Going Yard Sale-ing

It’s yard sale season. Or garage sale. Or estate sale. Whatever, this is the time of year when such sales are prevalent around our neighborhoods. People are peddling things they no longer have a use for, and that means there are deals to be had on things you may need. What are the things to look for when you’re cruising the local lawns? Some things are better than others.

Wooden Furniture
As people update the look of their homes, many times they add new furniture, which means they’re looking to get rid of the old stuff. That’s where you come in. Many times you’ll find this new-to-you furniture at a fraction of the original cost. If it’s older furniture, bonus—it’s likely built much better than the newer stuff. Be sure to take a tape measure so you can ensure the piece you’re interested in will fit the area you have in mind. Test how solid the furniture is. Push drawers in and out. Do they operate smoothly? Does the piece rock unevenly? One caveat with furniture: avoid couches and beds, which could harbor bud bugs.

Books
Literature offers great mileage. There are an unlimited number of times a book can be read, and its contents will never lose quality. Why pay top dollar for new when a book will read just as well for a dollar or less most times? Now’s the perfect time to stock up on reading material for the beach or those long winter days curled up in front of the fireplace.

Electronics
Some people just have to have the latest toys. That means when they want to get rid of their old toys, many aren’t really that old or outdated. This is especially true with electronics. If you find items that are only a year or two old, they’ll likely have features that are still viable. Just remember, if you find an electronic you like, be sure to plug it in first to verify its condition.

Child’s Play
Neighborhood sales are probably the best place to buy children’s clothing. When you consider that infants/toddlers wear their clothes for only months before outgrowing them, the chances of finding such items in good condition are very good, and at much better prices. The same goes with baby/toddler gear. Just be sure that the gear hasn’t been recalled and still meets appropriate safety standards. Toys and games for kids are also a great buy at these sales. Check to be sure all the major pieces are present before you buy.

Music
Vinyl is in! Yep. All those grooved records with their hissing and popping are as popular as ever for collectors and audiophiles. But the records aren’t the only item of interest here; many people like to use the album covers as art for decoration. Obviously, if you’re buying the record for the music, check for scratches. If you’re into the decorating side, check out the condition of the album cover.

Good Sports
The road to good health is paved with good intentions. This is especially true with exercise equipment. Many a New Year’s resolution involved getting in shape, hence a plethora of equipment that never got much use after March. While you’ll want to steer clear of stuff like treadmills and exercise machines (too many working/non-working parts), weights are hard to wear out or break. Weight benches can be O.K. as long as you check to make sure that they’re stable and/or still move up and down correctly.

Home Décor
Much like furniture, when people go for a new look in their homes, they’ll likely be looking to get rid of the old look. If you have any kind of tastes similar to the seller, you could find a bonanza of inexpensive new décor for your home.

Here are some other items to look for:

• Home office supplies
• Kitchen equipment
• Sewing supplies
• Jewelry
• Photo frames
• Gift wrap

Before you head out into the wide world of resale, how about a yard sale survival kit? Here are some things that could make your quest a bit easier:

• Plenty of change and small bills
• List/map of all your sale locations
• Box/tote for all the items you collect
• Small tape measure for checking the fit of items
• Rope/twine/etc. for tying something to your car/into your trunk
• Multi-purpose tool (cutting twine/opening battery compartments/etc.)
• Hand sanitizer
• Newspaper/bubble wrap (for wrapping delicate purchases)

Some people like to keep a special savings account for things like yard sales. They contribute a little to it every couple of weeks, then when the season hits, they have a nice little nest egg to spend. Don’t forget, Vantage has a number of saving options. Get yours started today!