11 Hidden Treasures to Look for at Estate Sales

display of china for sale — Credit:
lore / Getty Images

Estate sales can be full of collectibles, fine china, jewelry, and stately furniture—and you'd be remiss to pass them by. You can find anything from outdoor furniture to laundry detergent at the average estate sale, but dig a little deeper, and you might unearth hidden treasures and antiques you won't find anywhere else.

It takes some knowledge and a keen eye to distinguish trash from treasure. Of course, not everyone will uncover a masterpiece worth thousands of dollars at an estate sale. However, hidden gems pop up more often than you might think.

The first step is to give yourself the best chance of success. Arrive at a promising estate sale early. Occasionally, a homeowner will host their own estate sale, but an outside company usually holds them. Oftentimes, the company will put a sign-up sheet on the door the night before and let people in the sale in groups the next morning. The higher you are on the list, the better your chance of finding a deal. Don't worry if you can't make it to the first day of an estate sale, though. Many companies will offer a discount, like 50 percent off, on the last day of the sale, and you could potentially score an even better deal than those who got their first. Sometimes, the items that competent antique dealers pass on are worth a small fortune.

You might have to hunt and take a chance, but it will have been worth the effort if you find one of the following items at an estate sale. Remember, when it comes to antiques, the thrill is in the hunt.

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Original Artwork

picture frame molding — Credit: JOHNNY MILLER

Perhaps some of the most valuable items that pop up in garages and attics are famous pieces of art. You might not uncover a sketch by Pablo Picasso, but any original, signed piece of art is worth researching. Keep an eye out for oil paintings, advertising posters, and drawings.

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Vintage Jewelry

It's hard to find fine jewelry—gold or silver—at an estate sale because those items tend to sell privately before the sale. However, there is a lot of vintage costume jewelry that can be quite valuable. Look for signed pieces and those that are made with quality materials like crystal and glass. The more unusual the item, the more it could be worth.

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Rare Books

Not all antique books are worth a lot of money, but some can be worth a fortune. Look out for leather bound books or books that are signed on the cover pages. First editions or limited editions tend to sell for good money as well.

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Nostalgia Finds

vintage plates — Credit:
highteaforalice.com / Getty

Coming across something that sparks an emotional reaction is often a good sign to scoop it up. "Nostalgia pieces tend to be objects that people remember from their childhood that their family may have discarded over the years," says Matt Smith, co-owner of Newburgh Vintage Emporium and Hyde Park Antiques Center and founder of D. Matt Smith Vintage. "Lots of items we see that fall into this category are canister sets, tabletop pieces, and barware pieces. These tend to have strong emotional attachments. The old saying is your grandma had it, your parents threw it out, and the grandkids find it and buy it again!"

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Collectible Toys

vintage toys — Credit:
Eriksson, Per / Getty

Vintage and antique toys are highly collectible and can be worth a lot of money to the right buyer. These items tend to do well in online auctions, where they can reach the right market. Sometimes, old toys go unnoticed in an estate sale, so you have a chance of scoring a bargain.

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Rare Coins

Coin Collection - Rare U.S. Coins — Credit: Jitalia17 / Getty Images

The coin market is hit or miss at times. So many people collect coins that you need to find examples in mint condition or unusual, rare coins where the condition doesn't matter as much. If you want to get into coin collecting, estate sales can be a great place to start a collection for less.

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Vinyl Records

Vinyl record player — Credit:
Liudmila Chernetska / GETTY IMAGES

The vinyl record market is back in full swing, and some musicians are putting out new albums on vinyl. With that said, it's still a very common item at estate sales. Most sell for one or two dollars, but there are those rare albums that could be worth thousands. Do a little research to see what is a hot item and then keep your eye out for these when you're shopping estate sales.

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Antique Furniture

Antique desk and chair — Credit:
Stephen Kent Johnson

Furniture is hard for the average person to appraise, but it's not impossible. Look for indicators that the piece is handmade and old. You'll commonly find Victorian and mid-century furniture at estate sales that can be worth a few hundred dollars or more. The real value comes when you find that rare piece of signed mid-century furniture or wooden furniture from the Georgian era that's still in original condition.

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Collectible Kitchenware

Jadeite, Depression glass, and signed china are all examples of kitchenware that you can find at estate sales for less. These markets ebb and flow, and the value is not always extremely high. However, you might luck out if you find that one rare mason jar or a collectible Pyrex mixing bowl in an unusual color.

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Sterling Silver

Whenever you see a piece of silver at an estate sale, check the bottom for a hallmark. Aside from seeing the maker, you can see if it is marked with "925," meaning that it is sterling Sterling silver has a base price depending on what the melt value is at the time. Beyond that, antique pieces of silver have gone for thousands of dollars at auction. Once you learn how to read hallmarks, you'll have a good chance of finding a piece of silver that’s worth more than its ticket price.

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Signed Dècor

Tiffany lamp shade — Credit:
Jemal Countess / Staff / Getty Images

Any antique that is signed tends to be worth more than unsigned items. Keep an eye out for common and uncommon signatures on glassware and lamps like Tiffany, Quezal, or Lalique. It might take a long time to familiarize yourself with specific manufacturers, but this knowledge is essential if you want to find hidden treasures.