Today marks the first post in a summer series on “the thrill of the hunt” AKA finding that one piece of furniture or item for your home or event your hosting. The summer series will feature guest posts from professionals in the interior design, estate sales, professional organizing and event industries. My guests include Jennifer Burnham, Pure and Simple Organizing, and Cheryl Luckett, Dwell by Cheryl. Make sure you follow both of these talented women on Instagram and Twitter!
When you first meet Jennifer Burnham she’s all business and you can see why she is so good at being a professional organizer. I find her job so interesting and even thought about doing it. Then I had kids and thought maybe I need to hire someone like Jennifer.
Like me, she’s type A and has a niche for getting people organized. She is a Post-It girl! However, you start talking to Jennifer about estate sales, yard sales, and the thrill of the hunt while thrifting and she becomes one of the best storytellers. I mean this girl has different voices for the all the characters she meets while treasure hunting. It was a no brainer to have Jennifer guest post with all her experience in thrifting and estate sales. I hope you find her as charming and informational as I have.
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It is true – I love the thrill of the hunt, the treasure hunt, and the thrill of a deal. I’m not sure when it all started but all I know is the treasure hunt bug bit me hard and I’ve never looked back!
I’m often asked, “How do you find such great stuff?”
I’ll answer in a few fun tips if you love deal shopping as much as I do.
1. Go often.
The more you go the better the odds that you find the deals. I frequent estate sales and yard sales every weekend, and visit the occasional thrift store throughout the week.
2. Go anywhere and everywhere.
Deals and thrills don’t just live at your local Goodwill store. They can be found in a number of places:
Thrift stores
Goodwill, Value Village, Salvation Army Family Store
Google “thrift store {insert city} and smaller stores will pop up on your radar
Swing by and give them a try.
Metrolina Expo Antiques Show
Flea Markets
Yard Sales
Estate Sales
Antique “malls” or stores
These are buildings that have vendor booths that you can shop from
Sleepy Poet
The Depot at Gibson Mill
Gaston Pickers
Sometimes, the farther you travel, the better the deals. I snagged a great Pyrex bowl in Dallas, NC for $3.75. In Charlotte, it would have been $15. 🙂
3. Make it a habit
I add dates and events to my calendar right away so I’m ready to strike when the day comes. No one likes being a day late and a dollar short.
4. Know what you like and what you don’t like
This will help you from hoarding your house full of great deals but of stuff you don’t necessarily love.
If you are shopping for something particular, make a list and have it out and ready.
5. Plan it out
Estate sales
http://www.estatesales.net/
Sign up for their weekly emails to be notified of sales happening in your area
Most estate sales start on Thursday and end on Saturday/Sunday
Yard Sales
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/search/gms
Search Craigslist for locally advertised sales
Pick an area and stick to it. For example, I might commit to browsing the Lake Norman area one weekend and South Charlotte the next, but I know I can’t do both.
The local newspaper also has a garage sale section. I never look at this because I don’t take the paper. 😉
Metrolina Expo Antiques Show
First weekend of every month
I always add the event to my calendar in order not to miss it
Yard sale find from my treasuring hunting this week!
6. Be prepared
Cash
Checks and/or credit card (for estate sales and thrift stores)
Shopping bag
Shop hands free by taking your own bag
Most yard sales, estate sales, and smaller thrift stores aren’t equipped with shopping carts or baskets. I always take my own
Boxes in the car to contain and protect your treasures when riding from sale to sale.
Notebook (if you care to record what you paid for each item)
Snacks and water
Shopping can wear you out and the last thing you want to do is run out of steam and head home too early.
Pure & Simple Organizing is a professional organizing company based in Charlotte, NC. Our mission is to inspire others to live a less complicated life through better organization. Mounds of physical clutter can weigh heavy on our minds. I specialize in giving someone the opportunity to increase their quality of life by cleaning up and out!
Being organized is a way of life, and it can drastically improve your quality of life. It is amazing to see the stress roll away when someone’s home is finally a retreat and no longer a stressful storage unit. I consider it an honor.
Contact Pure & Simple Organizing and let them help you get your life organized. Website :: Blog
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Great post Sarah and Jennifer! Jennifer is the best at attacking a hunt strategically and with intention. Love hearing her perspective on what we both love to do.
Thank you Cheryl! I agree, Jenifer has some great suggestions in this post that I never even though of, like making a list. Looking forward to your post next month!