10 Reasons Why Garage Sales Are Hotter Than Ever!

Garage sale fever continues to sweep across the United States. It’s a contagious virus because the word is out how profitable they can be for both buyers and sellers. Here’s ten reasons why record numbers of Americans are participating in the Great American Treasure Hunt.

Supplement the family budget.
People are fighting high gasoline prices and rising prices at the grocery store by selling unwanted and unused household items through a garage sale. Books, CDs, furniture, electronics, clothing and collectibles can be turned into cash in a matter of hours. What could be better than having strangers hand you money for stuff you no longer need?

It’s the smart way to de-clutter!
Too much stuff in your house or apartment? It’s a common problem for many. The smart solution is to pack up the clutter, stick a price tag on it, and turn it into cash. If you haven’t used an item in years, chances are you won’t even miss it. Your clutter goes to a new home and you can buy new clutter with the money you make!

Pay below retail for stuff you need.
Avoid paying discount store prices for common household items. Perfectly good gently-used items abound at garage sales. Why pay full retail for a plant stand, toaster or a small bookcase when you can buy them at a fraction of retail? Skip the sales tax too! Draw up a list of items you need for your home and you’ll be surprised at how many are readily available at garage sales.

Search for hidden treasures!
Only at garage sales can you find valuable collectibles at next to nothing prices. Many sellers don’t know the value of the old stuff they found in the attic or a closet. Many an item on Antiques Roadshow originated at a garage sale. If you enjoy hunting for treasure and know the real value of collectibles, garage sales can offer incredible discoveries!

Little work, high pay.
Many people who hold garage sales find they can earn fifteen to twenty dollars an hour for their efforts after the sale is over. A few books sold equal a few dollars in your wallet. A few CDs add to your income. Sell a couple twenty dollar items and it boosts your bottom line. And all you do is box your unwanted staff and haul it out to a few tables in the garage or on your lawn. The bottom line is that garage sales are so popular because they generate easy money.

Sell your finds on eBay!
Many people use garage sales as a source for what they sell online. They buy stuff for next to nothing at local sales and offer it online to people around the world. This type of never-ending garage sale lets you sell year-long regardless of the weather to a global audience. Instead of people coming to your garage sale, you bring your best stuff to them via the Internet. Bidding wars can even sweeten your profit. It’s the smart way to do business.

It’s the inexpensive way to build a collection.
Whether you collect salt and pepper shakers, tube radios, rare books, fishing lures, or military items, garage sales are the best way to avoid those high antique store prices. (And where do you think antique dealers buy their merchandise anyway)? Build your collection over time and enjoy the hunt for the treasure you seek!

Shop for gifts at garage sales.
As you shop at garage sales, keep in mind upcoming birthdays and Christmas. If a friend or family member is a collector pr desires a specific item, you can find the perfect gift for them at a bargain price. Why wait just before a birthday and search all over for a nice gift when you can leisurely look all year long and pay less than retail?

You can bargain and make offers at garage sales.
Unlike retail stores, prices are flexible at garage sales. You don’t always have to pay the sticker price. At garage sales, making an offer is just like using a coupon at a retail store. Sellers will often take off ten to fifty percent of a price, depending how much they want to sell it. All you have to do is just ask. If an item is priced at two dollars, offer one dollar. Chances are the seller will accept, and you will have just saved fifty percent of the tagged price!

You can be your own boss for the day.
When you hold a garage sale, you make the decisions. It’s like opening your own retail store for just a day. You set the prices and your hours. Your creativity (and luck) gets put to the test. You do the work and reap all the rewards. It’s an enjoyable way to spend the day that can be quite a profitable experience.