editor’s note: This is the second installment of local author and art dealer Aaron LaPedis’ four-part column series. Coming next week: Tools every treasure hunter needs.
At garage sales every weekend all over the country, people search for that one hidden treasure that will make them an instant fortune. While there’s always a possibility you’ll find a rare painting or priceless antique, there are more effective ways to be consistently successful at any garage sale.
Plan your attack by scouting the garage sale listings in the newspaper, and signs in established neighborhoods. Be on the lookout for sales advertising antiques, china and old books.
Start early, around 7 a.m., to get a jump on everybody else. By seeing where the sales are for that day, you can plot out every sale you’ll want to attend. Most garage sales start at 8 a.m., so you’ll need to be at your first stop by 7:50 a.m.
Even if you arrive before everything is set up, you’ll get a great opportunity to scout what’s for sale. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, ask. The worst thing anyone could say is “no.”
Stay connected. One of the best tools to bring to any garage sale is a mobile phone with Internet access. When you find an item you want to buy, take note of the item’s name, title and/or model number. Let’s take a book for example — type the name of the author, title and edition into the search engine of your choice. Next, search the Internet for the item to find a common selling price. Once you enter the item in question on a search engine such as Google, several places that have the item for sale will be listed. Compare those prices with what is being offered at the sale you’re attending.
If you are in a rush, go to eBay and see what price the item is bringing at auction. Before you leave eBay, click on the hyperlink for “completed items.” This will show the price the item actually sold for, as well as the date of the last sale. You’re now armed with valuable information that can help you make a better purchase decision.
Negotiation is another key in getting a better price on the treasures you desire. People who host garage sales will usually take less than their original price. The recipe for garage sale buying success is to start at about half the asking price and agree on a price somewhere in between.
Here’s my favorite garage sale tip: If the price isn’t low enough, walk away. There’s a good chance the seller will follow you and accept your offer.
If the item is something you think you can resell for a profit, don’t lose the deal over a couple of bucks.
And speaking of money, bring cash because checks aren’t accepted at most garage sales.
Always get the packaging, instructions, and anything else that goes with the item. Any time you buy something and it’s missing parts or packaging, it’ll decrease the value of the item. This is important if you want to later resell that item for the most profit possible. Also, if the item is mechanical, make sure you see it work before you buy.
Last but not least, if you’re not sure what the proper value of any item is, walk away unless you can afford a loss on your investment.
Aaron LaPedis is an experienced collector and author of “The Garage Sale Millionaire.” Information at . Do you have a question about buying and selling antiques and collectibles? E-mail it to living@denverpost.com.
