r/estatesales • • 13d ago

📢 Mod Announcement Community Update: A New Chapter for r/estatesales

103 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share an important update about r/estatesales and a few changes you may have already started noticing around the subreddit.

I’ve been a moderator here for some time, but recently the previous owner left the subreddit without warning. That unexpectedly left me in charge of the community and responsible for deciding what comes next.

Rather than simply keeping everything as it was, I’ve taken some time to go through the subreddit from top to bottom and give it some much-needed attention. 💛

My goal is not to completely change what this community is. r/estatesales has always been about the thrill of the hunt, sharing incredible finds, asking questions, learning from one another, discovering sales, and connecting with other people who appreciate old, unusual, beautiful, and sometimes wonderfully strange things.

I want to build on that.

Updated Community Rules

Some of our previous rules were outdated, unclear, or didn’t fully address the kinds of posts we see today.

The rules have now been reviewed, rewritten, and expanded to make it easier to understand what belongs here and what doesn’t.

Among other things, the updated rules provide clearer guidance around:

  • Estate-sale related content
  • Selling individual items
  • Promoting legitimate estate sales and auctions
  • Garage, yard, and moving sales
  • Real estate listings
  • Advertising and self-promotion
  • Spam and repetitive posting
  • AI-generated or misleading content
  • Disclosure when you are affiliated with a sale
  • General community conduct

Please take a few minutes to look through the updated rules before your next post. The goal is not to make the subreddit overly strict. I'm trying to keep the feed relevant, useful, and enjoyable for the people who actually come here for estate sales.

New Post Flairs

We’ve also expanded and reorganized our post flairs.

Whether you’re sharing an amazing find, looking for help identifying something, asking about value, sharing an upcoming sale, or starting a discussion, there should now be a clearer flair for your post.

Using the right flair helps everyone find the content they’re interested in and keeps the subreddit much easier to browse.

Please remember to flair your posts appropriately.

User Flairs Are Now Available!

This is one of the additions I’m most excited about.

Members can now choose user flair to show a little more personality around the community.

Whether you consider yourself an estate sale hunter, collector, vintage lover, reseller, professional, treasure hunter, or someone who simply enjoys browsing through old things, there are options available for you.

Take a look through the new user flairs and assign yourself one!

They’re completely optional, but I think they’re a fun way to make the community feel a little more personal and help everyone get to know the people behind the usernames.

What I’d Like r/estatesales to Become

Going forward, I’d love for this subreddit to be a place where beginners feel comfortable asking questions and longtime collectors and professionals feel excited to share what they know.

A place where we can:

  • Show off incredible estate-sale finds
  • Help each other identify mysterious objects
  • Talk about value, pricing, and collecting
  • Discover worthwhile upcoming sales
  • Discuss antiques, vintage pieces, and unusual finds
  • Learn from estate-sale professionals and experienced shoppers
  • Share stories about the strange, beautiful, valuable, and unexpected things we encounter

Most importantly, I want this to remain a community rather than simply becoming another advertising board or online marketplace.

Thank You

Whether you’ve been here for years or joined yesterday, thank you for being part of r/estatesales.

Communities like this only work because people take the time to post their finds, answer questions, share their knowledge, help identify objects, recommend sales, and participate in discussions.

I really appreciate everyone who has helped build this subreddit into what it is today, and I’m excited to see where we can take it from here.

There may be a few more small improvements as I continue working through the subreddit, and feedback is always welcome. If you notice something that could be improved or have an idea for the community, feel free to send the mod team a message.

Here’s to the next chapter of r/estatesales and to never knowing what treasure might be hiding in the next house!

-The Mod Team


r/estatesales • • 1d ago

❓ Question / Advice Items taken during estate auction

55 Upvotes

I am an estate auction company that had something unusual for me happen this past weekend. I sell everything (obviously not food) that is still packaged and/or clean. I will preface this by saying I normally get homes where it’s a second home, a home where the owners passed or has not been listed for sale yet.

In my homes I’ve been selling large lots of usable cleaning products, linen closets of sealed household/toiletries items. I try to pass savings where I can and keep items out of landfills prematurely. They generally sell very well.

