How To Find Garage Sales in 2023

garage sale
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Garage sales are a popular way for people to buy items they need second-hand. After all, as the saying goes, one man’s trash can be another man’s treasure. Sometimes, you may even be able to find free stuff amongst all the great deals available at the sale.

Have you been considering going to a garage sale but have no idea how to go about finding one local to you? Did you have plans to go to a yard sale, but it unexpectedly got cancelled?

There are several methods you can employ to successfully find yard sales near you. Today, we will cover an extensive list of all the ways you can find a garage sale in your local area in 2022.

What is a Garage Sale?

A garage sale is a sale of second-hand household goods such as clothing, toys, and any other good quality articles that can be sold to others in the local area. They get their name from the fact that many are held in garages.

What is a Yard Sale?

Yard sales are exactly the same as a garage sale but tend to be bigger with more stuff available to buy. They take place in the front or back yard of the person selling the items, hence the name.

What is a Moving Sale?

Moving sales happen when the occupants of a house are leaving and need to downsize to fit everything into boxes for the move. They will often have a list of items that they wish to sell or give away for free and may hold an open house event where the items are put on display.

Often, moving sales are classed as garage or yard sales, as the principles and format can be exactly the same but the reason for the sale is different.

What is an Estate Sale?

Finally, estate sales occur after the owner of the items has passed away and there is either nobody to claim their possessions or many of the items left behind have no sentimental value or use to their surviving relatives.

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In this case, the sales tend to be advertised formally as it can be a legal matter to sell the possessions of the deceased, so if you wish to attend any estate sales, you will have to search in specific places for more details.

Each type of sale is a chance for you to grab a real bargain and find great deals, so it is definitely worth going. But how do you find yard sales? Below are some easy methods to locate your nearest garage sale.

Internet Research

The Internet is an excellent resource that provides us with entertainment, news, and information. It is a great starting point when you want to search for garage sales near your location.

Often, there will be ads posted online with directions and photos of some of the listings on offer to entice people into attending the sale. There are many different online platforms sellers can use to advertise an upcoming sale.

Social Media

Social media is a key component to advertising a sale online due to the large community that use the platforms. There are online sales that can happen virtually via social media, but people can also advertise their upcoming garage sale to local people.

It is a free method of advertisement with no listing fees that can reach hundreds to thousands of people quickly depending on how much interest is generated in the post and the location of the advert on the site.

The best way to find a local sale via social media is by going to a section of the site that focuses specifically on news and events in your local area. You can then either ask publicly if anyone knows of one happening that week, or search for any posts that advertise garage sales.

Facebook is especially good for this type of thing as it has the optimal format for advertising and promoting local events for people to find via the community pages, has the largest number of users, and features its own shopping department via Facebook Marketplace.

Garage Sale Websites

There are some websites dedicated to the advertisement of garage sales by location. These websites can be accessed by anyone, and you may even be able to sign up as a member of the site to get personalised alerts for events near you.

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Some of the top garage sale websites include:

Yard Sale Search

Craigslist

Facebook Marketplace

eBay

VarageSale

Finding Estate Sales Online

Finding an estate sale is a little different as there are legal repercussions if the items are listed without first having gone through the necessary procedures to ensure there are no living relatives who want to inherit the estate.

They are held as if it is an open house event, but with a certain amount of people allowed inside to bid. Once the event starts, the items will be auctioned off to the highest bidder one by one until everything is gone.

To sign up to this type of event, you can either look for a sign-up sheet that is taped to the front door of the deceased’s house or look online for adverts.

Mobile Apps

There are several mobile apps available nowadays that you can download that help you find an in person garage sale or allow you to visit a virtual sale via the Internet.

Some reputable mobile apps to use when finding a garage sale are:

  • Yard Sale Treasure Map– This app is a fun way to find a yard sale in your neighborhood as it allows you to create a garage sale route via an interactive treasure map and features an easy-to-read list format.

Yard Sale Treasure Map

  • CPlus for Craigslist– This app is a part of the popular site Craigslist and can be downloaded for free to help you find a nearby yard sale or to browse online listings.

CPlus for Craigslist

  • VarageSale– This app is also an extension of the website and is a virtual garage sale that you can browse and buy items from home.

VarageSale

  • Garage Sale Rover– This free app allows you to see the location of garage sales near you, making it the ideal app for those who travel frequently or who go to several events a month.

Garage Sale Rover

Local Newspapers and Radio Stations

Local newspapers and local radio stations often feature ads or listings that relate to garage sales happening in the area. It isn’t the most popular method to research when carrying out a yard sale search, but it can provide you with information you may not otherwise have had.

Many older people who are holding a yard sale may choose this method of advertisement as it is old-fashioned but easier for them than trying to figure out the Internet or an app.

Posters

Posters are another old-fashioned way of advertising a yard sale, but they can be a good way to attract local attention to a small yard sale if it’s a casual event. Look out for any posters stuck up around your street or surrounding area and read them carefully to get all the details.

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Word of Mouth

Finally, word of mouth is often a good way to find out about any local garage sales going on in your area. Ask your friends, neighbors, and colleagues if they know of anyone hosting a yard sale.

FAQs

Are there any hidden fees?

It depends. If it is an ordinary garage, moving or yard sale, no. Estates sometimes have fees, but only if it is like an auction. You will have to check before buying anything. The only other potential costs are moving fees, should you buy a large or heavy item.

Which method is the most trustworthy?

Going to events in person that you know are guaranteed to happen is the best way to ensure that the event or purchase is legitimate, but most of the time even online listings tend to be trustworthy. Make sure you don’t hand over any money until you are certain it isn’t a scam.

Can you attend yard sales that aren’t nearby if you are willing to travel?

Usually yes, if you are willing to travel to them, but it’s always worth double-checking to ensure it isn’t invite-only and that the event is still going ahead before setting off.

Do you have to bring anything in particular to a garage, yard, or estate sale?

No. Just bring money, curiosity, and an open mind.

Conclusion

In conclusion, to find garage sales in 2022 you can:

  • Download an app centered on locating events nearby
  • Use the Internet to research dates and times
  • Use social media to look for adverts
  • Attend a virtual shopping experience
  • Read your local newspaper and listen to the local radio station
  • Look for posters around the neighborhood
  • Ask friends and family

If you have any comments or questions about anything you have read today, please leave them below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

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