“I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited in my life.” That is how one shopper, who posts as @tastypastrysal, opened her day. It was her very first estate sale, and she and her friend were standing in line at eight in the morning, ready to see what the fuss was all about.

It turned out to be the kind of first sale that new shoppers dream about. The place was filled with people, and the bags were so cute that she and her friend each ended up with a handful. There was a wall of wonderful things in one room and more waiting in the closets. Because they were among the first through the door, they had their pick, and she says they got so much stuff.

The best part, she said, was the price. She had been worried that everything would be expensive, but it was just two dollars per piece. For a first outing, she called it such a good one.

@tastypastrysal

Closets full of bling

As she moved from room to room, her excitement only grew. One closet after another turned up treasures. In one, a whole line of shoppers was crowded around the clothes, while in another closet she found the shoes, and nobody seemed to know how much they cost. She admitted, with a laugh, that she did not really want anyone else to come over there. There were so many people piling over one pile of things, she said, while this spot sat empty.

Along the way she found bling, cup trees, cute bags and a couch she wanted so badly that she said she had no place to put it. At one point they even thought they had lost a bag in the shuffle, which anyone who has shopped a busy sale will understand.

After three hours, they sorted everything out, tallied it up and loaded up the car. She says their total came to around $600. Even at two dollars a piece, that adds up fast when you leave with as much as they did. By her own account she could not fit all of it into one post, and joked it might take a 20-part series to show everything. She said it was worth it, because everything was beautiful, shiny and fun.

Why a flat price is a gift

A sale where every item costs the same, such as two dollars, makes shopping very simple. You do not have to haggle, and you do not have to guess. It also rewards the shopper who looks closely. When a designer bag and a plain tote cost exactly the same, the better item is the bargain. Her tip, whether she meant it or not, is that the best finds can hide in plain sight.

But a flat price also has a trap that she herself noticed. When each piece is cheap, the total can sneak up on you. Even though everything was inexpensive, she said, it was going to be a lot of money by the end. A pile of small purchases can easily add up to a full month’s budget.

Tips for your first estate sale

If her story has you itching to try one, here is how to start off right.

• Find sales near you. Local estate sale company websites and community listing pages post dates, photos and addresses, usually a few days ahead.
• Get there early. The first hour is when closets are fullest and the best items have not been picked over. Some sales hand out numbers, so ask when you arrive.
• Set a spending limit. Decide your total before you walk in, and check your pile before you reach the register. Cheap items still count.
• Look in the quiet corners. As she found, the crowd often piles up in one spot while a closet or a back room sits empty.
• Check each piece. Look at zippers, seams, stains and smells, and test anything that is supposed to work. Most sales are final.
• Bring bags, a tape measure and a plan. That couch she loved is a good example: know your space and how you will get it home before you commit.
• Bring a friend. One of you can guard the pile while the other looks around, and two sets of eyes find more.

What to do with a huge haul

When you come home with more than you planned, sort it into groups right away: keep, sell, give away. Wash or wipe down what needs it, and be careful with anything that has a strong smell. Photograph the items you want to sell in good light, and list them while you are still excited. Anything you do not need can go to a friend or a donation center, which keeps your house from filling up.

Her day started with butterflies and ended with a carload of sparkle. That is how it goes with a first estate sale. Once you have had one good morning, you will find yourself checking listings every week.

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