Looking for easy and simple estate sale shopping tips? Here are my best tips for bringing home those treasures.
This past weekend I went yard sale and estate sale shopping.
And I found this.
Guess what it is.
I know you are giggling to yourself at this exact moment in time and thinking that looks like a salt shaker to me.
Hello Captain Obvi.
But actually?
IT’S SO MUCH MORE.
I saw it on a folding table next to a Christmas wreath and a plastic bag full of corks and a mini cruise ship. Just between us? I’ve never seen anything like it before.
Ever in the history of ever.
I scooped it up and bargained on the price and brought it home and cleaned it up.
And now?
This is sitting on my dining room table.
It’s a blue and white cruet set.
There’s a salt and pepper.
And a mustard (that’s missing its spoon).
And an oil and vinegar set with an oil pitcher that still needs to be soaked. It was so dirty when I first got it and I soaked it for two days to get all the dirt out of the inside and the dirt out of the cracks.
There are little holes in the central canister that each of the pieces fits into.
And they all have a label.
There’s also a central spinning piece that sticks up through the middle hole that you can carry it around with (I picture a 1950’s dinner party with the hostesses carrying this around to each person at the table).
I’m cleaning it right now and then I need to put back into the center of the piece.
You won’t even believe what I paid for it.
Definitely less than the cost of a good steak dinner.
I came home and researched it and found this.
A super, super, super identical item for almost $200.
Can you BELIEVE IT?
Now I’m never parting with it. I bought it because I loved it, not because I thought it was valuable. But finding treasures like this is what makes estate sales and yard sales so much fun.
Every time I post a find like this, I get tons of questions about yard saling and how to bargain and where I go and how to discover all the best stuff.
So I put together a little list of how to shop estate sales and yard sales.
The Best Estate Sale Shopping Tips
1. Be prepared
Pack a little shopping kit and keep it in your car.
Here’s what I have in mine:
- measuring tape (in case you have to measure)
- a list of measurements for things you are looking for
- plastic bags (in case you need to wrap up delicate items in your car)
- screwdriver (in case you need to take something apart)
- hand sanitizer (no explanation needed)
2. Think outside the paint
So many times the shape or size or texture of a piece is perfect, but how it is painted throws me off.
As in look away and don’t look back.
I’ve had to train myself to look beyond how it is painted to the actual piece I’m buying.
Paint can be changed.
Incredible, carved legs or a planked top can not.
3. Think groupings
So many times you find a zillion of something that you never thought that you needed.
That zillion could look really amazing all grouped together on a wall.
One time I found all these old letterpress stamps for almost nothing.
One letterpress stamp? Kind of lame.
A zillion of them stacked in a wooden container and hung on the wall? Amazing.
4. Start a pile
I don’t know why. I’m not saying this makes sense.
But I have so much better luck when I start a pile at the checkout.
Maybe it opens up my mind a little?
There’s nothing worse than going back to find something and someone has already picked it up. So sometimes I just put things at the front and decide later if I want to buy them.
But I couldn’t do that if I didn’t have a pile.
5. Always ask
If the price looks a little high?
Ask if this is the best price they have.
Most of the time they are pricing things a little higher just in case you ask.
And the dollar that you save when they come down a little?
You’ll need it for the milk glass container at the next stop. 🙂
Isn’t it the cutest?
I just went into the dining room to tell it hello and so happy I am that it came home to live with me.
And now?
What about you?
Do you have yard sale tips or thrift shopping tips I missed?
Amazing shoppers have to stick together. 🙂
PS In case you are a blue and white fan like me, I found a few cute blue and white condiment holders all linked here.
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Try denture tablets to soak any china etc. that is stained. In most cases 'it's the bomb'.Use a few in a container, leave overnight. I cannot take credit for this, see Eddie Ross' book Modern Mix. I really enjoy your blog posts. Kim
Great find! I love Blue Willow transfer ware!
You scored, KariAnne and I am jealous!❤️
Lovely find! There are several ways to "try to" remove stains under glaze on stoneware and china if you Google it, but I often find them to be part of the charm!! xoxo
You scored--big time!!!
What a score. I love the fact that the piece was used in real life. Hence the oil residue. That’s called life! Love love!
Great find! It is the cutest thing!
A very nice find! Throw a denture tablet in the water when you are soaking dirty porcelain, pottery or glass pieces. It works miracles.
Super cute find! The hunt is part of the thrill I think! I always feel an itty bit sad when I don't find anything. Just thinking outside the box here but I wonder how this would look with flowers displayed in each piece? Are the holes big enough in the s&p shakers? Certainly the oil and vinegar jars look like they would, as well as, the mustard base. It could make even more of a centerpiece! Just a thought. Happy day, friend.
Brava! Great find. I have not ever seen this. About 3 years ago I came upon a canister set, in the blue and white almost-delft pattern at a consignment shop. I had seen it in a magazine a few days before and I just had to have it. I overpaid I think, but it was beautiful. It did compete with my American/Colonial pottery so right now it is safely wrapped and tucked away. I will be rehoming it soon. Keep on shopping, you are really good at it.
Oh. My. Goodness!! That is one of the more perfect finds I've ever seen - and it's perfect with your blue-and-white!! Today it's way too hot to go to a yard sale, so I hope you found it last week or earlier when you could actually STAND to be outside! :)
Great find, and what a unique little piece for your collection! When I go junking anywhere, I always take a good sized tote bag with shoulder straps, and a couple of old hand towels inside for the breakables. It allows me to tote around the smaller treasures without having to hike back to the cashier (or the car), especially if the sale covers some big real estate. I know some people aren't able to "shoulder strap" bags easily, but this works for me. I can also tuck my shopping kit (I'm right there with you, KA--gotta be prepared) into the tote bag for quick access, but my hands are free otherwise. My best junking excursions have been well-planned so I can keep my eyes peeled for the best loot!
