10 clever ways to save at yard sales

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* Make a list of things you need to buy over the next several months, then stick to it. Items you don’t really need will just clutter your house.

* Start early or go late. You’ll find the best variety first thing in the morning, especially in furniture and appliances, but you’ll snag the best deals at the end of the day when weary sellers are ready to bargain.

* Look for lifetime guarantees. No garage seller will guarantee their goods, but some companies will. Tupperware, Farberware, Chicago Cutlery, and Craftsman tools all carry lifetime guarantees backed by their manufacturers. So go ahead and buy the cracked Tupperware or rusted Craftsman wrench and call a dealer to exchange it.

* Ask for items you don’t see. Need a baby stroller? Ask the seller if they have one. They may have forgotten to put it out, or another customer might tell you where you can find one.

* Think creatively. Buy items for their parts – cut rate clothes for their nice buttons, lamps for their shades, and so forth.

* Don’t waste time at high-priced sales. You only want bargains. Some people are out to make money, not get rid of stuff, and they’ll refuse to negotiate.

* Make sure it works. Ask the seller if you can plug in an item, or if they have batteries to test it. If they say no, don’t buy it. It might be broken.

* Check all clothes for stains, buttons snaps, and working zippers. If you can’t tell whether a stain will wash out or not, it’s best not to buy.

* Always come prepared with coins and plenty of cash in small bills. Carry it in a pouch around your waste rather then purse you might set down and forget

* Ask for lower price if you don’t want to pay what a seller wants. The worst they can say is “no”.



All the best,



Timben