We sought out top local and national experts to help garage sale shoppers arrive prepared.
Find the best deals
1. Go early for the best items, and late for the best deals.
Be prepared to get up at the crack of dawn on the mornings of garage and yard sales if you are in search of collectibles and treasures, said Bruce Littlefield, author of “Garage Sale America.” In contrast, later in the day, when sales are drawing to a close, sellers will be more likely to offer better deals.
2. Garage and yard sales in fancier neighborhoods will offer the fancier" items, Littlefield says. Think about what type of items you are looking for and what your price range is for these products.
3. Don’t buy an item just because it is cheap.
4. Don’t purchase items that need to be repaired unless you really know how to fix them.
5. Wear casual, run-down clothes.
“Sellers often judge how much you’ll pay by the clothes you’re wearing,” Littlefield said. “The finer the stitch, the higher the price.”
Save money
1. Get a group price.
Ask the seller if you can make a pile for all of the items you are considering purchasing. When you are ready to buy, ask the seller what all of the items you have collected will cost together, rather than inquiring about each item individually. The group price is likely to be cheaper.
2. Show genuine interest in the items. Realize that sellers may have once loved the items they are now selling. If you show enthusiasm for the items and their history and establish a relationship with the seller, he or she may be willing to offer a low price to put the item in your hands. "We all want our things to live on," Littlefield said.
3. Negotiate with sellers to get the price you want. "Negotiating the price is half the fun at a garage sale, and it's also something that sellers expect," said Lynda Hammond, author of "The Garage Sale Gal's Guide to Making Money Off Your Stuff."
4. Don't waste money on gas. Go to sales in or near your neighborhood. Park in a central location, and then walk from one garage or yard sale to the next. Put the amount of money you'd like to spend on an item in your pocket, and then pull out the cash when you're negotiating for a lower price. and then pull out the cash when you're negotiating for a lower price. The seller might be willing to lower the price if they see the money in your hands. If the seller says "no" and you still want to buy the product, go to your car or come back later with the rest of the money.
Do your homework
1. Know the measurements and parameters of the rooms, doors, and walls in your house or office.
“Once you buy something at a garage sale, it’s yours,” Littlefield said. “It’s not like you can return it.”
2. Download a smartphone application that allows you to scan the bar code of a product or of the ISBN on a book. This will allow you to see what prices retail stores are charging for these items. Websites including eBay and those that specialize in certain items like comic books also are good tools.
3. Arm yourself with knowledge. Research items such as pottery or jewelry before attending a sale, to avoid accidentally purchasing reproductions. "If you have something you're interested in, like toys or pottery or jewelry, you need to educate yourself in that field," said Bruce Knight, owner of Heart of Ohio Antique Center in Springfield. " ... The more knowledge you have, the better chances you have to make a good buy." Contact an antique dealer before purchasing an item to make sure you are getting the best deals.
What to buy
1. Items dating back to the 1950s and 1960s
2. Christmas decorations
3. Halloween costumes
4. Old board games
5. Birthday presents
6. Dinnerware
7. Cake plates with stands
8. Antique tools
9. Old coins
10. Autographed items
11. Baseball cards
12. Soap dishes
13. Candleholders
14. Custom jewelry
15. Old fountain pens
16. Items made of gold and silver
17. Old menus
18. Old advertisements
What to avoid
1. Cribs
2. Mattresses
3. Bed sheets and comforters
4. Items made of glass or porcelain that are chipped or cracked
5. Guns
SOURCES: Bruce Knight, Owner, Heart of Ohio Antique Center, Springfield; Ellen Braniganm Owner, Park Avenue Antiques, Dayton; Bruce Littlefield, Author, “Garage Sale America”; Aaron LaPedis, Co-author, “The Garage Sale Millionaire”; Lynda Hammond, Author, “The Garage Sale Gal’s Guide to Making Money Off Your Stuff
Beware of recalls
Dr. Keri Brown Kirschman, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Dayton and a pediatric psychologist, revealed in a study published in 2007 in the Injury Prevention journal, that many recalled children’s products are resold through online auction sites, including eBay.
Kirschman identified 141 recalled items including bassinets, play yards, baby walkers and safety devices, for sale at the time in 190 online auctions.
Five years later, recalled products continue to circulate at events including garage and yard sales, according to Kirschman. On average, there are two recalls on children’s products each week, she said.
“The number of recalled products that actually are still circulating is quite alarming,” Kirschman said. “Unbeknownst to you, you can easily get your hands on a recalled toy, and that’s problematic.”
According to Kirschman, tools are available to help consumers ensure that products are safe. Buyers can download applications available for Android phones and iPhones that can be used to confirm an item has not been recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Consumers also can look up recalled products online at the website recalls.gov.
Buyers should steer clear of certain items, including toys that are heavily worn or that contain small parts, second-hand car seats and drop-side cribs, according to Kirschman. Consumers always should ask sellers if a car seat has been in an accident before purchasing it.
“You really want to be aware of those products that have been recalled and avoid them,” Kirschman said.
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