Finding Profits At Estate Sales Part III: The Office
Parts one and two of this multi-part series focused on the kitchen and garage. Next stop? The office! You can pretend you’re a pirate looking for buried treasure as you enter the office of almost any estate sale.
Chairs
The first item you should look for is chairs. Chairs made by companies like Herman Miller and Stressless are incredibly popular. Herman Miller makes highly adjustable office chairs that are pricey when purchased new. Stressless makes recliners that sell for thousands at retail. (Look for the Stressless logo on the round adjuster knob.) You can purchase these comfort chairs for $50-$100 at estate sales and sell them for $500-$600 online.
Note: Since chairs are large and heavy, list them as local pickup only. People who are interested in these brands will often drive long distances to pick them up.
Pens
Next, be on the lookout for expensive ballpoint and fountain pens. Brands such as Cross, Parker, and Montblanc are always in demand.
Vintage Stereo Equipment
Many Americans love listening to music as they work. Vintage stereo equipment is a common sight in the office area of the typical estate sale. Recently, a friend purchased a Sansui 9090DB AM/FM receiver for $30. Since it was valuable, he had it refurbished at the local stereo shop. He sold it for $950 to a dealer who drove 400 miles to pick it up! (Ironically, the dealer didn’t care if it was refurbished because he has his employees inspect and improve the items he finds before selling them to his customers in Asia.)
Paperweights
In addition, keep your eyes peeled for signed paperweights. It is not uncommon to find high-end paperweights in the office area of an estate sale. Orient and Flume, for example, is a Northern California company that makes pieces that are highly collectible.
Office Supplies
The office is also a great place to stock up on supplies! Running a business can get expensive, and estate sales are fantastic places to purchase paper, envelopes, labels, and tape for almost nothing.
Stamps
Finally, be on the lookout for stamp collections. A few years ago, we bought a box full of random stamps for $5. The stamps weren’t collectibles, but they were worth about $250 at the post office. We didn’t have to buy stamps for a long time!
So the next time you’re out and about looking for buried treasure at an estate sale, check out the office, mate! You won’t regret it!
About the Author
Miriam Otto is an eBay blogger and credentialed teacher with 13 years’ experience selling on the site. She was a frequent guest on eBay Radio and has participated in eBay seller panels and projects. Her blog, The eBay Life, is an all-in-one resource for eBay sellers.