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On the landscape of bargain hunting, there are quite a few VIP players, and it can be confusing to tell who’s who. PennySaverUSA.com has the 411 and is going to make it easy to tell the difference between a garage sale, estate sale, and a swap meet/flea market.

Garage sale

(AKA yard sale, tag sale)

Definition – A sale of used household or personal articles ( such as furniture, tools, or clothing) held on the seller’s own premises.

Where you’ll find one – In the actual garage or front yard of someone’s home, in church parking lots, at several homes on neighborhood blocks, i.e. a community sale.

Click above to get even more garage sale tips.

What you’ll find there – Garage sales will feature a wide array of new, lightly used, and very used household items. Common finds at garage sales include children’s toys, kitchenware, tools, clothing, home décor and more. Prices are usually 75%- 95% off what you would pay at a department store, but you often have to be willing to sort through unwanted junk to find your treasure.

Etiquette:

• Price negotiation is expected, as long as you make reasonable offers.
• Bundling items will get you more bang for your buck.
• Friendly conversation will earn you better discounts.
• In the case of garage sales, the seller is always right. Be respectful of their belongings, and you’ll take home the best bargains.

Estate Sale

Definition – “An estate sale or estate liquidation is a sale or auction to dispose of a substantial portion of the materials owned by a person who is recently deceased or who must dispose of his or her personal property to facilitate a move.”

What you’ll find there – Due to the fact that many estate sale items often belonged to an elderly deceased person, you will frequently find vintage items and antiques at estate sales. Prices are usually 50% off +, but will often be in better condition than garage sale goods, so will be priced higher.

Etiquette:

• Be sensitive – the items for sale often belonged to a recently passed loved one or someone who is losing their home.
• Price negotiation is acceptable, but ask gently and don’t push it if the seller isn’t willing.
• Bundling items will usually earn you a better discount.
• Complimenting the quality of the items and the previous owner’s taste will put you in good standing with the seller.

Swap meet or Flea market

Definition – “a gathering for the sale or barter of usually secondhand objects”

Where you’ll find one – At community centers, parks, church parking lots, and fairgrounds.

What you’ll find there – Unlike garage sales, flea markets and swap meets are large affairs and are run by a collection of individuals. Flea markets often feature a variety of artisan wares, antiques and vintage, small local businesses, and food vendors. Swap meets are set up similarly but tend to be more industry or hobby specific and serve as a marketplace for workers in that industry to barter, sell, and trade specific goods related to their industry. For example, Classic Car enthusiasts meet at the Pomona Swap Meet to trade and sell parts for their antique autos, while people from all over Orange County go to flea-market style Orange County Market Place for bargains on everything from sunglasses to artisan foods.

Etiquette:

• If attending a swap meet, bring items that someone will want to trade for to get better discounts on what you want.
• Price negotiation is often welcome, but not as flexible as garage sales. Don’t push it if the vendor doesn’t seem interested in going lower.
• Bundling items will get you more bang for your buck.
• Don’t be surprised to find expensive items at a flea market. A lot of the goods have taken hours of love to create, and the artisans price accordingly.
• At a swap meet, bring your hobby with you – half the fun is showing off your car, boat, or amazing quilt to fellow enthusiasts

Now that you’ve got the scoop, head to our garage sale classifieds to find the best garage sales, estate sales, and flea markets taking place in your neighborhood this weekend.

It seems like every year when Mother’s Day rolls around the media pushes us to spend big: diamonds, fancy restaurants, and high-dollar perfumes. But you don’t have to burn a hole in your budget to give an unforgettable Mother’s Day gift that the moms in your life will cherish. Your neighborhood garage sales and estate sales are just the place to find unique, one-of-a-kind gifts, and mom will appreciate you being smart with your money.

Before you go shopping, make sure you’ve read our Weekend Shopping Guide for garage sale tips to help you get the most out of your experience. Once you’re up to speed, all you need to know is what type of mom you’re shopping for, and what yard sale items match her interests.

Gifts for the Gardening Mom

Unique planters, teacups, or vintage bowls – all of these can be found for $5 or less at garage sales. Put a little soil in them and a miniature plant (think succulents or violas), and you’ve got a gift that will wow. For inspiration, head to Epheriell Designs who made a beautiful teacup succulent garden.

