These Best Tricks For Shopping Estate and Yard Sales will help you find some really good deals on your adventures!
“Oh, that? I found it at a yard sale.” Everyone has that one friend. You compliment their outfit or a piece of furniture in their home only to hear that familiar phrase. Maybe you’ve been out a handful of times but have yet to find these amazing deals on quality items.
Are you doing it wrong? Possibly. These tips and tricks for shopping at estate and yard sales will help you unearth the best finds and come away with some treasures of your own.
1. Know Where to Look
Yard and estate sales can be challenging to find. You have to know where to look.
Local papers are still an excellent resource for digging up a few gems. Often you’ll find both estate and yard sales listed there.
However, your best bet, especially if you’re willing to travel a little, is to look online. Websites like EstateSales.net have the most listings compiled into one location. Yard Sale Search is a similar option for garage and yard sales.
Another great option is to search on Facebook. In most areas, you’ll find at least one or two groups dedicated to advertising local estate and garage sales or selling items directly through the group.
2. Go at the Right Time
If you’re looking for something specific, the best time to arrive at the sale is at least a few minutes early. Popular items like furniture, electronics, high-end products and collectibles will be the first to go.
However, most sales begin on Friday mornings, making it a challenge for those with typical work hours. The good news is getting there late doesn’t necessarily count you out of a bargain find. You won’t have as large a selection, but you’re more likely to get a steal.
In the last hour or two of a sale, even the last whole day in some instances, sellers are usually open to low offers. The last thing owners and companies want to do at the end of a long day is pack everything up and load it onto a truck for donation or find a new home for it. It’s relatively common to see 50% off at the end of an estate sale. Showing up at the end could get you a whole bag of items for a buck or sometimes even free.
3. Be Ready to Negotiate
On top of the already fantastic prices, these sales also give you room to haggle. There are exceptions to the rule, but sellers shouldn’t be offended if you’re polite and don’t lowball.
Some helpful tips for negotiating:
- Make a personal connection with the seller.
- Try a reasonable offer and haggle from there.
- Grab a handful of items you like and make an offer on the lot.
- Be prepared to walk away.
Successful negotiation leaves you with quite a high. You’ve found a treasure and got a great deal on it. No buyer’s remorse here. Take the money you saved and put it toward something fun, like a trip or a downpayment for a car.
4. Bring Cash
Most estate sales are set up to take credit cards, but the company usually tacks on added fees in those cases. Having cash on hand will ensure you get the best deal possible.
Cash is an absolute must when stopping at garage and yard sales. You’ll rarely see anyone who’s taking cards or accepting checks. You should also ensure you have small bills — think $1, $5 and $10 — since prices are low and making change with limited funds is difficult for most homeowners.
5. Parse Pictures and Descriptions
Let’s be honest. Some sales aren’t worth your time and energy. It’s vital to do your research before ever hitting the road. Most listings will give you a general idea of what you can expect to find. They’ll also highlight what the owner thinks are the highest value or most popular items in an attempt to draw you in. At this point, you can rule out any that aren’t a match for your needs.
Estate sale listings often have pictures of unusual or valuable pieces. Between that and the image of the home, you can get a good idea of whether you should head over or not.
That said, you never know what treasures you might find tucked away in a corner or at the bottom of a box. The sale you thought wouldn’t match your taste might lead you to your next big find.
6. Inspect Items and Ask Questions
Only pay for an item after first checking it over thoroughly. Clothing can be stained or torn. Furniture might have loose joints, missing screws or a slash in the upholstery. Jewelry could be tarnished or missing stones. Too many people have left a sale on cloud nine thinking they got a fantastic deal, only to realize their item is badly damaged.
Your Fabulous Find Is Out There
Success at estate and yard sales requires a mixture of luck, location and learning. You can’t change your location or control your luck, but you can constantly learn more, educating yourself about different niches and arming yourself with helpful tips and tricks. You’ll be hooked from the moment you find your first treasure, and you’ll finally understand what all the fuss is about.
Cora’s passion is to inspire others to live a happy, healthful, and mindful life through her words on Revivalist – wholeheartedly convincing them that everyday moments are worth celebrating. Cora has spent 5+ years writing for numerous lifestyle sites – hence her sincere love for both life and the beauty of style in all things. Keep up with Cora on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook.
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