Do I have enough for an estate sale? It’s one of the first questions homeowners ask when they begin considering their options. Many people picture antique furniture, fine china, sterling silver and valuable collectibles when they think of an estate sale.

Those things certainly sell. But they’re only part of what buyers come looking for.

Some of the most surprisingly sellable things in a home are the ordinary items tucked inside cabinets, closets, garages and drawers. If you’re wondering whether you have enough for an estate sale, don’t start throwing things away just yet. In many homes, those everyday items add up quickly.

1. Cleaning & Household Supplies

Unopened or partially used household products can sell, including cleaners, trash bags, paper goods, sponges, storage bags, aluminum foil and other everyday supplies including non-perishable food items.

2. Lightbulbs, Batteries, Hardware & Extension Cords

That shelf of extra bulbs in the garage? Keep it. Buyers look for lightbulbs, batteries, extension cords, power strips and other household basics like DIY hardware including locks, hinges, nails, screws and more.

3. Tools, Hardware & Garage Supplies

You don’t need a garage full of expensive power tools. Hand tools, screws, nails, hinges, knobs, hooks, tape measures, garden tools and miscellaneous hardware can all find buyers.

4. Painting & DIY Supplies

Paintbrushes, rollers, drop cloths, paints, stains, sandpaper, unopened supplies, small tools and other home-improvement leftovers are worth leaving for the estate-sale team to evaluate.

5. Kitchen Basics

It isn’t only Le Creuset and vintage Pyrex. Mixing bowls, baking pans, utensils, storage containers, cutting boards, small appliances and everyday cookware can all sell.

6. Linens

Sheets, towels, blankets, quilts, tablecloths, napkins and other household linens are easy to overlook and buyers often need exactly these practical items.

7. Office, School & Crafting Supplies

Pens, pencils, notebooks, printer paper, envelopes, organizers, staplers, craft paper, paints, yarns, threads, fabrics and other supplies can be grouped together and sold.

8. Holiday & Seasonal Items

Christmas ornaments may be obvious, but don’t forget wreaths, extension cords, outdoor decorations, wrapping supplies, cookie cutters, Easter baskets, Halloween and Valentine’s decor and other seasonal items.

9. Garden, Patio & Outdoor Items

Planters, hoses, sprinklers, gardening tools, pool supplies, grilling supplies, outdoor cushions, bird feeders, pots and even partially used bags of ordinary garden supplies may be useful inventory.

10. The “Junk Drawer” Stuff

This is the category people are most tempted to throw away. Drawer organizers, tape, scissors, picture-hanging supplies, command hooks, flashlights, small hardware and miscellaneous household items can often be grouped into useful lots.

Do I Have Enough for an Estate Sale? Let Us Take a Look

An estate sale isn’t built around one dining-room set or a cabinet of china. It’s the accumulation of sellable items throughout an entire home.

And one of the biggest mistakes you can make before meeting with an estate-sale company is deciding for yourself what has value and what doesn’t.

If you’re considering an estate sale in Central Alabama or the Dallas–Fort Worth area, Parker Place can help you look at the whole contents of the home and determine what makes sense to sell, consign, donate or otherwise handle.

Still figuring out your next step? Read Do I Need an Estate Sale or an Auction? or Should I Host an Estate Sale Myself or Hire a Professional?

Before you toss it, let us take a look. Contact us to schedule a complimentary consultation.