When I go to garage sales, I always look for certain things first. I look for tools in good shape, vases of all sizes, pretty pieces of mismatched china, and anything copper or silver. These items always come in handy. I use a beautiful china saucer for a soap dish. The extra dishware is great for potlucks or bake sales, I don't worry about getting the item back. Some tools, and the copper and silver can be great finds. I love polishing them up to see what treasure I got.
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I always make a bee-line for the things that interest me the most as well. Usually I am looking for clothes for my children so I don't stop and waste time looking at the items that will most likely still be there after I first check out the clothes. I also like to look at the jewelry and household items but make sure to look at the kid's clothes first thing off the bat. When I look through the listing in my paper, I also mark the ones that say kid's clothes and try to go to those first.
I just love garage sales and they are sort of a treasure hunt for me. You just never know what you'll find!
I love garage sales, some of my treasures include, a whole bag of character print material for 3 dollars, a silver sugar bowl with lid and matching creamer for 2 dollars ( they thought it was just plated and sterling), Antique German bible from the 1800's for 10 dollars, a whole garbage sack full of summer clothes for my daughter for 15.00. I usually go early in the morning and sometimes about 45 mintues or so before closing time, when I can make deals and people are more willing to negotiate...I love garage saling, most of my house has been decorated from treasures i find or parts i have found from here and there and constructed into something new.
I have shopped Garage sales for special items that are unique or antique to resale at the flea market and to put on Ebay. A good way to make extra income during these challenged Economic times.
When I put some weight on after loosing my job I refused to make an "investment" into a new wardrobe. I found everything I needed for the summer until I returned to work, regained self-confidence, and lost the weight.
I generally target affluent condominiums and townhome neighborhood sales because the singles and childless couples have lots of disposible income, residents often participate in the sale to mingle with neighbors versus maximize proceeds, and minimal storage spaces makes packing items up undesirable and bargaining easy. Sometimes I go very early (30 minutes before posted opening) and again around 11:30. You get choice picks early and cheap or FREE items in the afternoon.
Another good idea. Get a little Black and Decker power pack the one with the little 100watt inverter (woot just had hem up again for $10 for 2 of them I got 6 this time the max :-)
I bring them with me when I stalk yard sales. make it easy to plug stuff in to get an idea if its going to work or not :-)
I leave myself very open for what I might find at a sale. I look for gifts to give at Christmas to my kids. By Christmas time I usually have 30 or 40 gifts for each child.
I also look for items for relatives that they collect for their home. My mother collects rooster item, aunt - mushroom things, neice - items with grapes and ocean things for her bathroom. Another aunt used to collect Elvis stuff now she has Gone With The Wind. My younger daughter collects Webkinz and my older is into Manga. It took a while to remember all this stuff so I used to have a list I taped over into like a credit card. I kept it in my wallet.
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