Cabin fever took its toll on you
this winter. You’ve spent enough time in the house to know that you can no
longer stand the sight of that hideous green and orange lamp in the corner. You
vow that as soon as you can afford to replace itt, you will repeatedly run the
old one over with the car. So do it this weekend! Because this weekend you are
going to find that perfect lamp at none other than a neighborhood yard sale.
You may call it yard saleing, garage saleing,
or junkin’. No matter if you are on a tight budget or rolling in the dough,
yard sales offer more than just a bargain, they offer us the opportunity to
reuse (which is better for the environment), and we can find that one of a kind
item. Even if you are already a skilled
huntress who possesses an eagle eye for handwritten neon signs while driving
60mph with a double macchiato in one hand, and a newspaper in the other; you
may find some helpful new tips in the art of finding, and loving all the junk
you want to put in your trunk.
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| Image by abcteach.com |
Lists, Newspapers,
and Maps
It’s 6:30 in the morning as she
pulls her cap down tighter over her head. It’s early May but the air is chilly
enough for her breath to create smoke. She’s prepared months for this day,
gathering the information, writing out lists, then last night staying up late
pouring over maps, calculating her plan of action. Precision of time and
navigation are crucial to her success.
Ok, so maybe the whole Mission
Impossible method to yard sale planning is over the top. But if you don’t want
to return home empty handed here are some useful planning tips to help you
score big this season:
- At the start of your yard sale season, make a list of all the items you would like to find. Be sure to write the list on something you will be able to keep in your purse. Like a notepad or make the list on your phone. If you don’t find everything on your list the first time out, you will need to refer back to it throughout the summer.
- Check your local newspaper for sales but don’t forget to check online too. Websites like www.craigslist.com or www.yardsalesearch.com are other ways people will post their ads.
- Once you have determined which sales to hit (narrow this down by location, items being sold, and time of sale), it’s time to map out your route. Even if you have a GPS device, you will still want to map out your route the night before. This will help you figure out which yard sale you need to be at first and how much time you have to spend there before going on to the next. Also, it is helpful if you have the ability to pre-program the addresses into your GPS the night before.
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| Image by muscogeemoms.com |
Yard Sales, Estate
Sales, and Moving Sales
She sees him, wearing a white t-shirt and shamrock green
sweatpants, dragging his feet toward her, unaware of the chaos that is about to
strike. He stops just a foot in front of her. Still half asleep, he pounds the
stake in the ground with the strength of a parakeet. She’s like a tigress going in for the kill.
Whenever possible, never pay asking
price. After all, we’re talking about a yard sale, not Sax Fifth Avenue.
However, there is some helpful information you should know when bargaining at a
yard sale, estate sale, or moving sale.
- Yard sales can be a little tricky sometimes when bargaining. Some people who have a yard sale may get money hungry. For example, say you find a cute lamp marked $30 which is similar to a $60 lamp you have been admiring at a local department store. Clearly this lamp is a few years old so you offer $20, the owner of the lamp may turn you down arguing that she paid $60. This is a good time to walk away from the purchase because you are more likely to be able to purchase the lamp new when the store offers a 50% off sale.
- Estate sales are the cream of the crop because it’s an entire household for sale. Also, if you are into antiques then Estate sales are usually the mother lode for bargain antiques that will fetch a hefty price if you decide to resell it one day. However, many estate sales are managed by professionals who are hired by family members. Many of these estate sale management businesses are owned by someone who either has a resale shop or simply knows the value of the merchandise they are selling. Either case, there is not much room for bargaining here. These sales will ordinarily run Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. On the first day of the sale, everything will be full price, sometimes reducing items on Saturday to 25% off, then 50% off on Sunday for whatever remains. Still, it never hurts to ask. I have been to a few estate sales where I have made an offer and was surprised to walk away with my treasure.
- Moving sales can be more lenient in bargaining. The majority of the items sold at these sales are because the person does not want to or is unable to take it with them wherever they are going. Also, whatever they are not selling still needs to be packed or moved. The majority of these sales are over quickly because the owner just wants it out the door. So make an offer!
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| image by midtownmojo.com |
Bargaining, Etiquette,
and What Not to Buy
The sound of car doors echo through
the silence of the neighborhood, 7:00am. They charge like stampeding buffalo
before scattering like confused chickens. But not her, she’s determined as she
hones in on her target, a dresser that looks like its seen better days. She
knows those days were back in the 1930’s.
One
of the most important arsenals you have in your bargaining bag is your
personality. Whenever possible, try and build a little rapport with the owner
before making an offer. Such as complimenting their property or items they have
for sale.
- Showing the cash while making your offer almost always results in a sale. Even though you are talking, that green speaks louder when the seller can see it.
- Remember, if the ad says “No Early Birds”, don’t show up half an hour before the sale time. As a rule the owners will be ok with 10 minutes till but no earlier than that.
- Finally, there are a few things to stay clear of at a yard sale. Most of these things will be at your discretion such as clothing, linens, and pillows. However, some people may try to sell puppies or kittens at their sale. Stay clear even if they are giving the animals away. We may think we are getting a bargain on a pedigree pooch but without knowing much about the owners or the living and health conditions of the animals, you may end up with more out of pocket expense in the end.
Happy hunting and show off that junk in your
trunk!
Tell us about your latest and
greatest find!
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