I love garage sales. I love estate sales. I love rummaging through other people’s junk, hoping to find something to take home and love forever… Or at least until I sell it at my own garage sale.

Wichita is a garage sale aficionado’s paradise, with sales starting on Thursday morning and continuing through Saturday afternoon. True treasure hunters pore over the garage sale listings in the Wichita Eagle and on Craigslist and map out their plan of attack. I prefer the less structured approach of driving through my favorite Wichita neighborhoods and hoping for the best, usually with a latte in hand and my boyfriend in the passenger’s seat. Bringing along a garage sale-ing buddy is beneficial for multiple reasons; you have someone to laugh with when browsing through what can best be described as tragic home decor, an extra set of muscles when buying something heavy, and someone to convince you that you really don’t need that 8-track player no matter how nostalgic it is.

I realize the idea of shopping in a complete stranger’s driveway may not seem super enticing, but I promise it’s worth it. Some of my recent garage sale bounty includes a huge white ceramic platter for $2, two mid-century modern chairs for $5, a stack of like-new, recently released books for fifty cents apiece, a Cusinart ice cream maker for $3 and a floral wreath with the Target tag still on it for $5.

Should you be so inclined to give garage sales a try, here are a few tips straight from the pros (or, um, me):

• Go early for the best selection, but go late for the best bargains. Thursday mornings are prime time for those who want to snag the best items, but Saturday afternoons usually net the best deals. Hot, tired and bored homeowners are ready to close up shop and are willing to negotiate (or start giving things away).
• Bring cash. And make sure you have lots of ones on hand for small purchases – books, DVDs, housewares and clothes.
• Don’t be afraid to haggle. I know, I know… It seems silly to try and wheel and deal when an item is only a few bucks to begin with. That said, people tend to think their junk is worth more than it is. If you think something is overpriced, make an offer that seems reasonable. More often than not, your offer will be accepted. And remember – you are shopping in someone’s garage, not Nieman Marcus. Haggling is totally acceptable.
• Try before you buy. If you’re eying something electronic, plug it in and make sure it works. Anything mechanical (like a lawn mower) should absolutely be tried first before you hand over the cash.
• Know your neighborhoods. If a garage sale is in an older, more established neighborhood, you’re likely to find a bounty of “vintage” items (read: old stuff). Newer items can usually be found in newer neighborhoods full of young families. Eclectic neighborhoods like College Hill and Riverside have a nice mix of both.
• Don’t judge a book by its cover. If you like the lines on a piece of furniture, but hate the color, you can always turn it into a DIY project with a little bit of paint or fabric. A dirty vase or dish can easily be washed until it sparkles like new.

Are you a garage sale guru? Share your tips in the comments!

Photo courtesy of Steph Barnard

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