Step 1: Strategize
Scan the classifieds section of your local paper or search Craigslist for upcoming sales. Cross off ads hawking children’s items and collectables like Beanie Babies. If those goods are what a seller’s using to reel you in, it’s unlikely they’ll have any hidden treasures, so save your time and money.
Step 2: Rise 'n Shine
All yard sales have posted start times, usually in the 7 to 9 a.m. range. You may notice some ads with the admonition, NO EARLY BIRDS! Truth is, if you snooze, you lose. Nine out of 10 times yard sales open early. Sure, some sticklers refuse to budge, but at least you can sneak a peek and decide if it’s worth coming back.
Step 3: Partner Up
Two is better than one when it comes to grabbing yard sale goods. If you have trouble getting your better half to go, tell them about all the good finds out there to get their butt in gear (an Air Hockey table for him; a vanity for her).
Step 4: Don't Forget Estate and Tag Sales
Estate and tag sales are the entire contents of a home, so with that much inventory, you’re practically guaranteed to find something. These mega-sales usually have a high antique quotient, as downsizing seniors tend to hold them. This means those mid-century modern chairs will be priced to move.
Step 5: Search High and Low
At estate sales, basements and attics are great places to unearth forgotten accent pieces like mirrors, paintings, and lamps -- and don’t forget classic kitchen items.
Step 6: Know When to Say When
We all hate to pass up a bargain, but if a larger piece isn’t something you absolutely love, leave it for the next person and head to another sale. And never buy older appliances -- they’re more likely to be obsolete than antique.
Step 7: Make an End-of-Day Sweep
Sure, there's less inventory, but the bonus to revisiting a yard sale before closing is having more negotiating power (after all, they'll be a lot more likely to sell you that sofa for $20 if they only have 15 minutes to get it off their lawn).
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-- Mararget Winslow
Sep 15, 2008
See More: Style Solutions , Cleaning & Organizing , Decor Trends , Decor Tricks