Clampett tycoon in a 5 foot chunky gold frame. All stuff I have no interest in. LOL. Little did I know that Ma & Pa Mid-Century can be bucket-kickers and leave their estate shacks up for grabs. That said : I have some very rigid estate sale RULES: 1) If there be PHOTOS in advance : PLAY DETECTIVE ! I always look to see the layout. Is it CRAMMED to the rafters with old style boxes / bags / wrappers / trunks and crates? (a GOOD THING) or does the ad show a neatly vacuumed rug , no clutter , not "smalls" , nothing looking older than "Marshalls Era 1986" and NOTHING but LARGER UGLY furniture and BOOKS can be seen . 2 things people DO NOT WANT TO MOVE WITH --- BIG UGLY STUFF and BOOKS . So yeah; No, I am not here to help you clean out your space.

[@LannieLord]

That said, my FIRST intuition at a house sale is asking "Where's the basement?" . I'd rather hit a spot where stuff gets TUCKED away. Sometimes there's NO basement. Sometimes the basement is cleaned out already (NEVER a good thing). LOL .

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

All of that is true! I look as much for what you can't see as what you can when I look at an estate sale ad...diggers usually offer deals

[@hilderoutzahn8826]

I found the address. See you Saturday!

[@hilderoutzahn8826]

George- after the sale- I came and bought a box of pin backs....amongst many other things....if you HAVE ANY LEFT AFTER THE SALE, CAN I BUY THE REST??? how do I contact you??

[@joannnelson9847]

George,can't come out today.....I had a molar extracted yesterday!!!

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

I'm so sorry to miss you! We'll do it again

[@carolynharmon7074]

😊

[@wandajuul5150]

Isn't the Betty McDonald farm on Vashon Island? I admit my knowledge of the NW is not as extensive as yours, but there was just an estate sale at the McDonald farm, and it was on Vashon.

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

You are right, she left her husband in Center, Washington (near Pt. Townsend) and then wrote about that life in her office at her new farm on Vashon Island, where she completed The Egg and I

[@cynthiahudson5228]

Hi George, are you going to the Springfield Extravaganza? I hope to see you there!

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

I wish I could have done! I had to be in Spokane to conduct the estate sale. I plan to be back in Springfield this fall!

[@D.A.Gates73]

Hello George. Are you in Springfield Ohio today? If so I would love to stop by and look at your stuff

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

I'm sorry, I had to do the estate sale in Spokane this weekend instead

[@D.A.Gates73]

@The Antique Nomad yeah my partner tried telling me you wouldn't be there but I was in denial, 😆 😅 I wanted to meet you but maybe some other day !!! Take care George. 🙂

[@donabailey5965]

Please show us what you buy at the end of the video.

[@AliceGoesNomad]

💖

[@trudymiller582]

😎👍

[@hilderoutzahn8826]

George- I live in spokane! Where/when is the sale??

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

Here's the link to details of the sale: bit.ly/42IOY6o Hope to see you there!

[@emilyburton4095]

George do you know the poem "The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat"?

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

I do...in what context though? I'm curious what inspired you to mention it

[@emilyburton4095]

@@TheAntiqueNomad 'cos you found a bowl at 18:24

[@MimisTreasureCottage]

I love that scrapbook. $60 is retail in my area. I would expect to find those for $20 ish at an estate sale.

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

Me too, especially if they don't have a lot of trade cards specifically

[@wandawatson7843]

👍🇨🇦🤗

[@JoanneFinneganvt]

I hope you put the $ signs in the right place. That annoys me so much!!!

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

Oh yes! I know what you mean

[@robinostrom6329]

N

[@robinostrom6329]

I love watching you. So informative

[@johnk.blanchard503]

Driving while filming?

[@TheAntiqueNomad]

I have a dashboard camera mount

[@bluetiger500]

I would like to say that as much as I love to follow your channel. Since you lied to the lady when asked if you are filming, I can’t support you.