Got a Sweet Spot for Yard Sales? Here’s How to Get the Best Deals
Believe it or not, there is a right way and a wrong way to shop garage sales.
When you use the right strategies, you can walk away from a morning of garage or yard sales with a fantastic haul, including brand-new items you bought for only a couple bucks.
But if you don’t shop strategically, you could wind up wasting your time — or worse, spending too much on an item that’s not worth buying.
Whether you’re in the market for something specific or just looking to see what treasures pop up, here’s how to shop smart at yard and garage sales.
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1. Make a List
Before even looking for yard and garage sales in your area, make a list of things you’re looking for.
You know those items you “need,” but hate to pay full price for because you don’t need them urgently? Or those items you know you’ll want in a few months when it’s the right season, but not quite yet? Those are your potential yard-sale scores.
Remember, the goal is to get what you need at a bargain price, not to bring home junk you don’t need. Having a list helps keep you focused.
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2. Find the Sales
Wondering where to find yard sales? Find internet listings on Facebook, Craigslist, Yardsales.net and Estatesales.net for estate sales. You may also be able to find listings in your local newspaper or advertised around your neighborhood.
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3. Look for Good Yard Sales
First, let’s answer this question: What is a good yard sale? Think about three things: location, quantity and quality.
Location: Look for yard sales held in nice neighborhoods. I love going to yard sales in more upscale neighborhoods because they often have nice, expensive, brand-name items.
Quantity: A bigger sale is likely to produce better find, since you’ll have more options. Look for ads that use language like “multi-family sale” or “neighborhood sale.” Keep an eye out for churches, schools or organizations hosting group sales, where each family has a table.
Quality: This is often a benefit of finding yard sales in good locations and with more items, but small sales can be great if they advertise a particular item you’re interested in, like a piece of furniture, a hard-to-find item or a particular focus, such as “baby stuff.”
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4. Map Out Your Route
Got your list of the yard sales you most want to hit? Great.
Plug the addresses into Google Maps to determine the most efficient route. Look at their relative locations to each other and to where you live. Planning your route this way means you’ll spend less time driving around and more time shopping the deals.
Note the times of the sales; ideally, if it fits with your route, you’ll start with the earliest ones first to get the best deals before other treasure hunters scoop them up. If you’re itching to hit a sale that’s a little further away, use your judgment based on the ad to decide whether it’s worth the extra commute.
5. Shop Strategically
How do you know if you’re getting a good deal on an item at a yard sale?
First, look at what shape it’s in — fair? great? brand new? Next think about a typical price for the item. If you’re not sure, Google it to see the price for a new one, as well as with the word “used” to see prices for more well-loved items.
Prices at yard sales are generally very low. Ultimately, how much you should pay comes down to the value you place on the item. Will you use it a lot? Is it in good shape? Have you seen it for a better price anywhere else, or are you likely to? A note on haggling: Most sellers will compromise, especially toward the end of a sale because they are more desperate to get rid of things.
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