The biggest difference is you can hit these places little later in the afternoon, after you go to the yard sales. The next step up from a yard sale is the estate sale. You'll find most of these listed in the paper, just a few columns over from the yard sale ads. Often times, when an older person dies, the family simply doesn't have the time or the energy to deal with the contents of the home. That's when a professional team moves in, people who are knowledgeable about antiques and collectibles and have the patience to sort, price and then sit through several days of strangers wandering through Grandma's house.
Estate sales are some of the best sources of antiques and collectibles.
Many of the items that come up for sale have been in the family for years and you will often have the opportunity to find out the history of a particular piece. Unfortunately, many collectors and dealers live for estate sales and prices sometimes go high. In line with the estate sales are the estate auctions. The same scenario usually applies here. The professional auctioneer will send in his or her team several days early and sort what's available.