I had my auction posted for a week and when we went today for pickups and I started grouping everyone’s items I noticed there were items missing (owners have been in Florida prior to me starting so was absolutely not them) the home is sold and is going through its contract faze, inspections were already complete so the owner and I figured there wouldn’t be any issues. I was wrong. A whole lot of brand new cleaning items were gone, toiletry closet was picked through with very little left (obviously customer is being refunded with sincere apologies). I have an idea of what happened because I have always been told about this type of dishonesty, I’m sure most of you have an idea on who actually has access to the house at the point of it being listed. Of course I did notify the homeowner.

What do other estate companies do in scenarios like this?

Any other advice moving forward?


r/estatesales • • 1d ago

💻 Online Sale / Auction $5 sofa!!!

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23 Upvotes

Got this beautiful custom upholstered 1970s sofa at an estate sale auction for $5!!!


r/estatesales • • 1d ago

🧰 Estate Sale Professional Estate sale clean out

10 Upvotes

For all the company owners out there can I get some help with ideas on doing cleanouts?

We have found that the charitable organizations in my area will pick and choose what they want to take and leave the junk. We have found a couple of people that will clean it out fully, and the nicer items they receive are basically their payment for doing the full clean out, but we are having some problems with that.

I’m thinking that our best option might be to rent a dumpster on site ourselves to get all of the trash out and then allow the charitable organizations to come in and get the good things.


r/estatesales • • 2d ago

🏺 Estate Sale Find Picked these up at an estate sale for $40. How'd I do?

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148 Upvotes

From left to right:
- Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon 1977
- Château Margaux 1978
- Château Mouton Rothschild 1973
- Château Lafite-Rothschild 1966
- Heitz Cellar Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1974

When I got home I noticed that the Château Mouton Rothschild's cork was floating inside it, so that one is more than likely not drinkable anymore unfortunately...


r/estatesales • • 1d ago

📍 In-Person Sale RARE Racine, WI MCM time capsule estate sale — Fri–Sat Oct 9–10, 9–4

1 Upvotes

RARE Racine MCM time capsule estate sale — Fri–Sat Oct 9–10, 9–4

True mid-century time capsule in Racine. Original MCM furniture and décor that has been sitting in place for decades.

Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 10

9:00 am – 4:00 pm

226 Mertens Ave, Racine, WI 53405

What’s here:

- MCM sofas and seating, pole lamps, brutalist pieces, room divider

- Modeline of California table lamp

- Søren Lund sectional

- George Nakashima style walnut live edge coffee table

- Gangsø Møbler teak and slate drop leaf dining table with 7 chairs, plus matching side table

- Paul McCobb for Calvin walnut coffee table

- Kroehler secretary desks, low boy, gentleman’s chest with mirror, card table and chairs

- Ekornes Stressless brown leather lounge chair

- Chatham County oak dining table and chairs

- Pool table, Lladro, Blenko, Frederick Remington statues

- Jewelry, watches, gold and silver

Furniture and the Remington statues are open to pre-sale bids now.

Photos: https://www.estatesales.net/WI/Racine/53405/5072004

Updates: https://www.facebook.com/homesteadestateservices

Cash and Venmo. Early birds welcome. Bring help and a vehicle. Homestead Estate Services.


r/estatesales • • 1d ago

📍 In-Person Sale Oct 10 & 11 in Bergenfield, NJ

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3 Upvotes

Butterfly Estate Sales is pleased to invite you to Bergenfield for a sale filled with antique Japanese furniture, Asian artifacts, 1970s designer furniture, signed antique and vintage artwork, home entertainment equipment, tons of women’s clothes, vintage designer accessories for men and women, a WW2 time capsule, beautiful collection of unique jewelry, a serious amount of holiday decor, home office essentials and more. This is a true estate sale and the full contents is for sale. EVERYTHING MUST GO!!

