10 Savvy Garage Sale Shopping Tips

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Garage sale season is upon us and what a great time to find good deals for your home! If you are patient and learn to have keen eye, you can learn to furnish and decorate your home on a shoestring budget.

Here are my top 10 tips to help you be a savvy garage sale shopper:

1.) Be early: Big-ticket items go fast, especially furniture, patio sets, and nice home decorating items. Get to a sale prior to the posted time if they have items you are interested in. Wait patiently till the seller opens, and be the first to see the goods!

2.) Make a wish list: Keep a running list of items you are looking for in your home. Before you hit garage sales, be sure to measure areas of your home, if you are looking for furniture pieces. Even though you have a wish list, keep an open mind because you may find something you can’t pass up.

3.) Make a plan: Map out which sales you want to hit first based on what is on your wish list. Circle times of the sales, so you can be prompt.

4.) Go Prepared: Take cash in smaller bills. If you plan to purchase larger items, such as furniture, bring enough cash with you. Sellers will always favor the person with the cash in hand and it will give you bargaining power!

5.) Supply List: Drive a vehicle that will accommodate your purchases.  Throw in some rope, a blanket to cover furniture, and a measuring tape.  Hand wipes and sanitizer, will come in handy after digging through garage sales.

6.) Be Savvy: Be sure to look over furniture items for unrepairable flaws.  Most furniture pieces can be fixed up with sandpaper and a can of paint. When it comes to an upholstered piece of furniture be more picky. Check over any linen items for stains and tears.  Check knobs and hinges on furniture. Make sure that lamps are in working order. Check glass items for chips and cracks.

7.)Be smart: If an item is damaged and you still want it, don’t be afraid to ask the seller to come down in price.  If you find an item isn’t marked, make an offer instead of asking the price. Look around and dig in boxes and bins that are under tables. You never know what treasure could be hidden.

8.) Be brave: Try garage sales even if it rains.  These could be the best days to hit the sales, because not as many people have come out. You might also try a sale on it’s last day, because many times the seller has marked things down to rock bottom prices and you can score a deal.  You might even get something free!

9.) Be decisive: Learn to make quick decisions at garage sales.  If you see an item you even think you want, grab it and carry it around while you decide.  Never leave an item behind at a garage sale and think you might come back for it, most likely it will be gone.  If you aren’t sure of an item, don’t buy out of impulse and regret it later.

10.) What to look for: Good items to look for at a garage sale are: small furniture pieces such as, dressers, end tables, kitchen tables and chairs.  Look for shelving, lamps, bedding, curtains and fabrics. Brass, silver,  and glass pieces of any kind are excellent. Wicker pieces, and baskets are great items to buy and spray paint. The list is endless!

Bonus Tip:: Bargain hunting is fun. Ask questions. Be observant. Don’t pay more than you want to pay. If one sale is a bust, move to the next one. Remember there will always be another sale. Soon you will be a savvy garage sale shopper.

This post will be linked to {Top Ten Tuesday} at Oh Amanda.