Succulents like cacti can make great Mother's Day gifts.

Antique spoons – Antique spoons are easy to transform into adorable garden markers. Artsy VaVa has an easy DIY tutorial for creating whimsical herb garden spoon markers. Anyone would love this garden gift.

Lawn buddies – There’s always a cute figurine or two hiding out at a garage sale. Find out her favorite animal and keep your eyes peeled. There’s sure to be a porcelain or brass critter who’d love to call her lawn home.

Gifts for the Bookworm Mom

The obvious, books – Make a list of your mom’s favorite authors and scour the tables of your local yard sale. Books can usually be scored for $1 – $2.

Unique bookmarks – Many garage sales will have items that could be turned into beautiful bookmarks (think buttons, charms, and jewelry) at the sale. Head to Good Life Eats for inspirational DIY bookmark ideas before you go shopping.

Once you’ve rounded up some good reads and reading accessories, assemble them in a beautiful book gift basket with some of mom’s favorite teas and snacks. You’ll win the favorite kid award for sure.

Gifts for the Fashionista Mom

Jewelry – Head to estate sales or garage sales that explicitly state they have jewelry for sale. You should be able to find good bargains ranging from $1 – $10 at most sales. While the big box stores and high price tags might seem impressive, a garage sale jewelry gift is one of a kind and can be a real beauty once cleaned up. Who knows, you may even stumble on a valuable treasure.

Scarves and shawls – These can also be found at many estate sales. Keep an eye out for boxes filled with colorful silks, and you’re likely to find a vintage scarf or shawl hiding in there that would look beautiful on mom. All you need to do is give it a gentle hand wash and iron, and it will be ready for gifting.

These are just a few ideas. There are plenty of treasures to be had at garage sales. Know some gift ideas that we missed? Tell us with a comment, or join the conversation on our Facebook page.

Wishing you a very happy Mother’s Day, and many successful garage sale treasure hunts!

The PennySaverUSA Team

PennySaver garage sale expert Jim Sampson was recently interviewed by the San Diego 6 news team to share some crucial garage sale tips.

Watch the clip above to get all the insights to having the best garage sale possible.

Indiana Jones didn’t find the elusive crystal skull by searching aimlessly through the rainforest, and you won’t find mid-century modern furnishings that way either. Indi went hunting with some hints in mind, and that’s just what PennySaverUSA.com is dishing up with today’s garage sale shopping guide-chocked full of garage sale tips to help get you to your treasures faster.

Click the image for more garage sale tips.

Tip 1: Send out a scout – With the cost of gas quickly rising to $5 a gallon, no one can afford to drive around aimlessly in search of neon garage sale signs. Save time and money when you search your PennySaver magazine and our online garage sale listings for promising garage sales in your neighborhood. Some people will also put signs up the night before, so take the dog for a walk and keep a lookout.

Tip 2: Bring a map – No respectable treasure hunter, or archeologist for that matter, would be caught dead without a map. Once you have a list of sales you want to visit, use PennySaverUSA’s Garage Sale Trail feature to create driving directions to each one.

Tip 3: Carry a satchel - You’ve just talked the seller into giving you an armload of vintage costume jewelry for $5, but how are you going to carry it all home? Luckily, you remembered that Indi always carries a satchel and you can tuck them safely away in your bag.

Tip 4: Bring cash – The locals aren’t likely to be willing to trade for your signature sexy smirk, nor are they likely to take checks or credit. Bring a handful of small and large denominations and change, so you can easily purchase anything that catches your eye.

Tip 5: Don’t be afraid to stray from the trail – Glorious leg lamp catch your eye at the sale a few yards over? Ask yourself, “What would Indi do?” He’d lasso a vine and swing on over, that’s what he’d do! Don’t be afraid to deviate from the plan if there’s better treasure somewhere else. Scoring great garage sale finds often takes spontaneity.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your bullwhip, put on your fedora, and let’s make this weekend a treasure hunt to remember.

Once you’ve read our Garage Sale Tips: The art of negotiation post, the next step in becoming a garage sale shopping expert is to master the art of bundling.

What is bundling you ask? Well, it’s actually pretty simple. Bundling is when you offer to buy multiple items at a discount.

This strategy can be extremely effective when shopping at garage sales.

