The weather is warming up and that means it’s time to hit up all those yard sales that will be happening and save yourself some money. Here are some yard sale tips so you can be sure you are getting the best deal.
Know how to find them. There are many ways you can find out where yard sales are happening in your area. Check newspapers, church websites, Craigslist and neighborhood stores. Most yard sales are only advertised a day or two in advance, so start looking on Thursday or Friday.
Bring your own bags to place purchases in. Some yard sales will have them, but many won’t. You want to make sure things are easy to remove from your car and aren’t getting broken or lost in it. This is especially important if you will be going from sale to sale for a day. Those reusable grocery shopping bags are great for this.
Don’t arrive before the sale opens. It often annoys the person holding the sale and you may not get to see everything as they may be setting up some last minute items. You are more able to haggle if you aren’t showing up too early.
If you come across an electronic that you want to try out, ask if they have a plug available. An honest seller will make one available for you and not just insist it works. Another good way to make sure what you are buying is in working order is to carry a set of batteries with you. This is a good use for those half-used batteries you have in your junk drawer.
Open packages and make sure it is what you think it is. You could be very disappointed when you “buy” a new Kitchenaid, but find out it is a coffee maker instead. Also, this gives you a chance to make sure all the pieces are there as well.
When buying clothing, check each piece for stains, holes, and tears. With pants, look for wear and tear on the inner thigh and seat area. It may not have a hole, but is it pretty worn? Look at the pieces to see if they have been stretched out. That size small may actually be more like a medium if it is well worn.
Shop with small bills. Most people who hold yard sales do not have much in the way of change for large bills. You don’t want to miss out on a great deal simply because you don’t have the proper payment available.
Don’t rush at a sale that has some great items. These yard sale gems are sometimes hard to come by and you may regret not taking more time at them later.
Be prepared. Since the nature of yard sales means they happen outside, often on hot days, wear sunscreen and take some snacks and cold water with you. You will be glad you did when you get hot and thirsty from being outside!
Try looking for big-ticket items near the end of the day. For yard sales, this is typically late afternoon. The reason is, people are more willing to haggle on selling these large and bulky items rather than have to deal with them.
Want even more yard sale tips for having a yard sale? I highly recommend the book Yard Sale Pro: How to Have a Wildly Successful Yard Sale.
If you liked these frugal yard sale tips be sure to check these out:
Expert Tips for Decorating on a Budget
5 Tips for Successful Club Store Shopping
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