7 things you always need when you go to an estate sale

1. A large shopping bag

While you usually have the option of placing items you find you like at the front with the cashier. It’s always easier to have your own large shopping bag to tote the goods that you find.

2. Cash

While most every place you go you can use a credit card, cash is still king at a lot of estate sales. You will find that a lot of sales don’t accept credit cards or checks, so having cash on hand is always best.

Plus, most will charge you a small fee for using your credit card.

3. Phone

Don’t leave your phone in the car because you may need it to price that antique you found or to help authenticate that Chanel bag!

4. A photo

If you’ve already spotted something you love on an estate sale website then it’s always great to be able to bring up a photo of the item to ask if it’s still there. This way you aren’t wasting time hunting around for it and lessens that chances that someone else will scoop it up.

5. Water or hot cocoa

There are many estate sales that let only a certain number of people in at a time. So, depending on where you live and the time of year, you may have to wait outside to get into an estate sale.

If it’s extremely hot or cold, you’ll thank yourself later for bringin the necessary items to quench your thirst or keep you warm.

6. Bubble wrap

You never know what you’re going to find at estate sales and if you find something glass or fragile you don’t want to take the risk of not having anything to wrap it up in.

If you don’t have extra bubble wrap laying around the house just grab a soft blanket and throw it in the car before you head out.

7. A Box

Along the same lines of the bubble wrap, this is to situate anything fragile you might find in your car. This way it isn’t rolling around in the trunk or on the floor.

8. Your barter skills

While you may not always need to pull these out, they are good to have on hand!

What else would you bring with you to an estate sale?