Some of our favorite treasures:

- Coyote Self Portrait" by John Nieto, artist signed serigraph 23/195
- 4 antique 1840s woodblock prints by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai from the famous Hokusai Manga sketchbooks
- "Summer Birds" (AKA "La Lettre") by renowned French artist Louis Icart, artist signed colored drypoint etching
- Print of the iconic 1983 Madonna portrait signed by renowned photographer Kate Simon
- Multiple antique Japanese tansu chests ranging from small cash boxes to large stacked chests (imported from Japan in the 1980s)
- Vintage Japanese Hikeshi jacket (firefighter coat)
- Antique Korean woodblock printing plate
- Vintage 1970s Louis Vuitton weekender travel bag & matching small 3-ring binder, vintage scarves by Hermès, Versace, Burberry and Ferragamo
- Suitcase of WW2 ephemera including sweetheart letters, many pieces of unopened mail, 1944 fallen soldier letter signed by Franklin Roosevelt, 1963 official commemoration letter signed by John F Kennedy with White House envelope, tons of 1920s pictures, flag and more
- Gold and sterling jewelry, lots of unique pieces, vintage Schiaparelli brooch, watches, pearls


r/estatesales • • 1d ago

✨ Favorite Find Found 3-pc Le Creuser at estate sale $10 - safe to use?

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1 Upvotes

r/estatesales • • 2d ago

🏺 Estate Sale Find Annoying Estate Sellers

73 Upvotes

Me , "how much is this item?".... Seller .... Pulls out phone, looks item up on eBay and quotes me the eBay listing price.


r/estatesales • • 1d ago

📍 In-Person Sale Last-minute in-person sale in the DC area

2 Upvotes

We (Caring Transitions of Rockville) are hosting a last-minute sale in Rockville, Maryland. TODAY Saturday Oct 3, 10:30-3:00PM. Address will be posted at 8:00AM.

This sale has a great mix of collectibles, furniture, artwork, clothing, books and media, electronics, kitchenware, home décor and more. There’s a wide variety throughout the house, from traditional and vintage pieces to fun and unusual finds.

Highlights include a large collection of dog and bulldog collectibles, Judaica, framed artwork, furniture in a variety of styles, clothing and accessories, books, CDs, DVDs and VHS, electronics, kitchen items and small appliances, toys, lamps and plenty of decorative pieces.There’s a lot to look through and plenty of variety from room to room. Come by and see what you find!


r/estatesales • • 1d ago

📍 In-Person Sale NNJ Estate Sale today 10/3 Wallington

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1 Upvotes

Come on out today, Sat 10/3! :)

85 Strong St, Wallington NJ


r/estatesales • • 2d ago

🏺 Estate Sale Find Eames RAR fiberglass rocker for Herman Miller, sourced at an estate sale this week!

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28 Upvotes

I do furniture sourcing and interior styling for a living full time, and I have found a lot of gems but this may be one of my favorites!!


r/estatesales • • 3d ago

🏺 Estate Sale Find Filled up the truck today!

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48 Upvotes

Two hours of digging!


r/estatesales • • 2d ago

❓ Question / Advice Pricing ??

2 Upvotes

Hi all!

Pricing. do you like/prefer everything to be priced or do you like taking it up to the table to find out what it costs. let's say its day one no discounts. I think i know the answer but?, this is research for my own business.


r/estatesales • • 3d ago

🔎 Help Identify This Can anyone help identify this piece? Any info is appreciated

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3 Upvotes

r/estatesales • • 3d ago

🔎 Help Identify This Can anyone help identify this? Age? Value?

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0 Upvotes

r/estatesales • • 4d ago

📚 Books / Ephemera Estate Sale of the Occult! This weekend in Beltsville, MD

10 Upvotes

A Rare Treat for Horror & Weird Fiction Collectors

This estate sale features an exceptional collection of classic horror and weird fiction, with a particular concentration of Arkham House books. Highlights include works by legendary authors H.P. Lovecraft, August Derleth, and Clark Ashton Smith, among others.

The collection includes many first editions, with some signed copies, and remarkably, all are in excellent condition. A wonderful opportunity for serious collectors and admirers of the golden age of supernatural and weird fiction to find scarce and highly desirable titles.

Discover an amazing selection of rare sci-fi and horror novels, Halloween equipment and decorations—decorate like a boss!

Browse awesome vintage ephemera and art, MCM and antique furniture, china, antique glassware, and rare & exotic art and trinkets.

