A favorite weekend pastime for many people is shopping at garage or estate sales. Scoring rare finds makes this experience enjoyable and exciting. Most people seem to clump these two sales together thinking they're just people selling junk or clutter that they simply don't want anymore. However, this isn't necessarily the case. There is a difference between a garage sale and an estate sale.

Negotiating

One of the biggest differences between a garage sale and an estate sale is the negotiation process. At a garage sale, you're probably used to haggling your way down to a price that you want to pay. This is one of the factors that often makes a garage sale such an exciting adventure. At an estate sale, there is very little, if any, room for negotiation.

Estate sales typically have set prices or they may be set up on a bidding system, where the highest bid wins the item. One of the main reasons that the prices are fixed is that estate sale organizers generally research the market value of all the items that will be sold during the sale. The organizers look at the condition of the item and then compare it to this information to establish a fair price.

Inventory

Another noticeable difference between the two is the inventory. This is true in terms of what's for sale and how it is organized. First, when it comes to garage sales, what you find will be very unpredictable. Garage sales can land on both extremes. Some garage sales have great, high quality finds and then there are those that make you feel like you're dumpster diving. However, with an estate sale, you can typically guarantee great finds. Estate sale planners typically inspect every item before it is placed for sale to ensure it's in good condition.

Secondly, estate sales are generally more organized than garage sales. Most estate sales are organized by category, such as cookware, electronics or shoes. However, garage sales are often less organized. All the items might be clumped together, requiring you to take your time looking through the items that are for sale. If this isn't something you want to do, an estate sale might be a more favorable option for you.

Familiarizing yourself with the differences between these sales can help you when it comes to determining what sales you will attend. Whether you attend a garage or estate sale like one at International Auction Gallery, make sure you come ready to shop.