If you are at a garage sale, how do you tell what is of value?

Question

How would you know what to look for? How do you determine from something that just looks nice to something that has some real worth?

Answer 1

When you go to Garage Sales, you are generally looking for something that is in good shape and you find useful. Garage Sales are a great way to recycle if these items were intended to go to waste -it makes alot of sense instead of buying new. As far as the value, you can always price check before you purchase something but more than likely you getting a bargain as far as most of the garage sales Ive been to. Estate Sales can be pricey perhaps because of sentimental reason and sometimes overhead such as Estate Sales Management.

Answer 2

Its take a lot of time and experience, but what I like to do is just be an expert on the stuff I like. Such as, if I see a piece of furniture that I can redo easily and that would have a use in my house, then that's a bargain. But, other times, there might be something there that doesn't look like much, either its old or dirty, and by cleaning it off a little bit with my finger, I can get a clue as to how its made and who made it. It just depends on how much time you are ready to put forth into it.
Somebody here said to get a book and start reading it. Well, think about what you'd like to collect and then become an expert on that.
You will spend money you don't need to and you will get taken a few times, but hey, mistakes are gonna' happen. That's why you collect what you like. If you paid $50 and then you find out its worth $20, well, you don't have to kick yourself over it. Just live and learn, and be thankful you didn't get taken for more than that.

Answer 3

U have to do ur homework, and learn the difference in things old and new or reproduction. Start small, choose a type of thing that interestes u. The main thing about garage sales is u never know what u will find. Good Luck

Answer 4

look for things you have never seen before. especially figurines, glass and china. always check the bottom and all over for any 'made in china' or 'made in the phillipines' marks (trash). good china and glass will have a company logo(usually only one letter) stamped into the glass or china. i personally have a lot of antique furniture from garage sales. look in the drawers and see if theyre screwd or nailed together (more trash), or if their put together with tongue and groove joints (good). look to see if the glue is yellowed (good). look at the handles and any applique wood decoration. most of the stuff i get thats worth anything just needs to be touched up with some stain and wax. if you ever see old lunchboxes get em for me...lol. i have a huge collection, people dont think their worth anything (metal WITH thermos pre 1980). theyre a goldmine. I got one for $.50 that after a slight clean up is worth $450.00. old games are also a goldmine, as are little golden books (pre 1980 for both).

Answer 5

You need to do your homework-- there are books that address this issue directly. You can also buy a Kovel's which gives prices for literally thousands of antiques and collectibles.
Study it and then put it in your car to use as a reference when you are out garage saling.

Also go to museum and antique stores and work to develop and eye for quality. Antiques Roadshow is terrific for learning how to identify the good stuff from the junk.

Answer 6

This all depends on what you are looking for. If you are looking for antiques, I would contact a dealer in advance, see if he can give you pointers.

Otherwise, you just have to go by what you like.

Answer 7

If you're buying it for yourself then pay what ever it is worth to you...if you're buying it for resale then you need to research.