| First, prioritize the sales by time and potential for good | | | | expertise. When you get to a sale a few minutes early |
| items. An ad that includes antiques or collectibles in the | | | | and you see other, serious looking people there, |
| wording would have more potential than one that has | | | | standing around and waiting, there's a good chance |
| baby toys and clothes.Moving sales are sometimes | | | | they are vultures and you have stumbled upon a |
| the best sales since the seller is more motivated to get | | | | potentially great sale. Many sellers find vultures |
| rid of their items or they may be desperate to get rid | | | | annoying or opportunistic, so I don't recommend using |
| of some things that they can't take with them.Get | | | | this strategy. If you do decide to try being a vulture, |
| there early! The early bird gets the worm. Many | | | | make sure to respect the sellers wishes. If a garage |
| dealers and buyers get to the best sales very early, | | | | sale ad |
| sometimes an hour before the sale is supposed to | | | | says, no early birds, they mean it. Respect their |
| start. They do this not only to be the first ones in to | | | | wishes. Just being nice is underrated, you're more likely |
| buy, but to also potentially look at or even make a deal | | | | to get a great deal by being nice and friendly than |
| before the sale even starts. They are also hoping that, | | | | being underhanded or aggressive.Don't underestimate |
| by getting there early, the sale will be already set up | | | | what you can get when getting there later in the day. |
| and ready for buyers to look at, then they can say | | | | When the sale is about to close or even when the |
| oops, I got here early and then the seller will let them in | | | | seller is cleaning up and putting things away, you may |
| early. This is one way the serious dealers get the best | | | | just find something other people have missed and get |
| deals. They get there before everyone else. This is | | | | a great deal. Plus, late in the day, sellers may be even |
| also how dealers get great prices, since so often, the | | | | more willing to negotiate.Timing is important, don't forget |
| seller has no idea what something is worth. The dealer | | | | to schedule and prioritize the sales you plan to attend. |
| who gets there first can offer a tiny fraction of an | | | | They often start at different times, so you can hit one |
| item's worth, make it sound good and then traipse off | | | | that starts at 8, right when it starts. Then you can hit |
| with it without anyone else ever knowing it was | | | | another right afterwards that starts at 8:30.One of the |
| available. The seller probably even thinks they got a | | | | most important tips is to have cash with you. Most |
| good price.To many people who have had multiple | | | | sellers, unless they know you already, will absolutely |
| garage sales, the early bird dealers are known as | | | | not accept checks at a garage sale. Make sure to |
| "vultures". It's a good name for them too, since they | | | | have enough cash on you, so you can buy what you |
| are experts at not only taking advantage of the timing, | | | | want or make an offer right then and there. |
| but also their own expertise and the sellers lack of | | | | |