5 Tips for the Yard Sale Shopper Newbie

A wise man once said, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” No other individual embodies this sentiment more than the yard sale shopper. Always on the hunt for a deal, the yard sale shopper awakes each weekend with visions of finding new home décor opportunities, vintage brick-a-brac and designer apparel for pennies on the dollar. With the price of home goods always increasing and the continuous rise in popularity of vintage home décor, it’s no wonder that more and more people are becoming yard sale shoppers every weekend.

For those of you who are new to the yard sale circuit or are contemplating taking your first step into the world of second hand hunting, I’m here to help you start your journey. I am an avid yard sale shopper and have been navigating these waters for many, many years. As a result, I’ve saved (and made) thousands of dollars on home furnishings and vintage accoutrements. So if you’re about to hit the yard sales in search of the deals, here are five tips for the yard sale shopper newbie.

Get Up Early

Yard sales start early… anywhere between 7a.m. and 9a.m. So if you want the best deals, you need to be up and rummaging before you’ve even had your first cup of coffee. As they say, the early bird catches the worm, and the worm comes in all shapes and sizes. From super cheap deals on barely used furniture to finding that perfect vintage item for your mantelpiece, the key is to get there before anyone else does (because you will always have competition in the yard sale shopping circuit).

BONUS TIP: You will find significantly more yard sales on Saturdays than Sundays. So don’t procrastinate. Saturday is the day.
Bring Cash

Although just about every store, restaurant and vendor accepts credit cards these days, yard sales do not. Cash is king in the yard sale world. Yard sales are typically a once-a-year activity for families and homeowners so they aren’t set up to handle various payment options. So if you don’t want to lose out on that perfect dresser on a technicality, hit the ATM the night before or on your way to your first sale.

BONUS TIP: In addition to not accepting credit cards, many yard sale proprietors don’t have change. Again these are not professional shopkeepers so many won’t realize they need it. So to avoid losing a deal because of lack of change. Bring smaller bills such as $1s and $5s.
Map Your Route

Yard sales are everywhere; but if you don’t scout out your route, you’ll never find them. Yard sales can be a challenge to find due to poor signage, visual obstructions and the ever-frustrating yard sale sign from last weekend that’s still up. So, to make your journey less troublesome, do your yard sale research. There are various phone apps and websites that provide yard sale listings. They often provide a map view which allows for a better perspective of which sales are closer to home. So before you step out the door, download an app or scour a website to see where you should start your journey.

BONUS TIP: Most phone apps pull from Craigslist. So if you’d rather not clog up your phone with another app, just go to Craigslist.org.
Know What You’re Looking For

Just like with any shopping trip, it’s best to know what you’re looking for before you shop. Yard sales can be jam packed with “stuff,” as well as other yard sale shoppers. This can make sifting through the boxes of second-hard treasures a bit difficult. But if you know you’re on the hunt for a new mirror for your bedroom or a slightly used camping stove before you start hunting, you’ll have an easier time finding it amongst the piles of junk/treasure.

BONUS TIP: Before you shop, know the full retail price of the item you’re shopping for. Some yard sale proprietors will actually charge more than what the item is worth so do a little research before you shop so you won’t get ripped off.
Haggle, Haggle, Haggle

The best part about yard sales is the opportunity to haggle. Most yard sale proprietors are expecting it so you shouldn’t be shy about doing it. Remember, they’re main goal is to get rid of “junk.” You’re basically doing them a favor by giving them a few bucks to haul away that old table. They don’t realize (or necessarily care) that you’ve finally found the perfect retro kitchen table for your ranch-style home. However some sellers just don’t know what price they should ask for their “stuff.” So have an idea of what you’re willing to pay for your item and haggle until you get as close to that price as possible.

BONUS TIP: Hide your excitement. If a yard sale proprietor sees you jumping up and down because you found the perfect kitchen table, they may be less willing to haggle (since they know they have the upper hand).

So are you ready to become a yard sale shopper?

I live by these tips every weekend. They’ve helped me discover one-of-a-kind home furnishings, vintage apparel and other fascinating finds for literally pennies on the dollar. So if you want to shop like a yard sale pro and find those ultimate deals, take these tips to heart. They’ve served me well, and I hope they do the same for you.

Happy hunting!