After wrapping up a sale in Arlington, I asked my client what advice she’d give to someone starting an estate sale. Her answer revealed some common misconceptions about what can—and can’t—be sold. Let’s clear that up.
Toiletries
Yes, you can sell shampoo, conditioner, lotion, face cream, mousse, and other bathroom items—even if they’re partially used. Just price according to how much is left in the bottle. These are practical items that sell quickly.
Cleaners
Don’t toss those half-empty bottles of Windex or Lysol! People buy cleaning supplies all the time, even partially used ones.
Medical Items
You can sell many items from the medicine cabinet:
Band-Aids
Rubbing alcohol
Hydrogen peroxide
Blood pressure monitors
Important exceptions: You cannot sell prescription medication, and expired over-the-counter medicine should be discarded.
Food
I don’t recommend selling food, though it can be done. Open or expired food should always be tossed, and sealed items are better donated to a food pantry. Alcohol can’t be sold without a TABC license, but it can be given away.
Firearms
In Texas, private person-to-person firearm sales are legal. Still, whenever possible, we go through a licensed firearms dealer. Firearms don’t come up often, but yes, they can be sold at estate sales.
💡 Bottom line: Almost everything sells at estate sales. Before you throw something out, ask an estate sale professional. What looks like “trash” to you may be exactly what a buyer is looking for.
