Do you brake for yard sales?! If you love a good sale like we do, then listen up! The annual Highway 41 Yard Sale will take place June 23rd-24th. This legendary sale runs over 150 miles starting at the KY-Indiana state line and following HWY 41/41A all the way to the KY-Tennessee state line! You read that right… over 150 miles of shopping, food and sightseeing. Sound like fun?? Yeah, we thought so! Here are some shopping tips from a seasoned yard sale pro that will help you score the best bargains!
Cash is king! Many savvy sellers are now accepting credit cards, Venmo, etc. but most sellers do not! So be sure to bring plenty of cash! (Having several denominations in cash will help if vendors are low on change!) Paying in cash might also get you a better deal!
Don’t be a silent shopper! Chat up the sellers. Ask them about their merchandise, and if there is any history or stories behind it, especially when you are looking at antiques. Remember, if you are friendly, you’re more likely to get a good deal!
Negotiate and bargain! While many are not comfortable haggling on a price, phrases like “What’s your best price on this?” will open the conversation without being rude. Negotiating on price does not have to be an unpleasant process, as long as you do it respectfully! If a seller is asking $50 on an item, do not offer $5.
Watch the weather! Come prepared with appropriate gear. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. You will be walking and on your feet a lot! Be prepared to conquer all terrains, including grass, dirt, mud, gravel, and pavement. If it has rained and the grass is wet or muddy, closed-toed shoes will keep your toes dry. (Sometimes even the dew on the grass in the mornings will get your feet wet.) Wear sunscreen or a hat.
Bring sanitizer. Some locations may only have porta pots and no handwashing stations.
Take a bag! (Bonus points if you have a rolling tote!) It will make wagging your purchases much easier. (Pro tip: put some extra newspaper in your bag, in case you buy something that needs to be wrapped.) Putting your items in a bag or tote will let you continue shopping and keeps your hands free to pick up the next bargain! Store cash, keys, etc in a backpack or fanny pack, so it’s one less thing you have to carry.
Bring snacks and water! There will be some food vendors set up along the route, but you don’t want to get caught without a snack when you need it!
Start with an empty vehicle! Clean out your car or truck before you head out to make sure you have room to haul your finds!
The early bird gets the worm! The best deals are usually snagged up first, so be sure to set those alarm clocks and hit the sales early.
Map your route. Make sure you hit the best sales first! Sites with multiple vendors mean less time driving and looking for the next stop.
Don’t hesitate! If you see it and fall in love with it.. now is the time to buy it. Don’t wait around because it might be gone by the time you come back to close the deal.
Be prepared! Looking for something specific? Write down measurements on your space before you head out and bring a tape measure. That way you will know right then if the piece you found will fit before you buy it.
Use your phone! Make sure you are getting a good deal. If you are eyeing an item and are curious about the value, grab your phone and look it up! eBay is a great resource for finding the value of items, just be sure to filter the listing results to “Sold Items” so you see the actual price items are selling for vs what sellers are asking for it.
Bundle! If there are several things you are interested in, let the seller know. They may give you a better deal on multiple items vs if you only buy one thing. They came to sell and get rid of their merchandise and they like it when you buy a lot!
Keep an open mind! Shop for items outside of your immediate need. You never know what you may find. Although it’s June, you might find some seasonal décor or the perfect gift for someone!
Reuse & repurpose! Don’t overlook damaged items, sometimes a little TLC can go a long way. Get creative and think of ways items can be repurposed.