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I have a slightly embarrassing confession… I’m way too excited that yard sale season is finally here! My husband and I may have uttered the phrase, “I can’t wait for yard sales” more than a few times.
Do you love yard sales as much as we do?
Shopping at yard sales is so much fun for us. We love getting great deals on items we need, things we use all the time, too good to pass up deals, and things to resell.
We’ve been to countless yard sales and have learned a few tips along the way that I wanted to share with you.
Ready to hit up a few yard sales? Check out these yard sale shopping tips first to make sure you are prepared!
23 Yard Sale Shopping Tips
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Know where to find yard sales.
You can look on Craigslist, Facebook, local yard sale websites, and Facebook buy and sell groups for yard sales. They will usually show photos or include a description of some of the things they will have.
Start searching towards the middle of the week and look for yard sale signs Thursday and Friday.
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Map out a route.
Decide what area you want to go to, and map out a route to take. Try to make a loop and hit several yard sales before making your way back home.
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Get up early.
To get the best selection, you need to be one of the first shoppers at a yard sale. Pay attention to what hours are listed for each sale. Go to the one that opens earliest first.
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Shop all weekend.
To get the best deals, you will need to shop towards the end of the yard sales. Go out around lunch on Saturday. People will be ready to sell their stuff for cheap so they don’t have to pack it back up.
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Take the truck.
Always take the truck or your biggest car, even if you don’t think you will find anything big. You never know what you will find, so be prepared and take your biggest car.
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Pack food.
Throw some freezer breakfast sandwiches in the microwave, and eat on the road so you don’t waste time.
Pack snacks and drinks so you can spend your time shopping and getting the deals, instead of getting food or heading home early because your hungry.
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Make a list of things to look for.
Write down everything you want to look for. This will help you remember things and keep you on track. Need a winter jacket? Write it down!
Related Post: 77 Things to Declutter and Sell
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Take small bills and quarters.
Having smaller bills and even quarters will make paying and negotiating so much easier. It’s always super awkward to negotiate a price, and then need change back.
Take lots of $1 bills, $5 bills, some larger bills, and even quarters.
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Dress comfortable.
No need to dress up, unless you want to show off your fancy yard sale finds. Dress comfortable, take sunglasses, and wear comfy shoes.
Tip: Take a small crossbody purse like this so you don’t have to wag a big purse around.
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Measure your space.
If you are looking for a piece of furniture or home decor, measure the space before you head off.
And be sure to take a tape measure with you, so you can make sure the piece will fit, before you spend your money.
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Take some tools.
A tape measure, moving blanket, and some straps (if you are driving a truck) are great to take to yard sales. I keep this small purse sized tape measure with me all the time.
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Be ready to negotiate.
Negotiating at a yard sale is expected, so don’t feel rude to ask for a lower price. You can do this several ways.
Ask what is the lowest price they will take? Say, will you take $X amount? Ask to get two items together for one price? Group several similar items together and offer a group price.
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Buy in bulk for great deals.
If you buy multiple things from someone, you may be able to get a better deal. Make a pile of items you would like to buy, add it up, and ask if they will take a slightly lower price for all.
For example, if you have 15 shirts that total $18, ask if they will take $15 for all.
Related Post: 15 Easy Ways to Save Money with 1 App!
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Look for items to repurpose.
Don’t pass up items like furniture, home decor, or outdoor gear if it’s not exactly what you were looking for. Can you repurpose it or paint it so it will work?
Solid wood furniture can easily be painted for a great, new look.
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Inspect items carefully.
Look over items very carefully before you go to pay. Check clothes for stains and tears. Look over furniture for broken pieces or water damage. Ask to plug in appliances or tools to make sure they work.
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Shop for gifts.
You can find gifts for all occasions at yard sales. It might seem tacky at first, but there are many brand new items with tags still on them at yard sales.
You can buy ahead for Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, and more. This is a great savings tips for kid’s toys, tools, and more.
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Don’t be afraid to walk away.
If the prices isn’t the best, you aren’t sure you need it or will use it, or if you are just buying it because it’s a good deal, don’t be afraid to put it down and walk away.
You can’t get every good deal, and you don’t need to spend your money on something you don’t truly need or will use.
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Look for items to make a profit.
I love finding furniture at yard sales to paint and sell for a profit. You can find many things at yard sales to flip.
Look for antiques, unique finds, name brand clothing, tools, furniture, and anything you know you can make money on.
Related Post: 115+ Craft Ideas to Make and Sell
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Search online for retail prices.
If you are unsure whether something is a good deal, grab your phone and look up the new retail cost. This can quickly help you decide if you should snatch it, ask for a better price, or put the item back down.
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Know your sizes.
Clothes can be found so cheap and yard sales. They aren’t my favorite thing to look through, but don’t skip them over completely. You can find brand new with tags clothing for cheap.
If you want to buy clothes, make sure to know everyone’s sizes before you buy. For kids, think about the upcoming seasons and what size they will be wearing then.
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Don’t judge a yard sale by driving by.
Sometimes we pull up to a yard sale, and think we can see everything from the road and pass it by. And I’m sure some of those yard sales had a hidden gem we missed.
If you drive all the way to a yard sale, go ahead and get out and look. You never know what you will find! You may only see a few items in the driveway, but the garage could be packed.
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Ask questions.
If you want to know more about how to use something, what it is, how well it works, or anything else, don’t be afraid to ask. The sellers have obviously used the item, know about it, and want to sell it.
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Don’t spend too much time at the first sale.
Guilty! Sometimes, we get too excited and spend too much time at the first yard sale we go to. Which can also mean, we also spend most of our money.
Try to move quickly so you can get to the other yard sales before everyone else gets out.
Now you know the best 23 yard sale shopping tips! Are you ready to hit up some yard sales now?!
My favorite things to look for at yard sales:
I wanted to share my favorite things to look for at yard sales. These are the things I look for in the ads, when we are driving by, and the first things I browse when we go to sales.
Always look around the whole yard sale, though. You never know what great deal you will find!
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Furniture
Solid wood furniture is the first thing I check out at yard sales. I know if I get a great price, I can paint and resell furniture for profit. For side tables, I try to pay $5-$10. Bigger pieces like coffee tables, desks, tables, or dressers usually sell for around $15-$40. More than that, I usually skip them.
Related Post: A Yard Sale Flip – Side Table Makeover
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Books
Brand new books are crazy expensive, and you read them once and then what? They go into a yard sale or are donated. Books are so cheap at yard sales, and are the best place to pick up a new read.
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Tools
We have found many hand and power tools for cheap at yard sales. Also, look for bins of small hardware, screws, and nails. We use this kind of stuff all the time, so it’s a great yard sale find.
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Craft supplies
We all know how expensive craft supplies can get! Yard sales are a great place to look for craft supplies. If you find some, make a bundle and you should get a great deal!
Related Post: Top 10 Tools for the Beginner Crafter
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Home decor
People redecorate all the time and sell home decor for cheap! Yard sales are a perfect place to find new items to decorate your home.
If I wasn’t ready to go to some yard sales already, I sure am now after writing this post! 😉 I love getting a great deal and yard sales are the best place to find deals on literally everything!
Use the yard sale shopping tips above to plan your next yard sale shopping trip. Make it a successful trip by doing a little planning ahead.
Not every yard sale you go to will have things you want. Just move on to the next one!
Happy yard sale shopping! 🙂
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