Our Power Garage-Saling System

My garage sale treasures post has prompted a reader to ask, "How do you get to so many sales with two little kids? Can you share some tips?"

My husband and I have developed a very effective garage sale system. We live in a small town, located about 20 minutes from a bigger city (pop. 120,000). We hit any local sales first, and then drive to the city. To get the most from our gas money, we have to plan ahead. We used to get a newspaper on Friday, and plot all of the Saturday sales on an enlarged copy of the city map. Now, thanks to the internet, garage sale mapping is a cinch.

The local paper has a free garage sale mapping service. On their web site, you can choose the day and area where you want to go saling. It will give you a list of sales that match your criteria, and you can select all or just a few. You then enter your starting address, and it will map an efficient route for you, which includes the start and end times of each sale, and driving directions. This service allows us to hit a maximum number of sales in a very efficient manner, without wasting time or gasoline. (Local readers-e-mail me if you would like a link to this site).

We also have a garage sale checklist, which is absolutely necessary when taking little kids along:

-Stroller

-Drinks-we bring reusable water bottles

-Snacks-cereal, dried fruit, crackers

-Fully stocked diaper bag

-Wet wipes for hands

-Sunscreen/sunglasses

-Clothing inventory--I keep a detailed inventory for each child, with colors and sizes (more on this to come.)

-Tape measure

-Garage Sale Wish List-we keep this in our glove box. When we think of something we want to look for at sales, we write it down on this list, including measurements.

On sale day, we all wear comfortable clothing-jeans or shorts, t-shirts and walking shoes. In the spring, we also bring light jackets, because it can be a little chilly in the mornings. We take our van, with the back seats removed, in case we need to haul something big. Sales in our area typically start at 8:00 AM, so we usually head out at about 7:30, stopping for doughnuts along the way (a special sale day treat).

We stop at every sale, even the boring looking ones. I found the One Dollar Table at a boring looking sale! You should always at least look, because you never know what treasures you may find.

Here are some tips for getting the best deals:

1) Don't bypass free boxes. I found this wooden napkin holder in a free box. I cleaned and painted it, and it's been a permanent fixture on our kitchen table for the last 4 years:


My kids also get tons of "treasures" out of free boxes, most of which end up in our free box, sooner or later. :)

2) Ask for volume discounts. For example, when I'm interested in a lot of clothes, I total up the prices, and decide what I'm willing to pay. Then, I hand the pile to the sale operator, and say, "What's the best deal you can give me on all of this stuff?" Often, they will ask for even less than I was willing to pay.

3) Don't be afraid to negotiate. Most sale operators understand that bargaining is an expected part of the garage sale experience. My husband is the best negotiator! If people seem unwilling to come down on their price, he might say something like this:

"Garage sales are a lot of work aren't they? If you give me this for $1, I'll take it off your hands, and you won't have to drag it back inside tonight!" or

"If I buy this for $1, will you throw this in for free?"

It's amazing how often he gets his deal.

4) Don't buy stuff that needs repairs, unless you can do them yourself, and have the tools and equipment necessary. Sometimes cleaning and repairing a very inexpensive item can cost more than if you just bought the item new.

5) Avoid the "perpetual" yard sale. We keep a list of addresses that should be avoided. These sales are held by professionals, usually selling stuff that they couldn't get sold on eBay. Prices are higher, and the stuff is mostly so-called "collectibles." In other words, cheaply made, overpriced junk that you don't need anyway.

6) If your child wants to buy something, let them negotiate. It's good practice for them, and people will rarely say no to a child. I give little kids free stuff at my sales all the time. Bee has a "Hello Kitty" purse, which she calls her "garage sale purse." On sale day, we give her a dollar to spend, and she's become very brave about asking for discounts. Often, the person will say something like, "Aren't you just adorable?! You can just have that video. How about this little stuffed puppy too? Would you like this?" Being little and cute definitely has its advantages :)

7) Plan ahead. Know what you need, and in what size or color. If you see an item that fits the bill, you can buy with confidence.

8) When buying clothing for children, don't buy more than one size larger than what they're wearing now. Styles, sizes, and children's tastes change rapidly, and it's difficult to predict what they will like, or what will fit, in the future.

9) If prices are really high, or if people refuse to bargain, walk away. Do your part to keep garage sale prices low.

10) Take your time, make a day of it, and have fun! Chat with the sale operator and other patrons. Garage salers are a unique breed, and often they have interesting or funny stories about how and where they acquired items. For me, the story behind the item is the best part of buying something used!

Remember, garage saling is more than just bargain shopping...it's cheap entertainment too!