Estate sales in Madison, WI

Estate sales in Madison have recently shown up on the Near West and Southwest sides of the city, in Cottage Grove to the east, and up in Baraboo. The list is short enough to read through in a few minutes before you choose where to go.

Openings tend to be around 9 a.m., but hours vary from sale to sale and sometimes from day to day. Read each listing before you set out.

If you're new to estate sales, a few basics go a long way. Arrive near opening on the first day if you want the widest choice, or come back on the last day, when many companies lower prices on what's left. Bring a tote bag and a tape measure, and check whether a sale takes cards or prefers cash. For some sales the street address appears only when the sale opens, so plan to check that morning.

Don't stop at the main rooms. Garages, basements and back bedrooms are where tools, holiday decorations and seasonal gear tend to end up, and they're easy to skip when the living room is crowded. Give them a look when you're out for estate sales this weekend.