Yard Sale Shopping Tips

Get the Best Deals at Garage Sales

Yard sales are treasure hunts, and the yard sale shopping tips below can help you make out like a pirate!

Go early. The best items at a garage sale go fast, so the best time to go yard sale shopping is early in the morning. Some hard-core shoppers show up hours before a sale is scheduled to begin to pick over the selection and strike deals with still-sleepy sellers. (Note: I don't recommend that strategy. Having been a seller myself, there's nothing more annoying than someone haggling with you while you're trying to set up. Wait until the seller is actually ready!) If you're looking for hidden gems, you'll have to set the alarm clock.

Go late. Not an early bird? Well, the hidden gems at a yard sale may have already been uncovered toward the end of the sale, but what's left is usually marked way down. Some items are even free at that point. So, for the late risers or those who can shop all day, it can't hurt to do a little afternoon yard sale shopping and see what you can get on "scavenger clearance"!

Plan your route. If you're going to visit several yard sales, map out a route. Check the classifieds online and in the paper to see where the sales are, then plan what order to go to each one. If you visit one and think you might want to return to it later, mark that on your map. You'll save gas and time.

Eat first. If you're hungry, you won't be able to concentrate on the merchandise, and you might gloss right over something good. Or you may be in a hurry to go get something to eat and just pay for something without bargaining.

Bring small bills and change. If the seller doesn't have change for the item you want, you may end up paying more than you wanted to just because there's no change. Or you don't get it at all. It's also easier to bargain if you have the exact amount in your hand that you're offering to pay. If you say, "I'll give you a $1 for that $2 frame," and you have the dollar in your hand, ready to pay, the seller is more motivated to accept your offer than if you're standing there with a $20 in your hand.

Bargain. With yard sale shopping, sellers expect to bargain. The prices at garage sales are usually pretty low to begin with, but don't be afraid to make an offer on something, especially if it's a higher priced time. If the seller seems hesitant to lower the price, ask if they'll throw in another item for free or offer to come back later. If the item hasn't sold and the seller is motivated to sell it, they may be ready to accept a lower offer later in the day.

Test things. Always test electronics or items that must "work" to be used. If the item is electronic, have the seller plug it in and test it. If it works some other way, have the seller demonstrate that it works. Play CDs, DVDs, etc. to see if they're scratched. If an item doesn't work, but it still has value to you (maybe you can fix it), bargain for a lower price.

Have the right transportation. Be sure you can actually transport what you buy. If you've walked to a yard sale, and you want to buy a couch that you find, arrange with the seller how and when you will transport it home. If you will have to come back for the piece, the seller may require up-front payment in order for them to refuse other offers. In that case, make sure you get a receipt. If you don't have transportation available, and the seller can't or won't deliver, though, don't buy the item. It's not fair to ask the seller to take the piece off the market if you can't get it home and may have to abandon the purchase.

How do you get deals at yard sales?

Got a tip for shopping at a garage sale? Or got a story about an amazing find? Tell your fellow readers all about it!

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