Ways To Spot Furniture Deals At Garage Sales

We’re all looking for great deals, regardless of the industry or venue of the need. With a little effort, you can find some good ones in the world of travel, or cut out coupons to reduce costs at local stores, or simply look for discounts on items online. But when your search is particularly for home furniture, price is an increasingly significant consideration.

Whether you’re a college student just starting out or a savvy homeowner looking for a great piece at an even better price, garage sales can be a goldmine of furniture finds. To learn how to find furniture deals at garage sales, keep reading for 5 tips from the best in the business.

1. Get There Early

While sellers are more likely to part with items for less money later in the day, you’re also more likely to pick up the better items earlier in the morning. Don’t be one of those garage sale shoppers who loiters out on the front lawn at 5 in the morning, but do get there bright and early to catch the goods.

2. Shop Off-Season

Some of the best garage sale deals can be had during the off-season. From mid-winter in-home moving sales to late fall garage sale specials, you’re going to find highly motivated sellers and less competition from other shoppers.

3. Get Over the Cosmetics

If you’re going to be a great garage sale furniture finder, you need to stop looking for perfection. Instead of complaining about how an item is dirty or needs a new coat of paint, think about how easily you could clean it off or refinish it - all for a significantly lower price than buying it new.

4. Look For Quality

Remember, a low-priced, but poorly-built piece of furniture is still just poorly built. Before you jump on every bargain, make sure the foundations are there for a good piece of furniture. No matter how many times you sand down and repaint junk, it’s still going to be a piece of garbage in the end, so look for well-made furniture that you can work with and that will last for years.

5. Always Haggle

While there’s no need to be aggressive or try to low-ball your neighbors, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of friendly haggling. In fact, garage sale hosts expect it.

Some haggling strategies include always coming in at about 50 to 75% of what you actually want to pay and asking for discounts on bulk purchases. For example, if you tell your seller you’ll pay full price if they’ll throw in the matching end table for free, you’re more likely to get a better deal.

Essentially, the keys to garage sale success are getting there early, shopping in the off-season, looking past cosmetic flaws, keeping an eye out for quality and always haggling. With these five hot tips, you’ll know exactly how to find furniture deals at garage sales.

Originally posted 2008-11-22 04:23:28.

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