How to Find the Best Yard and Garage Sales
Effective Ways to Shop and Profit From Secondhand Items
Jun 5, 2009
Whether shopping for personal needs or shopping for potential investments there are ways to streamline the search for the best garage and yard sales and in the process save time, gas, and money. All that's needed is a few simple tools and a little ingenuity and before long finding bargains will be a piece of cake.
Finding the Best Yard Sales
Sometimes the best yard sales are right around the corner. There's no need to drive an hour out of the way to shop when there are sales to be found locally. Read the newspaper adds and chart a route through the best neighborhoods in order to cash in on the best quality merchandise. Carpool with a friend or neighbor and split the cost of a tank of gas.
Don't forget to check out local charities holding fund raisers. Estate sales are also a great opportunity that should not be missed. Merchandise is generally of a much higher quality and deeply discounted. The opportunity to find a truly unique piece is also improved when visiting an estate sale.
Save money by shopping at yard sales that appear to be well organized. Clothes hung on a rack or sorted on a table saves a lot of time when compared to having to sift through a box full of assorted duds. Saving time allows shoppers to visit more yard sales in less time.
Haggling for Bargains
Save even more money by politely haggling for a reduced price, but be reasonable. Don't expect to pay $10 for a $100 item. If an item appears to be overpriced, make the seller an offer of 10% to 30% less. Often the seller will be willing to part with it, especially later in the day. Prime items often sell early unless overpriced, and this tip could be key to scoring a super deal.
Before haggling over prices make sure to have a few smaller bill denominations handy and avoid carrying anything larger than a ten. Haggling a seller down to $5 will only insult them if they have to make change for a $20 bill or higher.
When shopping for items intended for resale, focus on the quality of the item and its estimated value. Know the intended market for the item, for instance, not all collectible action figures are worth piles of money, especially if they aren't in the original packaging. Remember Beanie Babies? Unless it's a rare and retired version with the original tags, don't expect to get rich.
Last but not least, don't forget to ask friends and coworkers what locations they've had the most luck in when going garage sale shopping and follow up on their tips. Turn a fun weekend hobby into a profitable one.
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