Tips To Getting the Best Yard Sale Deals Ever

Previously I shared with you Tips To Having the Best Yard Sale Ever, but today we are going to switch gears. If you’re more interested in attending yard sales to get deals than planning your own yard sales for profit, then today’s post was written for you. Today I’m sharing some practical tips to help you get the best yard sale deals ever.

As much as I love making some extra cash with a yard sale of my own, I actually enjoy shopping at other yard sales even more. Everybody enjoys getting a good deal, right? It is true that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, because my home is living proof! I’ve been lucky to acquire some great yard sale deals on everything from pieces of furniture, to home decor items, to appliances and more over the years. Guess what? You can, too! 

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So, are you ready to score some great deals at yard sales? Check out these useful tips to getting the best yard sale deals ever!

• Don’t leave home without a plan! Grab a newspaper and search Craigslist to find yard sales with items you’re interested in. Check out the locations and map out your route. You can save time and gas money by planning your route in advance to avoid multiple trips across town.

• Do some research beforehand. Visit thrift stores to get an idea of acceptable prices on used furniture, household items and small appliances.  If there is a particular item you’re interested in finding, look it up online so you’ll know the original price and be better prepared to negotiate.

• The early bird gets the worm, but not everyone likes an early bird. Show up to yard sales at the scheduled start time to get the best pick of items without upsetting the sellers.

• Make small talk with the owners while you’re shopping. It will make it easier for you to ask for a lower price on items you want, and it will make them more likely to negotiate prices with you.

• It’s important to negotiate nicely and don’t insult the sellers with unfair offers. At my last yard sale, I had someone approach me as I was setting up and offer me a ridiculously low price for all of my furniture items. I was insulted, so I refused to make any deals with them after that. It’s very important to be fair when negotiating prices. There is a difference between attempting to get a good deal and trying to take advantage of someone. 

• When looking at items, don’t just look at their current condition, but consider their potential. For example, if you don’t like the color, imagine it with a new coat of paint. If furniture is scratched up, consider sanding and repainting it for a new look. Don’t like the colorful cat in the picture for this post? A quick coat of gold paint would easily update the piece and make it a stylish knick-knack for display in your home. Keep this in mind when looking at low priced items for sale!

• Make sure you have plenty of cash, especially $1 bills and coins. If sellers run out of change, oftentimes they’ll offer a smaller price and those ones will come in handy!

• Save yourself the heartache and don’t buy anything broken and/or damaged. If you are not certain it can be fixed, or don’t know someone to fix it, don’t buy it. Otherwise, you’ll be wasting your money.

• Think ahead while you’re shopping. Maybe Easter has passed and Christmas is still months ahead, but now is the time to get good deals on Easter eggs and Christmas lights. It’s better to buy them now at a good price and find space in your attic than to pay full retail price later.

• Ask for a bundle deal if there are several items you like. Maybe the seller is asking for $20 a piece for three small furniture pieces, but will take $50 for them if you buy them all together. It never hurts to ask!

• So it’s 9:30am and you’re thinking of skipping the yard sale that ends at 10am? Think again! If you shop at the end of the sale, owners are ready to move their items and are more likely to negotiate with you on price. Some sellers even offer half off discounts the last hour of the sale. Don’t forget that the end of the sale is often the time to get the best deals!

Now that you know tips to getting the best yard sale deals ever, it’s time to gas up the truck, grab a friend and determine your plan of attack for the yard sales in your town this weekend. Happy hunting!

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