How to Find Yard Sales

Visiting yard sales is an enjoyable way to spend a Saturday or Sunday morning. There’s nothing like the thrill of getting a good deal or finding a hidden treasure to start your weekend. You may even be able to turn your yard sale finds into new treasures for your home or into cash by listing them on eBay.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Start planning your yard sale trip on Friday night in order to get an early start on Saturday morning. Most yard sales start between eight and nine, so you’ll want to be there early to get the top picks.

2. Check your local newspaper for yard sale listings. Most newspaper sites list yard sales under the “Classified” section. You can search by town to find sales in your area.

3. Go online to to find yard sale listings at sites like Craig's List. This site has become popular with bargain hunters. There are often more sales listed on this site than local papers because most newspapers charge a fee to submit a classified ad while Craig's List is free.

4. Look for listings for “multi-family” or “neighborhood” yard sales. These yard sales include items from multiple households, so you’ll usually find a wider variety of items.

5. Look for estate sales and yard sale listings in older neighborhoods. You may be able to find interesting antiques and valuable items marked lower than their current worth because the family is trying to clean out the house.

6. Map all of your yard sales using an Internet site such as Google Maps or Yahoo Maps. Place the maps in a logical order, being careful to note the starting time of each yard sale.

7. Watch for signs for additional yard sales while you’re driving around. Many people only advertise their yard sales with signs. Others may decide to have a yard sale at the last minute after seeing the traffic at a nearby sale.

Tips & Warnings

• Look past the current use or condition of an item to see its potential. Many yard sale finds can serve a new purpose with a little paint. For example, a well-made dining room chair that’s missing its seat may be perfect in a reading nook with some paint and new upholstery. You could also turn it into a planter by fitting a pot through the hole in the seat.
• Don’t be afraid to negotiate a lower price or ask if the seller will throw in an additional item for the original price. Many sellers are most interested in getting rid of an unwanted item.
• Don’t miss late afternoon deals. Although you’ll find less selection later in the day, many sellers may be more willing to negotiate lower prices.