It’s Saturday morning, the sun’s not up yet.  But, you are.

The only light in the room is from the lamp’s soft glow and the light from your phone. The coffee is brewing, and you’re going to need it. As you do a last minute scan of the garage sale listings on Yardsale Treasures, you can see it’s going to be a big day. This is the thrill of the chase. The bargains aren’t the only reason you’re up this early. You like the rush!

Decisions, decisions.

Prioritizing! Which Yard Sales Do You Want To Visit First?

Now, to decide your route. Which yard sales are you attending this morning?  You’ve always wanted to take up the drums. And there’s a set across town. How long will they last? There are half a dozen yard sales that are closer to you. And one has a vacuum cleaner you could really use.  But, your mother’s birthday is around the corner, and she’s an avid gardener. And one of the sales looks like a landscaper is going out of business. He is selling all the tools of the trade.

Your baby nephew is growing like a weed. And there’s a garage sale with baby clothes in the next size. The photos showed a lot of summer clothes. And since it’s around the corner, maybe you should start there.

Where to go, where to go?  Yard sales, tag sales, and garage sales galore! You don’t want to miss any of this!

Stalking Your Prey

There’s a full cup of coffee in your travel mug, the car is warmed up, the “get pumped” tunes are on the radio, and you’ve prioritized your shopping list. Google Maps is leading you to your first acquisition.

The hunt is on.

Your phone directs you to your first sale. Lots of cars are parked around the neighborhood. You aren’t the only one to make this garage sale their first stop. The pressure is on. You decided to go to the landscape sale first. Those items are pretty expensive, and if you can get some deals, that’s a lot of money saved.

You do a quick scan of the sale. Zero in on the items you’re interested in and see other shoppers browsing the same area. Shoppers with trucks, they’re here for the big stuff.  They mean business! You need to figure out what you want and make an offer. And fast. Your mama needs a new hedge trimmer and edger, and by golly, she’s going to have one.

Wheel and Deal

This is where you shine.  You looked at the photos earlier this week. You did your research. You price compared online. You know what you want to pay. You also know what you’re willing to pay.

It’s time to make an offer.

You put your game face on. You don’t have to have that hedge trimmer. You’re totally willing to walk away. Or at least that’s the look you hope you’ve perfected.

You sidle over to the folks hosting the yard sale and you ask how much they’ll take for it. They come out high.  You lowball. They counter. You counter. They still aren’t ready to close the deal.

Like a Boss

You employ your best bargaining tactic. You’ve done this before. You’re a pro. It’s your strategy.

They want to sell their stuff. You want to buy it. So, you go for the “bundle.”

“How about, I double what I offered and you throw in that edger, a hoe and a couple of rakes?”

You watch his face. A poker face. You can see him mentally calculating the value of these items. He doesn’t really want to part with them. It’s early in the day, he thinks he can get more.

Then, the voice of an angel speaks up, breaking the tension.

The landscaper’s wife.

“Deal!”

And into the trunk goes Mama’s birthday present.

Score!

And triumphantly, you drive away.

Now, to dress that sweet nephew of yours for summer. He needs to look like a rock star when his auntie is playing her new drums!

What are you hunting at the yard sales near you this weekend?