If you’re new to estate sales or want to maximize your experience, we’ve got some tips that can help.
Follow Local Estate Sale Listings
Estate sale companies like West Coast Downsizing Solution often post active and upcoming Richmond estate sales and online auctions, as well as those in the surrounding cities throughout the Lower Mainland area. Look up a few different estate sale companies and subscribe to their newsletter, or get the the company info when you visit an estate sale in person.
Popular sales can attract a lot of interest, so the earlier you can get sale updates the better. That way you can pick out exactly what you want and be ready to bid the moment it goes live.
Read Sale Descriptions Carefully
Each listing includes important details such as sale format, pickup times, and the highlights of each item. Knowing what’s included helps you plan your bidding strategy and whether or not you should take a vehicle big enough to fit all your purchases. It’s also a good idea to know what payment options they accept on the day of the sale.
If you’re doing an online auction, early bids help you track competition and adjust your budget. Sites like Live Auction World often allow you to set up both auto-bidding and a bid ceiling so you can stay on top of the items you want without having to camp at your keyboard.
Set a Budget
Know your spending limit. That’s easy to fix in an online auction—just define a max budget on your bidding screen. That might be a tad more difficult during a live auction where there’s lots to see and buy.