The estate sale at West Michigan Design Center continues Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - It's been said by many people many times, "one man's trash is another man's treasure."
When you work in the estate sale business, you find yourself experiencing both.
But often times, hidden treasures come along that can only be found by those who know what to look for, especially when you're trying to experience that bliss that comes with scoring that one-in-a-million piece for one-hundredth of its price.
The West Michigan Design Center, located at 3850 29th St. SE, is jammed packed with antiques and collectibles from a combined 22 different estates.
Larry Fill, who is a 35-year liquidation veteran in West Michigan, is coordinating this massive sale.
"It's a nice accumulation and cross-section of collectibles," said Fill. "Some people just outright collect while some are dealers who will buy and re-sell."
Many people have never attended an estate sale before, but before you do, Fill says you need to be well researched and prepared.
He offers these three key tips to treasure hunters:
1. You have to know the collecting area that you're involved in. You'd better have a good knowledge of what you're collecting, then find the rarest piece you can find.
2. You have to follow the marketplace and understand how things are selling on eBay and how things are selling in the auction houses.
3. Condition is very important. Always find the best condition. Don't buy things that are chipped, broken or have missing parts.
The estate sale at West Michigan Design Center continues Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Larry Fill says everything will be up to 50% off because it's the final day of the sale.
By Brent Ashcroft