Trash or Treasure? Why You Should Always Ask an Estate Sale Pro Before You Declutter
- Heather F
- May 30
- 2 min read
We’ve all done it. That moment you pick up a dusty old vase from Grandma’s shelf, squint at it, and think,
“This? It’s probably junk.”
Next thing you know, it’s in the donate pile, right next to that weird mid-century chair and the “creepy” oil painting no one wants.
But here’s the thing: that “junk”? It might be worth hundreds—or even thousands.
At The Root Cellar Estate Sales, we’ve seen it all. The $10 flea market painting that turned out to be a listed artist. The “ugly” lamp that was actually vintage Murano glass. The cracked cookie jar from the 1940s? A collector’s holy grail. (Yes, really.)
💎 You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know
The world of vintage, antiques, and collectibles is… quirky. Value isn’t always about what looks fancy—it’s about:
Provenance (aka: the backstory)
Condition
Rarity
Desirability (what collectors are currently obsessed with)
Market trends (yes, avocado green is having a moment)
Unless you spend your weekends elbow-deep in auction catalogs, it’s tough to know what’s valuable and what’s just sentimental. That’s where we come in.
🧠 Why You Need a Pro (Like, Yesterday)
A trained estate sale professional doesn’t just guess. We research. We check comps. We tap into private networks, appraiser databases, and auction house relationships. We spot trends before they hit TikTok.
More importantly: we prevent heartbreak.
We’ve had clients call us weeks after a garage cleanout, sobbing because they “accidentally gave away” a rare Eames piece or sold vintage Levi’s for $5 at a yard sale. 😢
Let’s not do that.
👀 Red Flags That Your “Junk” Might Be Valuable
Here are a few signs you should pause before you purge:
It has a designer mark, artist signature, or serial number.
It came from a family member known for collecting.
It’s been sitting untouched in an attic or garage for 40+ years.
You’ve never seen another one like it.
You hate it—but someone on Instagram would probably die for it.
Even if you're convinced something’s worthless, give us a call before it heads to the donation bin. We offer complimentary consultations for a reason: we love digging for hidden gems.
💡 The Moral of the Story
Estate sale pros aren’t just here to organize and price—we’re here to protect your legacy and maximize your return. Before you donate, dump, or sell it on Facebook Marketplace for $10 and a Starbucks gift card… let us take a look.
Because that “creepy” painting?Might just fund your next vacation.
Curious what your collection might be worth?
Your future self—and your wallet—will thank you.
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