I grew up a nomad of sorts. My family was transferred around the country every year or so, and I kept that tradition well into adulthood. My first year in NYC was spent in a gorgeous, spacious apartment across from the Brooklyn Museum, during which I lived out of a suitcase. Possessions were just…unnecessary. And cumbersome. Why bother?
Fast-forward to 2004: Married. New baby. And with it, a move upstate and the purchase of a house. A house! Years of spare living and all we had to sit on were a single Ikea desk chair and a giant stuffed bear. We took turns. Clearly it was time to start filling our house with…things. And since things cost money (of which we had very little), I was about to embark on an adventure of epically thrifty proportions.
We live in the suburbs, so yard sales are where the magic happens. We have a handful of thrift stores of the Salvation Army and Goodwill ilk, but they’re more useful for clothing and small household items. Estate sales are plentiful, but are primarily run by companies who know the value of what they sell. You’ll find more quality pieces overall, but you’ll pay for that luxury. By far the best luck comes from that random homeowner who just wants to clear out that rec room, at any price.
I’ve had friends who say they rarely have luck at yard sales, and want to know how I keep coming home with Danish Modern credenzas for a song.
This is what I’ve learned:
– Quality comes from quantity. Find out what day of the week typically has the most sales in your area, and block off the morning to hit as many as possible. Neighborhood sales are a holy grail of convenience. I try to hit between 10-20 sales a day and I may walk away with 3 things – but they’re things I love.
– Make a list. I know this sounds silly, but at the beginning of the season I make a list of things I’d ideally like to find and keep it with me. You’d be surprised how much you can check off that list if you stay focused on what you need, rather than just browsing casually.
– Come prepared. Clean out your damn car first. The day you don’t take your golf clubs out of the trunk is the day you’ll find that flawless Herman Miller chair you’ve always wanted. Also, it doesn’t hurt to bring screwdrivers (flat and Phillips) in case something needs to be disassembled to fit in your car. I also like to bring a measuring tape, and a blanket for wrapping delicate things. And snacks. Never forget the snacks.
– Consider the source. An ad placed in the local newspaper is typically the most expensive to place, followed by local circulars and then Craigslist, which is free. Craigslist-only and unadvertised sales (half-hearted signs placed last-minute on the main road) are often smaller and less promising. These are the sales of the lazy and/or cheap. If you’re paying $30 two weeks ahead to advertise your sale, you’ve put some thought into it. Organized people throw much better sales.
– Don’t be afraid to shop out of your neighborhood. After scouting for years, I’ve determined where I should shop for what. My town is great for kids’ clothes and toys. The older neighborhoods in the upscale town next door are full of vintage furniture in great condition, often from older couples who spent their entire lives in one house, just filling it with treasures. Don’t be fooled by glittery new McMansions – they have some of the worst sales I’ve ever seen. They just bought all their good stuff and they’re not letting it go any time soon, so don’t bother. It’s the well-maintained ranch owned by the elderly couple that holds the most loot – like a clown car exploding forth with bargains.
– Make friends and influence people. It costs nothing to be polite and strike up a friendly conversation with a homeowner. Chances are they’ll give you a better deal if you come in with a smile and a kind word. Plus, it’s just nice to be nice, you sullen misanthropes.
– Be your own Antiques Roadshow. Bookmark eBay and any other relevant price-checking sites on your phone so you can pretend to be checking your email while you verify the authenticity of that suspected Tiffany.
– Tip big at kids’ lemonade stands. Where else can you be a baller for like, $1.50? You will be their new god. Plus, lemonade. It’s a win-win.
– Let’s make a deal. Haggle away, but don’t be a dick. Don’t be that guy who offers a dollar for a $20 chair. Nobody likes that guy. Do, however, bring small bills. If you’re giving them a sob story about how you really can’t pay more than $2 for that vintage Journey poster, you don’t want to turn around and hand them a $20.
– You are not on Storage Wars. Above all, this is supposed to be fun. If you don’t find the Ark of the Covenant, that’s ok. At least you’ve had a pleasant day of silently judging others by their decades-old purchases. Go home, kick back, and have a beer in that Snoopy juice glass you once had as a kid. A day wading through the questionable histories of others is a day to look back on and smile.
Title photo courtesy of mikecough on Flickr. All others courtesy of the author.