OMG!! That set is so amazing!! It looks like it was made just for you. I loved going to yard sales in NJ. Now that I live in Florida, there really aren't a lot of them. I hit the thrift stores and find great things. I love following your blog.💗
I just know your entire face lit up when you laid eyes on that. Congratulations on a great find. PS: I tired some of the make up you recommended a little while back and am very happy with it, so thanks much.
I LOVE, LOVE THIS!!!!! WHAT A FIND!!! A LITTLE JEALOUS HERE.... ;)
By the way,,, What did you have to pay to get this???? Hope I'm not being too personal.. You can choose not to reply. Just wondering about it. I love it!!!!!!
Blue and white. Be still my heart. Soooo pretty. Lucky lady. Im just a weee bit jealous Thank you. For sharing.
I love your found salt shaker. The set is perfect. Finding things I treasure is very satisfying. If they are blue and white things, this makes it even more special. Blessings
What a great find, KariAnne! It's so pretty and will look so good on your dining room table. It was definitely meant to be in your beautiful home. Enjoy!
I love garage sales first because generally the prices are better, after all this is a garage sale. Then estate sales. Usually I only take 20.00 in cash and when that is gone, then I go home. But if I had found your condiment set I probably would have run to the bank. Love it. Happy estate and garage saling!!!
Blue willow is right in my wheelhouse! Before I had to downsize, I had a house full of blue willow (but no condiment sets). Had to sell most of them at an estate sale after we moved. Sigh. Still have enough blue willow china for our everyday ware and a few pitchers for flowers. And platters and soup tureens. I had to stop looking at blue willow.
Hey Rockstar, Super-great find! Love it! And congratulations on becoming a mother-in-law. The wedding pictures were rockstar quality, for sure! Wishing you a happy summer! --Michael
Now that's à find ! And your colors ! I ve never seen anything like it. I d soak the œil bottle in bleach (incident and out). Happy day to you !
Nice pieces of Delft Bleu - I collected it for years, and finally had to part with it when I downsized big time at retirement time. Enjoy!
I love the way things were made long ago, thanks for sharing with us, you made a great find. It's such a pretty piece and so everyday useable.
What a wonderful find! I bet that you danced to your car after your purchase. My tip for thrift store shopping is to visit each aisle twice, walking in a different direction each time. I am always surprised at the treasures I miss on my first walk through the aisle. Have a joyful day, KariAnne!
What a great find, Kari Anne! I'm sure it looks wonderful in your pretty blue and white dining room. Enjoy It.
KariAnne - What a fun adventure you had and a 'souvenir' to show for it! Thanks to your readers for sharing tips and I am going to try the denture tablets for cleaning interesting finds!
Envious of your find! I love it. Thanks for sharing - I think. Now, I'm wanting to go out and poke around to see if I can find something I really don't need but I think is cute.
Love your finds! We have found so many great things at tag sales. It is amazing what people don't realize they have!
KariAnne don't you love when you find the perfect piece? I love it but wonder why mustard with the other items. Interesting.
I used to work estate sales. They are so fun !! Make a big pile and ask what they will take for the pile. You might get a deal!! Love your find!!
Thank you for sharing your find! I have my grandmothers set of Blue Willow dishes and my child’s Blue Willow tea set from my childhood. I have the base of your set and didn’t know what it was for! Now I need to find all of the pieces that go with it! Love your blog!
No way! How lucky can one woman be?! You found a treasure of note, my friend! I am a tiny bit jealous 😉
My tip for Estate Sales, or shopping in general...take water with you! Love, love, love your find! Perfect for your home dining table. A well curated life treasure!
Don't you love the hunt! Great find!! Looks expensive too and I crack up how you personify objects! But I bet it feels happy being all clean and pretty prominently displayed as the centerpiece on The Dining Room Table! Lol...thanks for the tips!
What a great find...I love it and know you do also. Thank you for sharing.
Great find! Where do you look to find out how much one of your finds are worth? I have a old set that I love and I’m interested to see if it’s worth anything. It really doesn’t matter to me because I love it either way. I tend to buy things I love for my home, I think it gives it a personal touch.
I love it! What a great find! My husband found a wonderful flower cart he thought I needed last week…the $40 turned out to be a $500 value when we looked it up! I love those finds!
KariAnne, We just don't seem to have a lot of Estate Sales anymore. However, I'm going to start searching them out and I loved your tips. I shared How to Shop Barn Sales this past week so I'd like to add a link to your post to accompany mine. Thanks in advance.
What a great find! I've never seen anything like it either. I always also keep a small magnifying glass and a magnet along with my tape. Never sorry.
There’s a really neat story about the pattern on blue willow. You should look it up if you don’t know. Love your set. What a find.
There’s a really neat story about the pattern on blue willow. You should look it up if you don’t know. Love your set. What a find.
Oh, my. What an adorable set, I would have snagged that in a New York minute. I went to a church sale yesterday and I am having regrets about a lamp I left. How do YOU deal with regret? Today, I know I should have bougjt tthe lamp, because it appealed to my early 1940's aesthetic, but yesterday, I talked myself out of it because, "I didn't need it." Grrr! However, as it is, my house looks like a thrift store had the stomach flu...I have so many "finds" that I need to do something with, pronto.
What a darling cruet set! Fabulous find, Kari Ann!