Yard Sale, Estate Sale, Tag Sale – What’s the Difference?

Believe it or not, there have been debates on this very subject. What’s the difference between a yard sale, a garage sale, an estate sale, etc.? Some say there is no difference, but most people agree there is. A huge difference. At least between an estate sale and all the others. There are few things more annoying than traveling a great distance to an advertised estate sale only to find a few toys and clothes in the driveway. Makes me want to snarl at the sellers. Say bad words. Ask if their child died. But I bite my tongue.

There are yard sales, garage sales, carport sales, tag sales, rummage sales, church sales, moving sales and estate sales. All will have things displayed and priced (hopefully) and ready for you to grab before the person standing next to you reaches for it. Depending on the type items you look for, all can be good.

So what’s the difference? Let me lecture… I mean, explain.

• Yard, garage, carport and porch sales. Generically called yard sales. Usually these are just folks doing a little cleaning out. You’ll find everything from toys to outgrown clothes to books to dishes to the kitchen sink. If they’ve been pack rats from year one, you might find some treasures. Occasionally, they’ll even have some of grandma’s stuff. You just never know. If you live in a small town, these sales might be your only option.
• Moving sales. Self explanatory. Someone’s moving and can’t or doesn’t want to take it all with them. These might be inside the house or in the yard. Wherever it’s convenient for the seller. You’ll generally find the same things at these sales that you do at yard sales. Maybe more furniture.
• Rummage and tag sales are traditionally put on by a charity or clubs. Members donate things from their home to be sold. These are probably the oldest terms, particularly the rummage sale. I have a newspaper clipping from the 1930s of children having a rummage sale.
• Church sale. Similar to a rummage sale only put on and normally held at a church. They’ll often be called rummage or tag sales. I’ve seen tiny church sales and others so large they cover the whole parking lot.
• Estate sale. I’ve saved the most misunderstood for last. An estate is all your worldly belongings. An estate sale is what’s left to be sold of your worldly belongings — after you’ve left this world. Or you’ve moved into a retirement or nursing home. Then it’s actually a moving sale, but we forgive you for calling this an estate sale. It is NOT your child’s toys. It is NOT last years clothes from your closet. When we see the words “estate sale” we expect to go inside the house and see everything left by the deceased that the family did not want. We expect to be able to dig through junk drawers, look under beds, behind doors. We expect to see books, dishes, antiques, kitsch, what nots, doodads, furniture, spiders, roach eggs and mouse droppings. We’re happy if we don’t see the last three, but not surprised if we do.Estate sales are often held be professional estate liquidators, but many times by family or friends. A common complaint about estate sales, especially those held by professionals, is that they are priced too high. They’re hired to make the most money for the family while doing their best to get rid of everything. It’s a fine line for the seller. Pricing is hard. But remember, the professionals can’t know everything. If you look at items on this site that sell well on eBay, you’ll realize that these are things the professionals are not likely to see value in. They price known antiques, porcelain, glassware, etc. “by the book”. They simply do not have time to look up every single thing in the house. Bargains are there. Waiting. For us.

  Personally, true estate sales are my favorites. There is more junk.. er, highly collectible items… more variety, more choices all in one place. I may not find anything, but at least I get an eye feast. They are more cost effective for me. In my area of the country. I only go to yard sales if there are no estate sales happening.

If you’ve done your homework, you’ll know the things to look for at every kind of sale. The things the seller or that blur of bodies and elbows thinks is worthless junk. It’s still out there, folks. Granted, it’s not easy. The hunt is hard and sometimes dirty work, but the rewards can be significant. And fun.

Just be careful out there. Watch where you put your hands. Wasps, snakes, spiders… They’re all innocently living out their lives until some human decides to see what’s under that bowl in the shed.