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Buying a garage sale bargain!

Going to a weekend garage sale can be great fun. But adding a little strategy to your garage sale visits can also ensure a great bargain. Here’s some tips to get you going:

1. Plan which garage sales you’re gonna stop at before you leave home, and make a day of it. Check out which garage sales are on in your town either through garage sales website. , or by scanning your local newspaper. Checking the locations and times before you get into your car will save a lot of backtracking
2. Unlike vegetable markets (where the best deals are often found at the end of the day when the vendor is trying to clear deteriorating stock), with garage sales the best items and deals are often found right on the advertised start time. This is because garage sellers tend to place their best items in the most prominent places, meaning they sell quickly. Also, if you’re the first at the sale, the garage seller still doesn’t know how much of a success his or her sale is going to be, so there can be a good deal of room for price negotiation early in the sale.
3. Which brings us to the next point, which is to always ask for a reduced price. You may not get it, but you should never die wondering. Also, if you plan to visit a number of garage sales in one day you may have seen the same or similar item elsewhere for a lower price, and can use this knowledge in your negotiations.
4. Only buy what you can use. Otherwise the item you buy at a garage sale this month could be on display at your garage sale next month.
5. Always make sure you have enough cash in your pocket, in relatively small denominations. This is because most garage sellers operate only on a cash basis, and may not carry large amounts of change. But don’t flash the cash until the deal is done!
6. Never feel compelled to buy. A good garage seller will realise you’re doing them a favor just by showing up and boosting the numbers and interest at their sale.
7. Keep the bargaining process fun. Have a smile on your face when negotiating, and remember the stakes aren’t that high. If one garage seller is driving too hard a bargain, go to the next garage sale on your list.
8. And remember, while many garage sellers may be willing to offer a refund or exchange, the rule of thumb for purchasers of any second hand item is ‘buyer beware’. Make sure you check all moving parts of an item to make sure they work, and thoroughly check for chips and scratches before you buy. Take your time doing this, and request space from anybody trying to rush you into a quick purchase.
9. If you’re hunting for a specific antique item, bring a pocket antique guide with you to check for things that add value like rare watermarks under ceramic tea pots. Check discretely though – you don’t want to tip other buyers off that there’s a real treasure in the room, and you want to leave some negotiating space with the seller.
10. Remember if it’s a charity sale you’re going to that you’re not only buying something for yourself, but you’re also supporting a worthy cause. So err on the side of generosity here.