Most people hold garage sales so they can unload items they no longer want and make a few bucks in the process.

By offering to purchase several items at once, you are helping the seller get rid of stuff and achieve his/her goal.

There are three key points to remember when utilizing a bundling strategy, however. Follow these simple guidelines and you could get back home with a treasure trove of goodies.

1. Make a reasonable offer: Your bundling efforts will be immediately dashed if you throw out a ridiculous offer right from the start. Don’t disrespect the garage sale host by offering $10 for four or five items that are priced at $60. Odds are not only will your offer be rejected, but the seller probably won’t want to do any business with you at all. Generally speaking you want to offer at least 50% the cost of the combined items, and to be on the safe side you should go up to 75%.
2. Mix valuable items with invaluable items: The seller will probably not appreciate you trying to bundle his/her five most valuable items at a discounted rate. Likewise, it doesn’t make sense for either side to try to bundle a bunch of items that are only worth a total of $5-$10 anyways. By mixing in a blend of valuable and invaluable items, both parties can come away happy and you can maximize your savings.
3. Bundle a less-desired item with one you really want: This is the oldest trick in the book and it almost always works. You’ve spotted a $50 painting you really want, but aren’t willing to spend $50. There’s also a $10 salt and pepper shaker set you had your eye on. A $7 board game has kind of caught your eye as well. This is a perfect bundling situation. Offer to pay full price on the salt and pepper shaker and board game, if you can get the painting for $30. It’s a fair offer and if the seller agrees to it, you wind up with all three items for $47 — less than the painting would have cost by itself.

Shopping at a garage sale is very different than shopping at a traditional store. As part of our garage sale tips blog series, PennySaverUSA provides advice on how to shop most effectively at garage sales. We’ll start with the art of negotiation.

Friendly banter usually leads to more successful negotiations.

Unlike when you visit the local mall or chain store, all prices at a garage sale are negotiable. The price tag is just a starting point for the negotiation.

Here are five key pointers to remember when negotiating for the best deals at garage sales:

1. Go in with a good attitude: A smile and a bit of friendly conversation can go a long way when it comes to negotiating at a garage sale. Keep in mind; you are visiting someone’s home when shopping at a garage sale, so you must treat the host with respect. The more pleasant and agreeable you appear, the better your chances of negotiating down the price. The Coupon Shoebox has a great article about negotiating which explains, “Being nice to a salesperson can save you even more in the relationship. … Make it a habit to ask people how they are and how their day is going.”
2. Be patient: First impressions do matter, but all of that goodwill goes right out the window if you grow frustrated after a couple of failed negotiations on items. Always remember, it’s the seller’s ultimate decision whether he wants to negotiate or sell you an item. One good technique is to buy one low-cost item at the regular price and then try to negotiate for another, more valuable, item. This shows the seller you are fair and aren’t trying to rip him off.
3. Bring cash: The fastest way to ruin a garage sale negotiation is to ask if the seller accepts check or credit. Garage sales are generally a cash game. You might as well not even start a negotiation if you fail to bring a few greenbacks. Also important is remembering to bring coins and small bills. As Dr. Lori says in a yard sale article on TheInterMountain.com, “You need coins and small bills in order to take home the best from a yard sale. Don’t ask a yard sale seller to break a $50 bill, it could be the end of your negotiations.
4. Get a feel for the seller: You are better off starting your negotiation with a secondary item. This will help you build a comfort level with the seller. Once you’ve gotten a sense for what type of negotiator he is, you’ll be better equipped to negotiate for the primary item you really had your eye on.
5. Don’t be an early bird: As Money Saving Queen points out on her 5-Ways-to-Get-the-Best-Deals-at-Garage-Sales blog post, “The later in the day, the more eager people are to get their items out and that is a great time to negotiate.” While you risk some of the sale’s better items being gone, the trade-off is worth it because you gain the upper-hand in the negotiation.

Ever been to a garage sale where it was a complete mess – breakable items on the floor, no visible price tags, and items stacked sky-high that you didn’t want to rummage through? Add a crowd of people and this garage sale sounds like the thing Friday the 13^th nightmares are made of.

Use our garage sale tips to avoid a disaster like this one.

