Yardsale Season!

Im super excited to have the yardsale season start! Such great opportunities to find little household items or to find a huge selection of baby clothes that have only been used a few times. Last time I went searching, I found sheets for my sons crib, a beautiful silver serving spoon, and a teddy bear that plays a heartbeat.

That doesnt even cover what  I have found online. I have bought a recliner for $70, a dresser for $50, and a coffee table for $35. I also bought a huge trashbag of baby clothes for $50. All of these are in great condition and were exactly what I wanted! AND, all of that was just in the last two months.

I found that the key to finding a good deal is to never settle. Say that you are meandering on craigslist and stumble upon a great looking end table. It EXACTLY matches your decor and you are so excited...until you see the asking price. "$50, firm!" Darn it! Thats way to much for a single end table! But its perfect. Dont give into temptation! For a used table that has probably had a kid gnawing on it, that price is ridiculous, unless its some fabulous antique. So here is what I suggest you do;

1. Email/call the seller.
2. Offer a price a little below what you want to pay for it.
3. They will probably say that they have someone willing to pay the asking price. This might be true, but chances are that they are trying to get you to pay more than you are willing to.
4. If they refuse to haggle with you, offer to pay the full amount, BUT they have to deliver the item (this is only if you feel ok with someone coming to your house)

If they refuse, this item is not worth your time. Chances are that you will find something just as good the next day. However, if you really love this item, tell the person that if they dont get any other offers, you would be willing to come buy it for the price you originally offered.

Here are some tips to decide if an item is worth your time:

1. Is it damaged? If its more than a scratch in the varnish or missing a button, its probably not worth your time and money. Unless your a handy person, that cabinet with the half sanded drawers will never be finished. Chances are that its going to just be an project you never decide to do.
2. Is it assembled? Lets be honest, if your at a yardsale and someone is selling an bookcase thats been taken apart to be moved, that thing is not going to have ALL of the screws or the instruction booklet. After you shove that thing in your car, its gonna take you 6 hours to assemble at home. Is is really worth it?
3. Who made it? A bag of walmart clothes is not going to last very long. Unless you have an 8 month old (me!) who is going to grow out of the clothes in a week, certain brands of clothes are not worth the time. Now, if you see a coach purse for $75, GRAB IT! I have yet to find this deal, but I have heard of them. Make sure its real though. I hear that you can tell if a purse is real by looking at its stitching and stuff.
4. This is the most important: Make sure its safe. You probably have kids. and we all know that kids like to lick and chew and suck. Make sure that your not purchasing anything that has lead, mercury, or asbestos.

My favorite sites for yardselling:

• http://www.bookoo.com/
• www.craigslist.com
• FACEBOOK! They have buy/sell/trade pages for most areas. Just search near your location, and voila!
• Dont forget to look at local pawn shops, especially in a military area. When people PCS, they dont want to haul ALL of their stuff. Chances are that they will pawn their uneeded furniture and household items. You can also find gently used uniform pieces!

If you decide to purchase online, make sure your safe. Dont meet strangers after dark, alone. Call me sexist, but take a man with you, if you're a woman. And follow your insticts; if your gut is telling you that its a bad idea to meet "destructo1984@gmail.com" at 10:00pm, DON'T! You finding a really great deal on an xbox is just not worth the risk. So, shop safe and shop smart. (I sound like a walmart ad, haha)

I cant wait for the season to get started! I am hoping to find a toddler bed, so that when the little boy transitions, I can seamlessly switch out the crib.

Let me know if you know of any other good sites to shop!