It takes a bit of practice to learn how to shop for furniture at garage sales. Furniture shopping at garage sales is a little bit different than, say, shopping for small ornaments or knick knacks.
Establish a Need
If you are shopping for furniture at garage sales, you should first establish a need. You don't really want to bring furniture into your home when you don't have a need for it. It will sit there collecting dust and cobwebs, or simply be in the way. Collecting clutter just because one day you might find a use for it is not very wise. If you know yourself to be impetuous, bring along a trusted other to keep you in check.
Give Yourself Enough Time
Give yourself enough time to browse the garage sale. This is not an activity that lends itself well to hurry. You will need time to look carefully, measure, negotiate and then maybe move on to another garage sale if you don't find what you need. Keep in mind that you will find better furniture in better neighborhoods.
Arrive Early or Go Late
There are obvious advantages to both. The best stuff usually gets picked out early on in the game. Plan to arrive early so that you can look around.
Arriving at the end of the day can pay off, too. The seller is usually anxious to get rid of what remains and may be more open to negotiating. You can even walk away with furniture for free. I got a pair of perfectly good shelves that way.
Inspect Carefully
This goes without saying, but I will say it nevertheless. Inspect carefully. Very often people end up buying furniture without really looking. I've been guilty myself.Check the arms and legs on chairs. Open and close drawers and doors to see if they shut properly. Check to see if tables are sturdy enough. It is important for the pieces to be structurally sound, you can take care of the cosmetics.
While you are at it, also check for insects and termite infestations.
If you are buying upholstery make sure there are no tears, smells or stains. Forego a lumpy sofa, and if you are buying a sleeper make sure that the mechanism operates properly.
Bring a Measuring Tape
Before you leave to go shopping at garage sales, measure the space in your home to see how big of a piece of furniture you can bring. It is important to measure the doorways or any steps so that when you bring your furniture finds home they can easily go inside. Don't forget to measure the piece of furniture as well for its height, width and depth.Bring Cash
Carry enough cash to cover your purchases. Hardly anyone will take personal checks or credit cards. Make sure you have enough change on you, otherwise you may end up paying more than you bargained for.Negotiate. Haggle. Bargain
There are several ways to do this. You can ask if the seller will settle for a lower price (politely) or you can quote a lower price and after negotiating settle for something in between. You can also offer to buy a group of furniture if the seller agrees to a lower price.
Have Transportation
Make sure you have a way of transporting your piece of furniture from the garage sale to your home. Sometimes the seller will transport it, but that may not be the case always. Sellers may also not want to hold on to your furniture indefinitely if you have no means of transporting it.It is also a good idea to bring someone along to help you lift your furniture to and from the truck.