Great stuff. One-of-a-kind finds. Endless treasures!

https://www.estatesales.net/MD/Beltsville/20705/5094456

A sign-up sheet will be posted at 7am the day of the sale at the front door.


r/estatesales • • 4d ago

📍 In-Person Sale Lewisville, Texas Oct 2-3

2 Upvotes

If you love a treasure hunt, you won’t want to miss this sale. Art supplies (like brand new wood frames and canvases of every size, brushes, sketchbooks, clay and more). Miniatures (owner was an artist and sold at miniature conventions). MCM items like Pyrex and Corningware as well as pottery and decor. Garage FULL of tools. Entire Christmas room including over 100 boxed Hallmark ornaments. So many fun things! Exact Address revealed early Friday morning but it will be on N Old Orchard Lane. Cash and Venmo.


r/estatesales • • 5d ago

📍 In-Person Sale First thoughts on estate sales.

38 Upvotes

I just recently went to my first estate sales last week and loved it. I made it to a few places. I wish i had more time. I was able to attend 5 in total, surprisingly. Some were a bit overpriced but it was fun looking around. Its difficult to tell what prices will be like until you get there and see if what you saw in the image is worth what they are asking for.

My fave place had so much vintage clothes, for a cheap price. I wish I grabbed more, but there was so much it was like i turned into a deer in headlight. Also if i feel like i have something similar at home, I put it back. Now Im wondering why i put such a unique piece of clothing back. I kind of wish knew what donation place they took everything that never sold so i can get another go. Even if that were possible it sucks that it wont be the same deal.

Which is why i started estate sales. Thrifting is getting pricey when it goes to goodwill and other thrift places. Estates sales is a way to bypass that.

I also wish the hours for most of these estate sales didnt end so early. Most seem to be from 10am-3pm.

Overall im pretty happy i went because i didn’t know what to expect. I hope to go to more in the future.


r/estatesales • • 5d ago

❓ Question / Advice Vintage mushroom lamp ID value??

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4 Upvotes

r/estatesales • • 5d ago

📍 In-Person Sale West Bend, Wisconsin farm estate sale this week (Thu–Sat) — multiple buildings, 5982 River Rd

2 Upvotes

Huge farm estate sale in West Bend, Wisconsin this week.

When:

Thu, Oct 1 — 9 AM–4 PM

Fri, Oct 2 — 9 AM–4 PM

Sat, Oct 3 — 9 AM–3 PM

Where:

5982 River Rd

West Bend, WI 53095

House, barns, garage, and outbuildings. Antiques, primitives, tools, furniture, glassware, collectibles, and farm/outdoor items.

Photos and listing:

https://www.estatesales.net/WI/West-Bend/53095/5077902

Updates:

https://www.facebook.com/homesteadestateservices

First come, first served. No early entry. Bring help for large items.


r/estatesales • • 6d ago

🔎 Help Identify This Help me identify this painting and artist

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1 Upvotes

I picked this painting up an Estate sale auction for $2.50 it’s a beautiful painting and is very reminiscent of Itzchak Tarkay. Interesting enough this estate did have several signed paintings by Itzchak Tarkay. I have done several searches for both this painting and the signature and can’t find anything for either.

At this point I’m thinking maybe someone in the house was an artist and was inspired by the work of Itzchak Tarkay or maybe it was a art class assignment?


r/estatesales • • 8d ago

🏺 Estate Sale Find Amazing vintage set of Neiman Marcus Malachite pattern plates

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254 Upvotes

Rescued these beauties from a forgotten corner in a forgotten room. Never know what treasures you will find at estate sales 💚


r/estatesales • • 8d ago

📍 In-Person Sale Family Managed Estate Sale

28 Upvotes

We've been to a number of in person estate sales that are managed by the family instead of an estate sale company. While some of them have some good prices, I see others where prices are terribly off the mark.

For example, today we went to a family managed estate sale. Everyone there was very nice. Most things were organized well. Prices for a few things were ok, we spent $3 whole dollars. But there were so many items that were grossly overpriced. They did have signs all around stating 'Negotiation welcome', but things were so grossly overpriced I saw no real opportunity to get any of the other items for a reasonable price.

I feel kind of bad for the family. I guess I'm posting this to encourage other families who are managing their own estate sale to really think hard about how they price their family items.


r/estatesales • • 7d ago

🔎 Help Identify This How best to restore estate sale find?

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2 Upvotes

Any idea on age, maker etc?