Estate Sales vs Garage Sales: What’s the Difference

If you’re looking to clear out some clutter and make a little extra cash, you may be wondering whether to have an estate sale or garage sale. Both can be effective ways to sell unwanted items, but there are some key differences between the two.

Estate Sales

The main goals of an estate sale are to sell off the belongings of a person who has died, or is in the process of moving into a smaller home. Usually, furniture, appliances, and other household items are sold. However, businesses may also have estate sales to liquidate inventory.

Estate sales are usually managed by a professional company, which means they can be more expensive to hold than a garage sale.

However, estate sales often attract more buyers, as they are well-advertised and people know that everything for sale is high quality. Estate sales also tend to yield higher prices for items, as buyers are typically looking for nicer things to furnish their own homes.

Garage Sales

Garage sales generally refer to sales that are open to the public and are usually held in someone’s driveway or garage. Some garage sales are held by multiple families in a neighborhood and often have a more relaxed atmosphere.

The items for sale are usually things that the owner no longer needs or wants, and they are often sold at a fraction of the original cost. Garage sales are typically small scale compared to estate sales. Garage sales are a good option if you’re looking to get rid of a lot of small, inexpensive items.

Which Option is Right for You?

The main difference between estate sales and garage sales is the type and value of items sold. If you have high-quality items to sell and are looking to get the most money possible, an estate sale may be the way to go. If you’re looking to sell a lot of smaller items and aren’t as concerned about making top dollar, a garage sale may be a better option.