Garage Sale Tips for Buyers

Preparing for a Day of Garage Sales

Check the weather first thing in the morning so you know what to wear. You can do that right here at Yard Sale Canada. Click Here for Canadian Weather Conditions

Regardless of the forecasted weather conditions, it is always a good idea to carry the following items:

• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Suntan Lotion
• Food and Drink
• Comfortable Shoes
• Comfortable Clothing

Don't wear sandals or flip-flops. Your feet will often get cold and wet if people have their sale set up on their lawn on a dewy spring morning. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes or runners to keep you going all day long.

Keep a cardboard box or tote bag in your car to hold all of your newly acquired riches. It will keep them from rolling around as you hurry to the next Garage Sale.

It's good to bring a lot of small bills and change, especially if you plan on making smaller purchases. Don’t be afraid to haggle with the seller if you feel the price is too high. Just don't haggle the price down from $1.00 to $.50 and whip out a $20 bill to pay for it.

Carry bottled water and some snacks to tie you over until your next meal.

If you have numerous vehicles to choose from, be sure to take the one that has the cargo room you require for your purchases. Whenever possible use the car that is the most fuel efficient and do your part for the environment while saving some money on gas as well.

Planning Your Route

There are many different resources available for finding good Garage Sales. Newspapers, community center and grocery store display boards, and of course, the internet - particularly Yard Sale Canada

Have a map book handy so you can plan out the best route to get to as many sales as possible in the least amount of time. If you don't have a map, then no worries, Yard Sale Canada automatically generates maps with all of the listings included in your search.

Prices are generally better at Church or other types of Fundraising Sales rather than private Garage Sales. Note, however, that Fundraising Sales are generally all donated items. The quality may not be as good as items at private sales.

Arriving early at Garage Sales often has its advantages. But don't show up before the sale's advertised starting time unless the ad indicates that Earlybirds ARE welcome.

Showing up late may sometimes work to your advantage as well. There may not be much selection, but the seller will surely offer very good prices to get rid of what's left.

Garage Sale Browsing

When you arrive at a sale do a "Drive-By". Drive-by slowly while scoping out the items available for sale. If nothing at all catches your eye then don't waste your time stopping. Move on to the next sale!

Be creative when you browse around Garage Sales. Don’t just think of using an item for its primary use, but look at it for its POTENTIAL to use in other innovative ways.

If you find yourself at a truly great sale with good prices and excellent selection, don't be in too much of a hurry to run off to the next. Make sure you have thoroughly browsed before leaving.

Be careful when digging through a box of used kitchen utensils - You may just cut yourself with an old rusty knife. A tetanus shot is a quick way to ruin a day of Garage Sale hunting!

If you see an item that you may or may not want, pick it up anyhow and carry it around with you while you are browsing. At a busy sale, often someone will snatch it up while you are deciding.

When buying something that is battery-operated, open the battery compartment to make sure there aren't old batteries in it that are corroded. Even if the battery compartment is clean and empty, there's still a chance the item could be broken. It's a good idea to carry some batteries with you to test out electronic items before you buy. .

Garage Sale items are typically sold "as-is." It is better to try out an item to see if it works - or put it together to make sure all the pieces aren't missing before you take it home!

Some people turn their noses up at the thought of buying "used" clothing. Consider this - When you go to a hotel, you sleep on sheets and use towels that hundreds of other people have used. You can often find some very good deals on clothing at Garage Sales if you keep an open mind.

Make sure that the item in the box is actually the item on the box. You don't want to get home to find out that the printer you just bought is actually their old printer stuffed in the new one's box.

If you are buying items for children, make sure you look them over good before you let your children use it. Canisters for toys may also contain things like nails, thumbtacks and other dangerous items.

Clothes are generally a great deal at Garage sales because they are usually poor sellers. When buying used clothing for kids, don't rely only on the size listed on the tag, keep in mind it has been washed many times and may have shrunk. Bring one of your kid's shirts or pants to use as a guide to hold up next to a potential purchase.

Double check the DVD/VHS/CD/Tape you are about to purchase - make sure it is the proper item in the case.

Making the Purchase

Make eye contact with the seller when negotiating.

If you're going to negotiate to buy an item at a lower price, be prepared to walk away if the seller does not come down to the price you want.

Also when shopping with kids, it's better to have them actually pay for their own purchases. The seller will usually give a better deal to a child. It also builds the child's confidence when dealing with adults.

When making a purchase, carefully look over an item before you buy it. Most items are sold "as is." If you get home and your purchase doesn't work or is missing a piece, you are probably out of luck. If it’s an electrical appliance, ask to plug it in to test it.

Be wary of items that may have been recalled by the manufacturer or may have had their safety rating compromised by misuse. If you are unsure about an item you've purchased, go to Health Canada's Consumer Product Safety Web site.

Often times, if you've purchased a large item (like a sofa or a chest of drawers) at a Garage Sale, you may need to come back later with a truck. Before you leave the first time, make sure you get a receipt from the seller. If possible take a piece of the item with you to prevent somebody else from offering more for it.

If you see an item you would like to buy at a cheaper price but the seller will not negotiate, give the seller your name and telephone number. If it does not sell by the end of the day they may be willing to reconsider your offer.

Take off the price tags of your treasures shortly after getting home. Most times the longer a sticker stays on an item, the harder it is to remove.

Garage Sale Etiquette

Always smile and be pleasant.

Do not show up at a Garage Sale before the sale begins. If you are a few minutes early, stay in your vehicle. Most people are not ready and do not appreciate Earlybirds.

Make sure you park appropriately. Never block someone's driveway.

Never bring your dog(s) to a Garage Sale. Many people will feel very uncomfortable. If you must, then be considerate and tie him/her to a nearby tree while you browse.

Never cross over someone's lawn to get to the Garage Sale items unless the items are actually displayed on the lawn.

As most Garage Sales tend to begin early in the morning, it is a good idea to keep your talking volume to a minimum as the neighbours may be sleeping.

Be respectful and do not mess up the seller's display, particularly those items in boxes.

It's always handy to carry a cell phone, but make sure that you try not to be too loud. It's rude and disrespectful for everyone else around you.

It is incredibly rude to smoke at a Garage Sale - just because you are outdoors does not make it acceptable. If you must smoke, do it by your vehicle.

If there are many people at a Garage Sale, do not barge your way through everyone to look at the items. Be patient, they were there first.

Unless you know the person having the Garage Sale, it is not a great idea to go to a Garage Sale with cheques - most sellers will not accept this form of payment.

Although bargaining is always fun, there's never any need to get aggressive. We're all neighbors, so let's keep it pleasant.

If an item is too large to fit into your vehicle, ask the seller if it would be okay to make arrangements to pick up the item prior to the Garage Sale ending that day.

So that's it, have a great day 'Garage Saling'