Abode Decorating Having Fun with Garage Sales

It is that time of year. Fall is here with pleasant weekends. This is a wonderful time to take advantage of the many Garage, Yard, and Estate Sales that surround us.

This is a chance to be creative with your décor. Make a list of items you would like. Measure the spaces you have that you need the items to fit into. Take a tape measure with you so you can measure items; furniture and clothes.

This is your opportunity to think out of the box. Repurpose items, such as purchasing old boots or canisters to make into planters. Buy a stained glass window to hang from the top frame of a picture window. Happy Meal toys can be used as Christmas tree ornaments. Remember to be ingenious when shopping sales. You want to look at every items “potential”, not just what it was meant to be used for originally. Chests and wood chairs can be recycled by repainting in fun colors and designs.

Before you head out you should do some homework to prepare your journey. Look through local newspapers and websites (Craigslist and Newsday) to see where yard sales are located. Watch for signs posted on the street, in grocery stores, and community centers and mark down the dates. Mapquest route according to where the sales are. A GPS works great if you are in an unfamiliar area.  Once you are out and about you can find some great sales that are not listed in the newspapers just by driving around the neighborhoods you are in.

You will have the “best selection” if you are one of the first to arrive at a sale. The “best bargains” are usually at the end of the day when the sellers are willing to negotiate more to sell as much as they can. Most sales start between 8:00am and 9:00am. It is rude and offensive to be an early bird. Do not show up more than 15 minutes before the scheduled start time.

Some tips to remember when shopping:

• Be sure to inspect all items before buying.

• If a battery operated item is missing the batteries, do not pay too much. You can bring an assortment of batteries for testing. Open the battery compartment to make sure there are no old corroded batteries in it. Ask the seller to plug in electric items to make sure they all work.

• Be sure to look under all tags, including any price stickers to make sure there are no tears or chips and cracks covered up.

• Run your fingers over the edges of any ceramic or glassware to catch any chips or nicks that your eyes may miss.

• Make sure the item is complete when you buy it or ask for a huge discount if you are willing to buy without all the parts.

• Do not be afraid to ask many questions about items you are considering buying; age, does it work, problems, etc.

• Open up the cases of CDs, DVDs, and video tapes to make sure the right item is in the case. Check out CDs and DVDs for major scratches.

• If you are unsure about buying an item, hold onto it anyway in order to make your final decision. Someone else could pick it up and buy it, causing you disappointment and “Why Didn’t I…” thoughts.

• If a seller will not negotiate on a price, leave your name and phone number along with the price you are willing to pay. Ask the owner to give you a call if the item does not sell and he or she would reconsider negotiating with you at the end of the sale.

• Bring small bills and change for making the purchase of lower cost items easier for yourself and the seller.

• Have tote bags with you to carry your purchases.

• Prevent germs and keep clean by having hand sanitizer handy.

In your quest for new treasures there are items that should be avoided:

• Be wary of purchasing upholstery, mattresses, and rugs; these items could be filled with mold and bedbugs. If you absolutely love a chair or sofa be prepared to bring it right to your garage or an upholsterer to have it completely overhauled with new cushions and upholstery. Do not bring it into your living space.

• Unless very inexpensive, electronics such as laptops, and plasma TVs could have been dropped and broken.

• Do not buy any helmets. These are designed to be worn by one person and could have been in accident. The same goes for car seats. If these have been in an accident then there safety has been compromised.

• Tires too, unless you are going to repurpose them for a swing or planter, could have been in an accident and would be dangerous to put on your vehicle.

Have fun exploring and enjoying your day out. Open your mind to meeting interesting people and discovering new treasures. Use your imagination and never be afraid to dance!

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