There’s a saying that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. What one person considers useless and wants to get rid of might be very valuable to another individual. That’s why we love garage sales!
Garage sales are an excellent way to declutter your house while also making a small amount of money from it. These sales are also the perfect opportunity for collectors to find lots of treasures at a lower price.
Nowadays, in the age of smartphones and Google, there are countless ways to find the best garage sales near you. In this article, we will look at some of the most popular tools that will help you find all the information you need for local sales.
If you want to know how to find garage sales, keep reading!
How to Find Garage Sales Near You?
Here are some of the best websites and apps that you can utilize to find garage sales near where you live:
1. Craigslist
Craigslist is one of the best places to look for used items in good condition and at good prices. Collectors also utilize this platform to buy and sell their vintage items. Therefore, it’s no surprise that you can also find a listing of garage sales on it.
The high popularity of the website means that people will be eager to put up information about their garage sale to draw in more people. Also, the website has constant updates, so you’ll never miss any yard sales.
2. Forums & Facebook
If you’re a member of forums about particular vintage items like antique sewing machines or vintage typewriters, you might want to check there. There might be a specific section for yard sales, where other collectors share information about upcoming sales near their area.
You can also try specific groups on Facebook or the Facebook Marketplace. It’s not uncommon for people to list their future sales on these platforms for their friends and other people to know.
3. GSALR
Gsalr.com is one of the most popular websites for finding garage sales. It’s very easy to operate and has an extensive pin system. Once you type in your area or zip code, a map will appear with pinpoints of all garage sales near this area.
You can even click on these pins to get additional information and photos before making the trip. The website also features a newsletter that gives you daily updates on sales near you if you subscribe. This is helpful both for potential buyers and sellers.
4. EstateSales
The website estatesales.net is a well-respected website that helps you find estate sales near you. All you have to do is search for them depending on your area and pinpoint their location. You can also subscribe to their newsletter to get notifications about upcoming sales that might interest you.
A unique feature this website offers is the ability to shop online. Similar to websites such as eBay or Craigslist, EstateSales has several online listings of items to shop for. This saves you the hassle of going to an estate sale and finding nothing. But, you miss out on arguably the most enjoyable part of these sales; the actual scavenging for treasures.
5. Yard Sale Search
Another great and user-friendly website that helps you find local yard sales. There are listings with all the information you need about each sale and a “Today’s Map”, which gives you a rundown of local sales on any given day.
If you register on the website for free, you can save the sales you’re interested in and keep track of them. That way, you won’t forget and miss out on any sales you want to go to.
6. Garage Sales Tracker
Although similar to other garage sales websites, Garage Sales Tracker has a unique feature that makes it stand out. This feature is the ability to search based on types of items. This feature can save you a lot of time, especially if you want something specific such as antique sewing machines.
Garage Sales Tracker also has an accompanying app to keep track of your favorite garage sales from your phone. The app utilizes Google maps, allowing you to find local antique stores or flea markets. With support for Android, iOS, and the browser version, you can use Garage Sales Tracker seamlessly from your phone, tablet, or computer.
There are also some other handy apps for your phone that allow you to look for great sales near you without paying any additional fees. Some of the best ones are:
7. Garage Sale Map
A thorough application that utilizes resources from numerous websites like Craigslist and gsalr.com to provide you with anything you need regarding garage sales. It’s available for Android and iOS and covers the entire United States.
8. Garage Sale Rover
Another one of the best apps that allows you to filter your search by item. Once you find the particular item or sale you want, the app uses your phone’s GPS to guide you directly to it. The only downside is that the app is only available to Android devices.
9. Yard Sale Treasure Map
This yard sale app only shows you garage sales listed on Craigslist, which should still be enough to find what you’re looking for. Yard Sale Treasure Map also has an advanced filtering system that includes distance and which day of the week you want to shop. It’s available for iOS and Android devices.
Which States Have the Most Garage Sales?
According to data from gsalr.com, the states with the most garage sales are in the Midwest section of the U.S. Specifically, states such as Oregon and Idaho rank among the top states for garage sales per capita, whereas states like Wyoming and West Virginia are in the bottom.
Despite that, not all western cities rank that highly in garage sales. An example is the city of San Francisco, which ranks among the lowest cities in the U.S. for yard sales and garage sales.
Final Thoughts
In general, garage sales can be both entertaining and valuable. They offer a great way to spend your Saturday morning by hunting around for tons of collectables. Of course, to fully enjoy them, you should do your research and use one or multiple of the tools we mentioned.
These tools will help you find a neighborhood garage sale and the specific items you need like furniture, accessories, or vintage items. This way, you can enjoy all the fun aspects of garage sales without wasting time on sales that don’t have the things you’re looking for.