Estate sales can be real gold mines if you know where to look. With hundreds of sales under their belt, the Aether crew divulges the surprising locations they’ve found value in.

At estate sales, books are priced to sell.

Books are usually a set price, which often includes coffee table books, antiques, and more. You may even find a few dollars between the pages (though you should turn those over so they can go to their original owner.)

Discover the value in nostalgia.

Vinyl’s comeback is no secret, and now even cassettes are experiencing a resurgence in popularity. Dig through each pile for the chance to score rare records, cool demos, and music that’s not on Spotify yet.

Large items come with big discounts.

Sometimes, people just want you to take their items because it would be cheaper than moving it themselves. You can save big on large items like pool tables, wardrobes, and dining room tables.

Who doesn’t love toys?

Our sales have had rare Barbies, GI Joes, Cabbage Patch Dolls, Hot Wheels, and much more. Best of all, these aren’t the kind that end up at garage sales — the collectibles at estate sales are ones people would actually like to have around their house. Find the best deals on unique finds at estate sales.

Antiques are obvious, but keep an eye out for the dusty and damaged.

A little work can go a long way to turn a small estate sale purchase into a nice payday. Items like stools, rocking horses, and lamps are the perfect items to start with.