Category: Estate Sale

Baby boomers are downsizing. Baby boomers are a huge portion of society, much larger then the Generation X right below them. Boomers are starting to dump their belongs and collections on the market. The issue is that, for years, they thought or were told that their collections and items had (X) amount of value. But now their kids don’t want the items and their buyers market (other boomers) are doing the same thing and getting rid of their stuff. Those of us in the resale business (antique stores, used furniture stores, thrift stores, etc) have the ability to pick and choose what we want to buy and almost offer anything to get the item we want, whether or not we get the item, because we know that around the corner is another sale. The charities (Et Cetera Shop, Salvation Army, etc,) are even refusing items like most glass and some furniture and a lot more. You know if you have tried…

This creates an issue for those of us that do or have tried to do both, owning a resale shop and an estate sale company. You can be the most honest and well meaning person in the world but if you have one person tell a seller that they think something is undervalued and it puts that thought into the sellers head that you are being dishonest with them or taking advantage of their property and that ruins their perception of you and your business. Even though you were doing everything you could to help them make the most money possible for their belongings. This lack of knowledge destroys reputations and livelihoods.

If you plan on having an estate sale do your own research. Look on eBay SOLD items, not just “Buy It Now” there can literally be THOUSANDS of $’s price difference.

If your kids don’t want it for their house then maybe realize that their might not be a strong market for it anywhere. But do your own research.

Just because you build something does not mean other people will want it or will want to pay a lot for it.

In this day and age it is very hard to run a resale shop of any kind. The younger people want curtain styles and types of antiques that THEY remember, NOT the items that appeal to the boomers for the most part. I’ll sell a GI Joe a lot quicker then a Butter Churn to someone under 50.

When you come to the final hours of a sale you make deals to get stuff off the premises. Those deals might not be to the sellers liking but it is better then hauling the items to the dump when you have been asked to do that at the end of the sale. Something is better then nothing. Would rather recycle than rot.

Most “collectables” that were pitched to the baby boomers in the 70’s and 80’s can be close to worthless. Franklin Mint, Hummels, Fenton etc, etc are hard to sell and do not command the value non antique educated people expect for them. There are some exceptions.

Once again, its your money, do your own research.

Thanks

Troy Vogt.