Estate Sales in Carlsbad, NM

August 8, 2025

The question of “selling your stuff” often comes up in conversation when I’m helping people downsize. When I was teaching my most recent Home Organizing class at the North Mesa Senior Center in Carlsbad, some of the students were talking about ways in which they’ve been successful selling things. Facebook Marketplace is usually a popular choice, but there were still questions about selling things on commission. After class, I sent a message to a new friend who runs an online vintage boutique on Instagram called The Bashful Burro, and asked her if she ever purchases items directly. While she occasionally will make direct purchases that fulfill the aesthetic for her shop, she referred me to Debbie Clifton, a local woman who has a great reputation for running estate sales in town. I quickly got her contact information and sent her a message.

Debbie Clifton

Debbie’s Assistant, Kasey

Debbie was a delight to talk to! We had a nice long phone conversation, where she shared with me her passion for doing estate sales. She is a longtime Carlsbad resident, and has been running estate sales for her clients for about 4 years now. Debbie, her husband Wayne, and assistant Kasey, are highly skilled at going through homes to stage sales. They meticulously arrange items in a clean and organized way, so that the things for sale look like they are in a well-curated store. They also have learned how to price items so they sell, and so their clients earn a good value. Debbie’s company also earns a commission, so she is motivated to get the best prices possible. When they come across items that they don’t know about, they will take the time to do their research to assess the value of the item. Debbie and her team stay for the entire sale- greeting customers, keeping things tidy, and of course- making sales!

Debbie and Kasey hard at work!

While talking with Debbie, I had to ask her about interesting items she’s found. Although she hasn’t found any vintage Breyer Horses (yet!… my personal favorite), she has found significant amounts of cash that people have hidden in odd places. She always makes sure to return the cash directly to her clients.

When I asked Debbie if she ever turns down requests for sales, it sounds like it does happen on occasion, depending on the tediousness and cleanliness of the task, or if someone just wants to sell a few items. Estate sales are typically for when someone passes away or moves away. They differ from garage sales in that estate sales are when everything in the house gets sold, not just a few items. Debbie has her clients remove anything they want to keep, and everything else is up for sale.

In addition to promoting her sales on social media, Debbie has a huge following of people that she advertises her sales directly to. She has a pre-sale, open her followers, followed by the regular sale, open to the public, and then the last day, she will have a 50% off sale. After that, everything in the home gets donated, according to her client’s wishes. Since our initial conversation, I got on Debbie’s list, and found out about the huge sale she was having with lots of fabric and sewing notions. I sent the text to a few local people who love to sew, and they already had heard about the sale. I love how news travels so fast here! I attended the sale and came home with several clear plastic organizing bins, which I’m excited to use.

Debbie is a cheerful, hardworking, and well-loved in the community. She’s never had a dissatisfied client- people are always happy with the results Debbie delivers! If you’re considering having an estate sale, or want to get on her pre-sale list, contact Debbie Clifton at 575-885-4959. Why pay retail when you can shop estate sales?? Scroll down to see photos of her most recent sale.