Scouring yard sales for thatone special findthatll net serious money can be addictive.
But finding valuable items at garage and estate sales is more than just luck.
Garage Sales or Estate Sales?
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Prices tend to be lower, and you might find some stuff for free.
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Do you avoid people too?
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Did you know?
An 1888 Louis Vuitton Explorer trunk netted its owner more than$150,000 at auctionin 2019.
Check and Double-Check Your Potential Purchases
This tip goes for buyers and sellers alike.
Youre trying to ensure your purchases are in good condition but also looking for things others missed.
Like the woman who accidentally sold her diamond earrings at a garage sale tucked into thepocket of a coat.
Top 15 Most Profitable Garage Sale Finds
Treasure or trash?
Heres what to pick up at garage sales to save money or turn a profit.
If the pieces are solid, polishing them up for profit is almost always worth your time.
Take, for instance, a ring purchased at auction as part of a trunk sale in the 80s.
Musical Instruments
Musically inclined people will spot a Les Paul or a Stradivarius from a mile away.
However, purchasing brand-name musical instruments or sound equipment at a yard sale is rarely a bad idea.
They make sound investments whether you want to refurbish, resell or make your own music.
Exercise Equipment
Fitness fads come and go but the value of exercise equipment lasts forever.
Sifting through the collection might reward you with something seriously rare and valuable.
Vinyl Records
The resurgence of vinyl has turned the tables and made old records coveted collectors items.
Carefully inspect vinyl for deep scratches or other issues affecting the resale value.
How much canvintage vinylfetch?
Video Games and VHS Tapes
If youre having trouble imagining a market for obsolete technology, youre not wrong.
And deals on refurbished or high quality camping gear like propane stoves or tents are always in season.
Books
Its always worth weeding through a pile of books to find favorite titles for your home library.
However, certain categories such as comic books or childrens books can be profitable page-turners.
Watch for first editions or special inscriptions scrawled on the pages.
Cast Iron Cookware
Skip the Teflon pans and head straight for the old-fashioned cookware.
And you’re free to keep it rust-free if youclean cast iron properly.
Jackets and Boots
Unless it sports a designer label, most clothing at garage sales wont net a profit.
Tools
You may not have heard, but those nail guns are more than just tools of the trade.
Scoop up drills, saws, compressors and even socket sets in good working condition.
Some of the rare sets are worth serious money.
And if flipping bikes is your passion, carry tools to adjust the seat before your test ride.
Furniture
One of the first things that catches the eye is furniture finds at yard sales.
From upholstered items to solid wood, furniture can be cleaned, refinished and flipped for a significant profit.
Keep an eye out for antique furniture.
7 Things to Never Buy at a Yard Sale
Not all that glitters is gold.
Here are the secondhand items you probably shouldnt take a chance on if youre hoping to cash in.
Most obsolete electronics arent worth your time or money unless youre collecting old gaming consoles.
Non-Stick Cookware
Cookware with scratches and flaking of the non-stick surface poses aserious health risk.
you could access a list of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recallshere.
Cribs
Its tempting to buy a crib secondhand, butbuyer beware.
Definitely doesnt inspire much holiday spirit.
As frustrating as it is, its best to hunt down a new box of your favorite lights.
Look for Garage Sale Finds in Unexpected Places
The moral of the story?
Kaz Weida is a senior staff writer at The Penny Hoarder covering saving money and budgeting.
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