Does That Really Sell? What Actually Sells At An Estate Sale (And What May Surprise You)

You’ve just inherited a home and you’re staring at rooms full of stuff. Things your parents held onto for decades. You’re familiar with some of it – you’ve seen it on shelves, in bedrooms, in the kitchen – and it brings back memories. Sure, the memories are fond, but the items are not of significant sentimental value. After all, to you, it’s just stuff.  

The collections of the various items in the home may have meant something to your parents but they mean less to you. This is when inheriting a house full of decades of possessions starts to feel overwhelming. You’ve decided what you want to keep but what are you supposed to do with the rest? Hire a junk hauler? Spend weeks packing up donations? Host a few garage sales?

When we meet with new clients for the first time, I usually start by asking them to show me around the house. I always tell them I’m not looking for “value”, I’m looking for “volume”.

Our most successful estate sales are homes that have been lived in (and show it). The closets still have clothes, the junk drawer in the kitchen is still a hodgepodge of odds and ends that never found a proper home, and the guestroom still has a closet with random storage that you stare at and think, “I doubt anyone would want any of this.”

When clients walk me through the house and point out stuff that they’re guessing no one will want, I surprise them with a, “Guess again!”.

Everything from old VHS movies and magazines to old t-shirts and kitchen towels. You’d be shocked how quickly some of these items sell during our estate sales. People genuinely want the stuff you can’t find in stores anymore. Sometimes it’s for nostalgia’s sake, sometimes it’s for more specific collecting. Regardless of what’s motivating buyers to take these items off your hands, we’re getting top dollar and increasing revenue for our clients. Don't underestimate the value of items like:

• Magazines & Newspapers (Pre-2000)

• Vintage Clothes, Shoes, & Hats (Pre-2000)

• Vintage Electronics & Cameras

• VHS, Cassettes, CDs, DVDs, and Vinyl Records

• VCRs & DVD Players

• Travel Maps & Brochures (Pre-2000)

• Vintage Greeting Cards & Gift Wrap

• Vintage Bath Towels, Kitchen Towels, Sheets, & Curtains

• Old Board Games

• Vintage Yearbooks

• Household Cleaners

Remember, anything over 25 years old is considered vintage. Even if the items are faded, broken, or missing pieces, they still have value. I know, it seems crazy. But trust me. The number of people we've seen show up to an estate sale early for a stack of faded t-shirts from the 90s says it all.

If you’re considering an estate sale in New Braunfels and the surrounding Texas Hill Country, my biggest piece of advice is to call us before you start making decisions about what’s trash and what’s sellable.

Want to talk it through? Reach out to schedule a consultation today.