Yard sales and estate sales can be intimidating for even the most experienced shopper, raising the question, how can I sort through the junk to find the treasures? Don’t worry! We have some helpful tips to make sure you get the most out of your yard sale hunting. With our advice, you’ll be finding hidden gems like a pro.
Be Flexible
First and foremost, you need to keep an open mind whenever you’re hunting at a yard sale or an estate sale. You never know what you’re going to find. You may walk in with a specific idea of what you want, but always be prepared to let that evolve depending on what’s available. Also, don’t feel like you have to buy something just because you’ve made the trip to the sale. There’s no sense in piling your place with clutter you don’t genuinely feel excited about. Get in the healthy habit of being expertly selective while shopping at yard and estate sales.
Take Your Time
If you find yourself getting worked up over whether or not something is worth purchasing, take a few steps back and circle around looking at other objects the sale has to offer. Sometimes a little space is just what you need to understand if something is worth buying and bringing home. As a consumer culture, we have to be especially wary of this. Be wise about how you spend your hard earned money.
Bring a Friend
Sometimes it’s helpful to bring a reliable and knowledgeable friend to the sale — someone who has previous experience with yard/estate sales. Sometimes having a second opinion from someone you trust makes the process not only more fun, but more effective. A second opinion could be the difference between you going home with a gem or… well, junk.
A Little Research Makes All The Difference
Do your research beforehand. If there’s something you’re looking for in particular, make sure you’ve put in the legwork to ensure that you’re familiar with superior, higher-quality brands (if that’s important to you). Make sure you have your phone with you in case you need to do some at-yard-sale research. You can find any information on the internet these days, and this can be a super helpful tool to guarantee shopping success. Simply Google the item and get a realistic understanding of its value.
Be True to Yourself
You don’t need to justify something speaking to you! Even if the brand is “unremarkable,” listen to your gut when it tells you to snag something. Who knows? It might turn out to be rare and valuable but, at the very least, it’s something you have a connection with that you found amidst other people’s unwanted items — and that’s a win.
Ask Questions
Don’t be afraid to ask the people running the yard sale or estate sale for something in particular. Just because you’re unable to find something certainly doesn’t mean it isn’t there. The people running the show often have a specific understanding of the exact location of items you otherwise wouldn’t have any idea about. Don’t be shy. Remember, the sellers are happy to point you in the direction of a sale.
The Early Bird Gets The Worm
Make sure you arrive at the sale early. You’re not the only one hunting for gems, and chances are, something that speaks to you is probably talking to someone else just as loudly. Don’t do yourself a disservice by arriving at a sale late and risk a fellow shopper having first dibs on something that you want. That being said, having a relaxed attitude is another key for a successful yard sale and estate sale experience. There’s no need to bring competitive energy into the mix. Take a deep breath and enjoy yourself.
Now you know how best to find a gem amongst junk, go try it out! Check out a few local yard sales, and you’ll be surprised what you can find. Happy hunting!