Buying Antiques At San Francisco Bay Area Estate Sales

By Catalina Nielsen


One of the best places to look for bargains is by attending some San Francisco Bay area estate sales. Often with a little time and effort a buyer can secure a host of excellent deals. Furniture is one of the best things to look for. As long as buyers really know what they are looking for they can often find some unique pieces to add to their collection. Dining room tables, dressers and chairs are some of the most sought after items.

A sale usually takes place after the death of a home owner. The family inherit the estate and may not have the time or ability to deal with it. If the rest of the family live some distance away they just cannot devote the time to sorting out an entire house. Other times the family just does not want the hassle of going through their loved ones possessions. This is especially true when the deceased had collected a lot of junk over the years. It can take hours or even days to go through every room and box. This is best left to the professionals.

Packing up the contents of a large house takes many hours of work. Items have to be sorted, wrapped and packed. Most people just do not have the space to keep much of the stuff. They may salvage items such as photo albums and personal effects. Jewelry and small items can also be distributed amongst the family as keepsakes. But large items of furniture, quantities of books, even cars and other machines usually take up too much space.

Smaller items such as glass ware, vases and china are typically listed individually. For example, a complete dinner set will be priced higher than odd dishes, cups or bowls. However, it is still possible to pick up some great buys. Some of the collectors items are of excellent quality and can add a beautiful touch to any home.

Antique dealers will also visit the sale to look for bargains. One of the best things they can find is old paintings and maps. These can be very valuable to a serious collector. Antique maps are often framed and displayed on the walls of the home owner. An extensive collection of maps is very valuable, and many dealers check out a sale looking for specific books, maps and pieces of artwork.

Antique dealer often attend sales as a way to get some nice pieces. They are often able to pick some really great items such as tables, chairs and dressers. A novice buyer should always try to have a more experienced person attend the sale with them to give advice and prevent them from overspending on an item.

Spending a day at an estate sale is always fun. Many people come home with someone really unique and special. This may be anything from a stamp collection to a set of silver goblets. Every home has some treasures tucked away just waiting to be found.

Everyone from professional dealers to interested neighbors can have fun and score some great deals at San Francisco Bay Area Estate sales. Many big old houses are full of great items. The prices are typically very competitive and there is something to suit every taste. Old china and glassware are often found at very low prices.




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