Where we at with the estate sales?

[RobertMewler]

We've been going to local estate sales and picking up good quality tools for when we build our cabin in the woods. I'm talking steel, made-in-the-USA, quality tools the boomers who kicked off bought decades ago and kept in good condition. Files, sledgehammers, pickaxes, vices, ratchet sets, etc.

At our first estate sale (that we went to on a whim) we couldn't believe the amount of good quality stuff - and the sale coordinator took one look at the pile my husband made and called out a shockingly low number for the lot. And I've gotten nice vintage sewing and embroidery supplies for my studio for less than retail value too. The guys who run the sales don't know what these ladies' notions are worth so they underprice much of it.

I had the epiphany that estate sales, not yard/garage sales, are the way to go. Think about it; these older men who bought and kept these fine instruments are dying out. You won't see the likes of those supplies again. Younger men buy cheap Harbor Freight shit that fall apart and will nickel and dime you at their garage sales. But the spouses or children of the geezers don't really care about getting the items' true value; they just want to empty out their parents' house and garage before they can flip the house.

I can give you some tips I learned by going to these sales if you want.

 

[Gay Faggot.]

Always been a fan. Can find some quality stuff in them. I never thought about it for tools though. Good idea.

 

[TheGhostOfAbeVigoda]

I go to them whenever I see them around pretty much to scope out the tools. I've also got weights really cheap, but that's pretty much it. I'm never looking at furniture or anything like that.

I went to one with my respectable dad once in my late 20s and the old gal running the thing actually made me turn my pockets inside out before I left. I was super insulted. I think it's because my hair was really long or something. Stupit old bitch.

 

[Snake]

The leads are weak.

 

[Mr-Wrinkle-Paws]

Auctions are pretty good also, if you have a trailer or a truck with a lift or engine crane helps because a lot of people won't bid on heavy stuff because have no way of lifting/moving it, my father got a few really good gun safes this way very cheap, depending how much land you want to clear for building and if you are mechanical you can pick up old tractors or tracked dozers,loaders that might have some issues pretty cheap also at these at farm ones, you save from paying somebody else to doing it, after you are done with it you get your money back selling/trading it, I bought a jd450 loader with backhoe attachment for 6400 and its paid for itself few times over

 

[RobertMewler]

Auctions are pretty good also, if you have a trailer or a truck with a lift or engine crane helps because a lot of people won't bid on heavy stuff because have no way of lifting/moving it, my father got a few really good gun safes this way very cheap, depending how much land you want to clear for building and if you are mechanical you can pick up old tractors or tracked dozers,loaders that might have some issues pretty cheap also at these at farm ones, you save from paying somebody else to doing it, after you are done with it you get your money back selling/trading it, I bought a jd450 loader with backhoe attachment for 6400 and its paid for itself few times over

It would be a good place to get a skid steer but they're in high demand in these parts! That's a good idea though.

 

[Easily_Remembered]

It really depends. I am an avid garage sale / estate sale goer, and the problem with the ones in my area is that a good portion of them are ran through a broker. So you go through this house, each room has 1-2 employees overseeing it, in addition to the claustrophobic crowds. And I don't know where they pull their pricing from, but the majority of the time their prices are above eBay. They then try and entice you with a half off sale on Sunday, but that's usually even more chaotic.

Don't get me wrong - I have made some pretty killer finds at estate sales. But I do far, far better at garage sales. I suspect that it's probably a regional thing - and, of course, the influence of going through outside agencies.

 

[Mr-Wrinkle-Paws]

It would be a good place to get a skid steer but they're in high demand in these parts! That's a good idea though.

Skid steers are like that here also, they go for about 13k, but have found them much cheaper they pop up 4500-5500 it just takes checking craigslist heavy equipment section three times a day, its people who did like i was saying that built house using it. clearing yard etc.. and are done with them and sell to get rid of fast