If you are shopping garage sales and yard sales for inventory to resell on eBay, there is a strategy to maximize your energy and minimize your time. Work smart, not hard! Here are some tips to organize your garage sale-ing efforts.
1. Draw up your battle plan far in advance. Visit Craigslist.org under the garage sale section. People start posting about weekend sales on Tuesdays. Check frequently for new posts, and keep a list of sales in your area. Focus on large neighborhood or community yard sales. You will spend more time at the sales shopping than driving all over the place from one sale to the next. Map out your route using Yahoo Maps or a GPS system. You are on a mission!
2. Focus on sales in the affluent parts of town. The ritzy neighborhoods will have better items. Second, many people living in expensive neighborhoods are living beyond their means and may have to sell some items to pay bills. Even if you have to drive a little further to reach the affluent communities, it will be worth your time and gas.
3. Always have plenty of cash. Most people won't take checks. Also, cash is good for negotiating. You can pull out a $20 bill when something costs $30 and say, "Would you take $20?" The seller usually won't let that cash get away.
4. Be prepared. Wear comfortable shoes. Keep a small cooler with drinks and snacks in your car. Have your phone handy (or a laptop with WiFi) in case you need to research the selling price of an item.
5. Don't be afraid to negotiate. All the person can say is "no." They won't shoot you. Be fair and reasonable but realize that the seller doesn't want to drag everything back into the house or take it to Goodwill. Arriving at the end of the sale with cash will help you get some great deals.
For more information on exactly what to buy to resell, check out my eBook about garage sale finds to sell on eBay.
Happy Selling!
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