Waking up early for those sales is a great way to get the best variety of deals. Most sellers just want to get rid of as much “junk” as possible, so they have everything out there at the crack of dawn. If you are one of the first to get to the sale, then you have the first choice in the things you want and need. Of course, sometimes, sellers aren’t willing to bargain so early in the morning, but at least, you have everything laid out in front of you. Some sellers only bring thing out as other items are sold. At this sale, you will have to come back later for future deals, so don’t go to these as early as the sun rises.

Carry lots of small bills and a few large bills for larger items. Most sellers just want cash and don’t carry a lot of change. If you have the exact change, sellers will be very happy to accept your money.

Make a list of things that you need and want for your home. This will help you figure out if a garage sale is worth stopping at when you drive by. For example, if you are looking for baby clothes, but the garage sale is only selling couches and tables, then keep driving on to the next garage sale as you will only be wasting your time looking at things you don’t need.

Consider calling a garage sale ad if you aren’t sure what they are selling. For example, if an ad has “coffee table”, first call the seller and asks what kind of table is it, how large is it, and what color it is. If the coffee table is not what you are looking for, then you’ve saved a trip.

Consider the neighborhood wide garage sale. Sometimes, neighborhoods get together once a year and have garage sales at each house. This saves you from driving all over town looking for whatever you want. You can just park your car at one corner and walk down the street, looking for items to buy. Glance at each garage sale and decide where you’ll be buying most of your goods.

If you know that you will be buying a lot of items at one particular garage sale, ask the sellers if they are willing to give you a discount. Most sellers just want to see their stuff sold, so savvy sellers will offer you a great discount, but only if you ask.

If you are just having fun at garage sales and aren’t looking for anything particular, you can go at the end of the sale and get discounts because the sellers are usually pretty anxious get rid of as many things as possible before they close up. Just ask the sellers if they are willing to go down for you to buy their items. Most will say “sure.”

If you are buying appliances, make sure that you can at least test them out. You don’t want to have to load an old stove home only to discover that it was broken. The seller will just say “as is” and you will have to get rid of the stove on your own. Most sellers are willing to plug in an appliance and give you the user manuals for you if you want to buy their appliances.

 

Related posts:

1. Five Helpful Shopping Hints for those Garage Sale Days
2. General Suggestions when Shopping for Big Ticket Items
3. Six Tips Online Shopping Owners Should Employ to Boost Sales

First, plan your route for your shopping spree.  Many times there will be community or neighborhood garage sale days which is easier than running around neighborhood to neighborhood.  This is one of the best ways to cover a lot of ground in the shortest amount of time.  Go early for the best deals in the neighborhood and bring a wagon or several bags to help you haul your purchases away.  Don’t show up to a sale earlier than the listed starting time; often you’ll be in the way of the person trying to set up their sale and aggravate them. 

Second, pack some food if you will be hitting a lot of garage sales or a large community sale.  A water bottle and some sandwiches in a cooler can get you through a long day of shopping.  Occasionally people will be selling food but don’t count on it.

Third, before you shop for clothing, make sure to have a list of clothing sizes for your family.  Take measurements of family members so you can purchase items without size tags.  Take a tape measure with you when you go shopping also.  Remember, items that you purchase at garage sales are by and large not returnable.  Check for rips, stains or missing zippers and buttons before you purchase clothing items.  Rarely will you be able to try on clothing at a garage sale.  Check all of the tags for sizes and measure items without tags before you buy them.  If you sew and find an item that needs repair, don’t be afraid to haggle the price with the seller.   

Fourth, Carry lots of small bills since most items you purchase will be under $10.  Be sure to have a few larger bills in case you find a large item that you just have to own. 

Fifth, check all items to make sure they are working and have all of their parts.  Many garage sales have power cords so that you can check to see if appliances actually run.  When it comes to children’s games make sure that you have all of the game pieces and that other toys have all of their parts.  In general, things should do what they are expected to do.  Broken or “as is” items should be marked as such.

People that have a garage sale want to sell the items they have; they don’t want to lug the items back into their home after the sale.  If you want an item and it is out of your price range make an offer to the seller.  They may agree to sell it to you for less than the ticketed price.  Remember to be respectful and reasonable with the seller when haggling over prices.

Finally, observe basic etiquette when shopping at a garage sale.  Don’t let your children break people’s collectibles and if at all possible leave your small children at home.  Leave the dog at home as well, not everyone wants to be in close quarters with unfamiliar animals.  Finally, be careful where you park.  Don’t block anyone’s driveway with your car and be careful not to park in front of a fire hydrant or in a tow away zone.

 

Related posts:

1. How to Make the Most of your Shopping Trips to Garage Sales
2. Helpful Hints to Find What You Are Looking for in Your E-Commerce Encounter
3. Helpful Hints for Men– How to Shop for your Lady without Bungling the Job