Maryland Liquidation Sales: What You'll Find
We've been busy with estate clean outs and liquidations all over Maryland, and we've come across some genuinely cool things along the way. If you're planning to shop a liquidation sale, here's what tends to turn up — and what holds its value.
Anything vintage or antique that catches a buyer's eye has value. And even when an item isn't vintage, if it still works and looks close to new, it's a hot item. Here's what to watch for.
• Jewelry. Jewelry is one of the most valuable categories at any estate liquidation — new, old, or custom-made, it consistently ranks among the highest-value items that come up.
• Clothing. Designer brands are the hottest clothing items, modern or vintage. Accessories in particular — belts, shoes, hats — move fast. But any clean, well-fitting, presentable clothing will sell.
• Vintage hobby items. From electronics to pre-1970s baseball cards, hobby items are some of the most fun things we turn up. Vinyl records, old magazines and newspapers, toys, and original editions of classic board games always impress. Keep an eye out for vintage stamp and coin collections too. For golfers and fishermen: we find old sets of clubs and rods all the time — not always vintage, but always in demand.
• Antiques. We've seen our share, and they're among the hottest items at any sale. Some of the most interesting are old military items and equipment. Grandfather clocks and old shelving are popular, and antique books draw plenty of interest. Old machinery like sewing machines and their accessories sell well too, as long as they still work.
• Tools. Garden tools and hand-held power tools turn up in nearly every cleanout. They aren't always vintage, but they're valuable and people are always in the market.
• Furniture and furnishings. It's often surprising how much more the accessories move than the furniture itself. Old furniture tends to be big, bulky and hard to transport — a king-size bed, a desk, or a long table may sit — while the bedspread, tablecloth, rug and other linens are what draw people in.
• Imperishable food and kitchen supplies. Canned food, spices, and cleaning supplies don't go bad. Common as they are, deal seekers are often happy to go home with a surplus of paper towels and canned soup.
It's always a good time of year for a liquidation sale. From our experience, you'll find something good for your home — or something that makes a nice gift. Who wouldn't want an antique grandfather clock, classic jewelry, or a new set of linens?
Want to know more about our clean out and liquidation services? Call Sanford & Son at 443-223-8036.