Keep it nice and simple with PennySaverUSA’s garage sale tips for organizing your garage sale and everything will run smoothly. Organize your sale:

• By size: Keep smaller items in containers on top of table tops and larger, bulkier items on the ground (out of foot traffic space, of course). That way nothing gets lost in the shuffle or broken. And for smaller items, the key is to group them together (example: teapot with teacups) to create bundles that sell faster.

• By quality: Items that are fragile deserve a space on a table. And use items that you have a feeling will be hot commodities for two things: 1) Place the larger items in the front of your sale to get the attention of people driving by (example: furniture and televisions), 2) Place the medium-to-smaller in the back of your sale, so people will be forced to walk through your sale to get to the valuable stuff (example: jewelry, antiques, and watches).

• By price: Instead of grouping each item by category, group by price. Label each table with a price tag for all items on that specific table (ex. “All items on this table are $10”). This helps with not having to answer the question, “How much?” over and over again. Plus, it leaves more room for serious shoppers to stay, and Looky Loos to get a move on. Need help pricing? Use our pricing guide to determine each item’s value.

• Away from “Not for Sale” items: Be sure the area you are using for the garage sale is far away from any items that are not for sale. If your sale is in the garage, be sure to park your vehicle off the driveway and move valuables inside to not confuse buyers. It should be clear what is for sale, and what you’re hanging onto.

• Presentation is important: Cleanliness is next to garage-godliness! So sweep up dirt, pack things away that aren’t for sale, and make everything that’s for sale visible (avoid stacking when possible). If you need some inspiration, Vintage Revivals did such a fantastic job in spreading out her items during her “Hoarder’s Sale” that everything was gone in less than 4 hours! Impressive.

Looking for more tips to hosting a garage sale? We’ve got garage sale tips that will knock your socks off.

Holding a garage sale is a great way to bring in extra cash, especially if you have an abundance of unwanted stuff hanging around your house. But before you put out the signs and place a free ad on PennySaverUSA.com, you need to ask yourself these questions to determine if you are prepared for a successful garage sale.

Click the image to see our tips for creating garage sale signs.

1) Do I have enough stuff for a sale? – Let’s face it; a few bags of old clothes does not a great garage sale make. Make sure you have stockpiled enough items to fill up a couple of tables and blankets. Too few items and your sale will look picked over, but if your yard is overflowing, you’ll have cars lining up your street.

2) Am I ready to part with these items? – Make sure you are familiar and ready to get rid of everything in your garage sale stockpile. The last thing you want is someone to fall in love with an item that you weren’t ready to sell.

3) Are these items suited for a garage sale? – Some things sell better online or at pawn shops than they would at a garage sale. Trying to unload a large appliance or valuable instrument? You’re not going to get the price you want at a garage sale. Lots of smaller value items like books, toys, and clothes? You’re made in the shade.

4) Do I have a good variety of items to sell? – How often have you stopped at a sale that’s all clothes? We’re guessing never. Make sure you have a wide variety of items for sale to catch everyone’s eyes who drive by. A sale with books, furniture, art, toys, and more is going to draw a wider audience.

5) Do I know the prices I want for my goods? – Unless you want to spend your entire day haggling (some people do), you need to price each item in your sale. You can still negotiate, but price tags will help prevent unreasonable offers. Check out our handy pricing guide for help determining each item’s value, and then head over to our friend Apron Thrift Girl’s blog for some pretty printable price tags.

Itching for more great garage sale tips? Check out our latest blog entries or join our seller’s tips email newsletter list.

Good luck at your next sale!

Over the next two weeks, PennySaverUSA’s blog will become garage sale central with in-depth garage sale tips for sellers and buyers. Before we go any further, though, we suggest you go over the basics:

• Seller tips
• Buyer tips

With the basics out of the way, let’s get to the fun stuff. This initial post covers which items you should sell at a garage sale.

While any items are capable of being sold at a garage sale, certain items are more suited to being sold online or to a pawn or vintage shop.

Here is a quick guide to help you determine where you should sell your old items:

Garage Sale

• Items with a value of $5 or less – It’s not worth the hassle of placing an online ad or visiting a pawn shop for an item with such little value. These are perfect for garage sales.

• Items with sentimental value to you – That’s the beauty of a garage sale – you can look the buyer in the eye. If it’s important to you that an item you’re selling is cared for, sell it at your garage sale. You can control who buys the item, unlike online or at a pawn shop.

