Collecting Karma.

A cold, January morning found a little over 50 people waiting outside for entry to an estate sale. I was among those standing outside of a home that looked to have been built during the late 1800s, early 1900s. The estate sale opened at 9am and a small crowd had gathered outside, numbers in hand, to go into the home to find treasures but also to get out of the cold.

I was the youngest person there amidst a crowd of ages that spanned from late 40s to late 60s. I am a shy person so usually will stand back and listen to conversations as well as people watch, which I love to do. Conversations erupted between those that were waiting to look inside, with topics ranging from children to what a person did for a living. Eventually the topic of estate sales came up and this was when I started to listen more closely. Being a newcomer to picking items in attempts to flip them for a small profit, it's always good to listen to those that are older, wiser, and have been dealing in the picking business for longer than I've graced this earth.

A man spoke about a variety of different estate companies and which ones he has had better luck with getting cheaper prices. He mentioned that it's best to go to estate sales that aren't run by large estate companies and if possible, stick to those that are headed up by families and friends. Estate sale companies often know what they have, as in the appraisal values for items. Add that to the profit that estate companies have to make from using their services and the prices can be set higher than actual value. This isn't true for all estate companies, however. Some work a home where the owner/next-of-kin just wants to get rid of everything and thus prices are lower than actual value.

Sales run out of a house by family/friends are obviously going to be cheaper for a variety of reason:

• "Just get rid of it." Families/friends that inherit homes through deaths & illnesses often just want to get rid of everything and anything in the home to move on, move forward, and often get ready to put a house on the market. They remove the items they want and then are left with a considerable amount of other items without knowing how to get rid of it. They might not want to involve an estate company to be able to save money, keep all of the profits, or have more control of the sale. If they have 3 cabinets full of dishes, chances are they are willing to part with the dishes at a lower cost than pricing them at a higher cost and risk still being left with 3 cabinets of dishes.
• They don't know what they have. Unless someone is interested in antiques and vintage items, the chances are high they will not know what the value/history of an item is. Plus, the lure of making a buck and getting rid of an item adds to the "Just get rid of it" mentality, whether or not the item is worth more than they realize. The amount of time it would take to research boxes full of antiques, compare prices on Ebay, look in newspapers for certain collectors, is not worth it to the seller. This makes the chance for a picker to pick up good items for a low price at a family run estate sale higher versus a company sale. Again, this isn't always the norm but just a viewpoint.
• The Haggle. Haggling is easier to partake in at a family estate sale because the sale is pretty much a glorified garage/yard sale. Bring a pile of items to the money taker and he/she will probably just take a look at the items and give you a bulk price. Companies usually have everything marked, look at each item, and tally it up. Some might do a bulk price, but that depends on the cashier & the items you are purchasing. 

Conversation turned to what each person was interested in & what they collected either for themselves or to later re-sell. By this time, many of us had been waiting over half an hour to get into the home and some people voiced their frustration. An older man who had been discussing his collections and flea markets that he sold at, piped up at those who were complaining about the long wait to look at items. The man said that everyone needed to have some understanding and patience, that everyone would eventually be able to have their turn inside. He stated that if there was an item inside that you were meant to have, it would still be there when you got in, that it would wait for you. If the item wasn't there and someone else purchased it, then it wasn't supposed to be yours. The man then stated that things always work out, that if God wants you to have the item, you will. Another man piped in with a chuckle and said "I don't think God visits estate sales. He has more important things to do." The original man laughed back and said that maybe using God's intervention wasn't exactly using the right words, but that he firmly believed that things always would work out at sales if you believed in the thinking that if you are meant to have it, you will.

I wanted to tell the man that I completely agreed with him. I have always believed that in antiquing, going to the flea market, and picking that if you are meant to have the item, you will. The price will be right and haggling can be done. Call it being "green" or call it conjuring up the romantic notions of antique collecting, it is just a way that I have always felt about collecting. These feelings become tenfold when I end up stumbling upon something that I had been searching for for years or when an object appears that seems like it was just meant for me...like when I found a 1950s day dress for $5 that fit me like a glove. Call it collecting karma or just pure luck, whether you believe that the Lord above has a hand in estate sales or not, I do believe that if it's meant to be, it will be.

~ Flea Fact ~

Listen to conversations for tips and pieces of advice. Sometimes words that are spoken can be helpful bits of knowledge to add to your picking skills. Other times, words can be affirmations of what you have always practiced - collecting karma.