What to look for at an estate sale

Start with the photos

A listing's photo gallery is your first walk through the house. Go through it before the sale and note the pieces that deserve a closer look, so your first minutes inside go to the things you came for.

Check how it is made

Turn furniture around and open it up. Solid wood, dovetailed drawer joints, and original hardware usually point to a piece built to last; staples, particleboard, and loose joints point the other way.

A maker's mark or label, when there is one, is often underneath, on the back, or inside a drawer.

Look closely at condition

Chips, cracks, repairs, and missing parts change what a piece is worth to you. Hold glass and china up to the light, run a finger along the rims, and count the pieces in a set.

Ask whether lamps, clocks, and electronics have been tested. Most things at an estate sale are sold as they are, so look before you pay.

Measure before you fall in love

Bring a tape measure and the sizes of the spaces you want to fill, doorways and stairs included. Large pieces usually have to leave by the end of the sale, so know how you will get them home.

Ask what is known, then decide for yourself

The people running the sale can often tell you where a piece came from and what they know about it. A listing photo or a price tag is not an appraisal: when authenticity matters to the price, ask questions, look for marks and paperwork, and buy what you are comfortable with.