Where to Find a Hidden Gem or Junk at 7 a.m.

For centuries, people have bargained and traded items.  It was how they survived when money did not exist in some cultures.  Today, people still trade items, but normally they buy and sell them for cash (paper and coin) or credit.

There is little recorded history of how and when people began hosting sales at their homes known as yard sales.  Another name for them comes from the word romage which is a nautical term for how cargo was packed into a ship, and how the captain would sell unclaimed items on the docks.  From the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a rummage sale is “an unusual informal sale of miscellaneous goods.”  As the saying goes, one man's junk is another man's treasure and these sales abound with treasures.

Yard or rummage sales can go by many other names including garage sale, porch sale, tag sale, lawn sale, attic sale, moving sale, thrift sale, junk sale, estate sale, bazaar, and flea market.  They are a way for the seller to make money while finding a way to dispose of unwanted or unused items.  Some of these events are run by individuals while others are run by an organization to raise money for a cause.  The reasons why someone shops at yard sales is as varied as the items you can find at them.

These sales can be a wonderful resource for furnishing your first apartment, looking to replace a missing or broken item, or to find an unusual treasure.  Some sales are organized and items labeled with a sale price, while others are disorganized and items have not been priced.  You never know what you might find.

Learning how to locate sales has changed in recent years.  Other than the local newspaper, bulletin boards at local stores, or driving around town to find signs, the advertising of these sales is now available on the Internet.  Searching these websites has varying results.  On some you may not find any listed for your area, and on other websites results appear.  It all depends upon how the people hosting the sale advertise.  Some web sites are:

  

  Craigslist.com

  yardsalesearch.com

  yardsales.net

  yardsales.com 

  garagesaletracker.com

  yardsaletreasuremap.com

  garagesales.com

  garagesalehunter.com

  yardsalequeen.com

Here are some tips for taking on the adventure:

 1.  When attending these sales, use the same common courtesy that you would want to receive if you were the person having the sale.  Read their ad thoroughly to note what is available and the date(s) and time of the sale, including special instructions such as no early birds.

 2.  When going to a sale, dress for the weather, wearing layers of clothing in cooler climates and good walking shoes (morning grass can be dewy).  Have a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen available even in the off season you can get a sunburn.

 3.  In advance, go to the bank to obtain change for the money you withdrawal.  Paying for a $1.25 purchase with a $20 bill may break their money box.

 4.  Have a focus on what items you are searching for, even if it’s not written down.  Know the size or  measurements, color, etc. for what you are seeking.  Use your cell phone camera to photograph something you are trying to match while searching can help.  Take a tape measure with you for measuring items at a sale.

  5.  Plan your route in advance, knowing which sale is the most important and where it is located.  Then drive to another sale that is nearby.  Some weekends you may strike out with few sales and on other weekends you may have to limit the number of sales you attend.

  6.  Have a shopping buddy, a friend or family member to tag along.  They can navigate your route, help carry items, and keep you grounded.  Have refreshments available in the car for staying hydrated and nourished.  To clean your hands after touching yucky items, bring along a bottle of hand sanitizer or wet wipes.  Keep supplies available including plastic bags, newspaper, rope, and a box to hold your purchases safely inside your vehicle.

 7.  What are you willing to pay?  Know the worth of items.  Know that the cost would be if the item was new, if it is an antique, or a limited edition item.  Unless the item has the work "Firm" on the sticker, be willing to make a reasonable offer.

 8.  Unlike a store that has a return policy, these types of sales are final.  Check items carefully before purchasing.  Check for condition – stains, tears, chips, rust, etc.  Does the item come in the original box, if so open it to make sure it is the item shown on the box and to see if it includes the owner's manual, and have all of the pieces?

 9.  If purchasing electronic items, ask to plug in the item to see if it turns on.

10.  There normally isn't a place to try on clothing, but that does not have to stop you from purchasing clothing.  Clothing can shrink when washed, so do not rely on the size on the label.  Look at the condition searching for fading, worn spots, stains, tears, missing buttons, and working zippers.

11.  Pick up and carry items you are considering purchasing.  You can always put it down if you decide against the purchase, but by not picking it up, someone else may select it.

12.  Items at these sales may be under a recall.  This is of particular interest to those purchasing baby items like a car seat.  If you have a smart phone, check out the Consumer Product Safety Commission web site while at the sale or call them during the week at 1-800-638-2772.

13.  If you purchase a large item like a sofa or a chest of drawers, and do not have a truck with you to transport it immediately, ask for a receipt when paying and take a part of the item with you like a cushion or a drawer.  Most sellers are reputable, but by not doing so they could sell your item to another shopper.

Who knows what treasurers you may uncover while shopping in someone else's garage!