Estate sales are all about the thrill of the chase. Will you get to that amazing antique before your neighbor does? Will there even be any令人惊异的antiques, period? But you don't have to rely on luck to find top-notch pieces. Seasoned pros like Andrea Stanford, vice president of brand marketing and partnerships atEverything But The House(EBTH), have some tricks up their sleeves for navigating estate sales—and Stanford is sharing hers here. The gist of it: Know what you want, and don't be afraid to ask questions.
"Unlike shopping antique stores, vintage sites, orflea markets(当re buyers and dealers have already found, improved, and marked up items), with an estate sale you get to have the first look!" says Stanford. "Get there early. Also, check back in on the last day of an offline estate sale for the remaining items, which will be drastically reduced." Not in the mood to wake up at the crack of dawn? That's what online sales are for.
"If I’m shopping an offline estate sale, I ask for my coveted items in case they are hidden away somewhere—or so that I can go to the item immediately upon entering (before someone else beats me to it!). Estate sale managers will often keep some stuff hidden away for the serious or frequent buyers," says Stanford. Some of her dream finds:琼Royere's Oeuf chairs,Vladimir Kagan's Crescent settee, and Jean Prouvé's Potence wall light. "For EBTH.com, I have all my keywords set so that I’m alerted when any of the items become available," she adds.
"When you are looking at vintage or antique furniture, fall in love with the silhouette, not the upholstery," notes Stanford. "If you love that Regency Style Bergère or midcentury Italian sofa, imagine it post-rehab!" Estate sales allow you to spend less up front so you can invest in refurbishing the piece later; not only are prices lower on untouched collections, says Stanford, but if you're local, so are shipping costs.
"Even if an estate is mature and sophisticated, do not automatically assume that everything inside is well made," warns Stanford. "Always focus on craftsmanship, materials, and hardware. Carved wood, tapered legs, cantilevered armrests, hand-forged nails, dovetailed joints, and materials like walnut and teak are all indications that you are looking at a handcrafted piece. Remember that patina and the normal cracking and warping of wood from shrinkage are good signs of an original piece." But don't just trust your eye—ask to see paperwork. "Often homeowners have kept records of their purchases, which will provide additional provenance of the piece."
"You don’t want to fall so deeply in love with something that you end up overpaying," says Sanford. The best way to avoid buyer's remorse: Do some comparison shopping. "There are so many resources, starting with Google. I also like to check Live Auctioneers, which has a wide range of auction results," says Stanford. "One of the things I love about EBTH.com is that everything is sold by auction with all items starting at $1—true market pricing is always reassuring."