People love buying books at garage sales

• Items in need of a restoration or cleaning – These types of items are unlikely to sell online and most vintage stores or pawn shops will not be interested. Shoppers at your garage sale, however, might see the beauty in the item and be willing to purchase it.

• Clothes – Clothes are an easy sell at a garage sale. Whatever clothes are left over after the garage sale, you can then put for sale online or take to a vintage clothing store to see if there is any interest. If not, you are better off just donating or holding on to it.

• Books – You might be surprised by how many people visit garage sales shopping for old books. They are much more likely to sell at your garage sale than online or at a vintage/pawn shop.

• Art – That hideous purple and orange polka dot vase your aunt gave you for your birthday five years ago might actually be considered gorgeous to someone else. Artistic items are often impulse buys and are perfect for garage sales.

Online

• Collectibles with a cult following – Think merchandise with band logos, Star Wars stuff or old oil cans. Pretty much anything that has a rabid fan base. If you aren’t sure, do some research first. You are certain to find an eager buyer online, while at your garage sale, there is no guarantee anyone will visit that is a fan of those collectibles.
  

  Click the image to place your free ad.

• Valuables – It’s tough to get fair market value for items at a garage sale, because most shoppers are thrifty and there to get a deal. You are better off selling valuable items online, especially if you don’t need the money right away.

• Big Appliances – People don’t typically go to garage sales expecting to go home with a washer and dryer or gas range. Vintage or pawn shops are also very unlikely to be interested in these items. Your best bet is to sell them online at PennySaverUSA.com.

• Vehicles – Garage sales are not really meant for selling vehicles and it’s unlikely a pawn shop will give you fair value. Selling vehicles online is the most sensible option.

Vintage/Pawn Shops

• Items you are selling on the down low – Say there is something that a friend or relative gave you, that you want to sell, but don’t want to risk them finding out. A vintage or pawn shop, especially one in a different town, might be your safest option.

Click the image to find local pawn shops on PennySaverUSA.com.

• Items you have to move fast – Sometimes, often due to unforeseen circumstances, it becomes important that you get rid of an item immediately. Planning a garage sale takes time, as does finding a buyer online. In this scenario, a vintage or pawn shop is the best alternative.

• Items you want back later – People sometimes forget that pawn shops don’t just buy items, they also loan money with interest based on the value of items. If you need some money, but don’t want to sell your item, pawning is a good choice.

• Jewelry with no significance to you – You won’t get full value selling jewelry to a vintage or pawn shop, but if you are in need of some quick cash and have no emotional attachment to the item, it’s the fastest and easiest method.

Items that hold significant value to you sentimentally might really only  be worth a few dollars to shoppers at your yard sale. So how do you find the right medium that makes you feel good about the sale and the buyer feel good about the bargain? Follow PennySaverUSA’s tips for pricing items correctly at your yard sale, and you’ll avoid seller’s remorse.

Post and find garage sales on PennySaverUSA.com.

Before you start scratching your head in confusion, use our helpful pricing guide for garage sales here:

1. Clothing – $.50 to $2 for regular shirts, $2-$3 for jeans, $5 and up for name-brand items, $5 and up for winter clothing, purses for $5 and up, and items with tags for $7 and up.
2. Electronics – $5 to $20 depending on the condition of the item. $5 for a home telephone to $20 for a DVD player.
3. DVDs, CDs, and Books – Sell these items in bulk to get them out of the door faster. $.50 to $1 a piece or $3 for 5.
4. Furniture – Pricing depends on the size and condition. Range the pricing $20 to $50 to sell it faster. If your item is in excellent condition like a bed frame, you can price it higher like $75 to $100.
5. Toys – $1 for similar items like Barbies and stuffed animals to $25 for roller skates and bikes.
6. Household goods and tools – The smaller in size, the lower the price. $2/a piece to $20, if you offer a set.

When it comes to garage sales, you have to remember to price it accordingly. People don’t go to garage sales with hundreds of dollars in their pocket, so they won’t pay outrageous prices.

If these prices seem too low for your favorite vintage leather jacket, that’s a huge sign to sell it somewhere else, like through a classified ad on PennySaverUSA or by trading it at a Consignment shop.

And before you start pricing your items, learn more about deciding what’s junk or a family heirloom by reading here.