Planning on spending a Saturday garage sale hunting? Getting the best whether it’s a coat or a gently used dining table means more than giving the item one cursory glance. The idea of getting a great deal should never overshadow your good sense, in other words, you should never purchase anything that hasn’t been thoroughly looked over.
How do you discover the gently used, and bypass the garbage?
These tips should help:
- The earlier you attend a garage sale, the more gently used items you are likely to find.
- Soiled clothing should rarely be considered. Are you sure you can get the spot out? If not, don’t buy. This is probably why the person is displaying it at their garage sale.
- Missing pieces to electronic items? Broken parts? Don’t chance it. Any electronic items you are interested in purchasing need to be tested. That means you plug it in. Anything broken will need to be fixed.
- Would you actually wear the item? Would you really display the pelican in your yard? Would you use it? If you don’t love it, don’t buy it, no matter how cheap it is.
- Consider sturdy furniture items that you can re-paint or re-stain. If you’re good at upholstery, for example, an ugly patterned couch can be replaced by something fine, just make sure the couch cushions are in good shape by sitting on them.
Getting the best deals means using a fair amount of control; when you buy because you need the item, and not necessarily because you want the item, you’re usually in for the better buy.