1. Make a PlanFirst off, the best way to start out your plan is to simply plan your route.  With the gas prices at what they are today, driving back and forth from garage sale to garage sale will only eat up your profits that you are going to make!  The best thing to look in the paper for is when a town has a town wide rummage sale or a subdivision has its sale.  These are excellent because you can usually walk to 10-15 different sales.

2.  Bring Smaller Bills and Change Make sure that you bring plenty of one dollar bills!  Also, do not forget about change.  This will help you in being able to barter with the seller.  I know what you are thinking… “Why would I barter with the seller over a few dollars when I know I am going to make much more than that on eBay?”  I advise bartering because it will not set off any flags to the seller that you are going to sell their items on eBay.  Also, if you find only one item that is unique and you are bartering with the seller, they sometimes will bring out additional items like the one that you are buying to get you to just buy it all.  This has worked out great for me many times!  Sometimes the sellers will not place the items that we are looking for in the garage sale because they think that no one will pay anything for them.

3.  Always be earlyMost people will advertise that their garage sale will start at 8:00 A.M and NO EARLY SALES!  There is absolutely nothing wrong with showing up 30 minutes before the sale is suppose to start.  Most of the time, the seller is ready to start selling earlier and will open the garage door for you when you pull up.  If they are sitting outside, go ahead and walk up and greet them.  They will let you know if they are strict on not selling until a certain time.  Most of the time they will greet you back and strike up a conversation with you.  This will provide a great opportunity for you to simply ask for some general items you are looking for.

4.  Do not RUSH!Pay attention to everything at the garage sale!  Sometimes sellers will leave valuable items (To you and I) still packed in boxes that are underneath the tables.  Do not be afraid to bend down and dig around in the boxes.  Also, when you are inside a garage and see something you want that is on the walls or doesn’t appear to be included in the sale, ask the seller if they would like to sell it to you.  The worse thing that will happen is that you will be told No.  Just remember, you can’t buy it if you don’t ask.

5.  Check the Free BoxesMost garage sales will have a box simply marked “FREE” usually at the end of the driveway.  Don’t be embarrassed to rummage through it.  They WANT you to take the stuff of their hands.  I have found some nice items before in boxes marked free.

6.  Don't be afraid to buy something you aren't sure aboutIf you aren’t sure about an item that catches your attention, BUY the item!  Always follow your gut at a garage sale.  Besides, the most you are going to spend on something is usually around $1.00 to $5.00 so the risk vs. reward is definitely in your favor.  And if you are wrong on the item, put it in your “FREE” box at your next garage sale.