Seattle garage sale and yard sale “season” is generally May-September. However, at any time of year, people can hold moving sales, estate sales, and consignment sales. So check our calendar list of upcoming sales below.
If treasure hunting is a favorite activity, you can check our calendar list or use the garage sale map below any time you want to shop for antiques or used goods of any kind.
But first, we’ve got a few tips for shopping at garage sales. And, if you’re thinking about hosting a sale, we’ve got some advice for that below as well.
If you’ve got the urge to spelunk and there’s no sale happening near you, check our list of Surplus stores, auctions, salvage, and recycled materials and Best used clothing stores in Seattle and Puget Sound.
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Garage sale shoppers – DepositPhotos.com
Tips for shopping at garage sales
Plan your route. Use the gslar.com map to plan a route for the day. Visit sales that are most likely to have what you are looking for.
Dress casually and low key. Don’t be too dressed up, wear expensive jewelry or a watch, or generally look like you are wealthy and can afford to pay whatever the seller is asking. However, don’t look like you just stepped away from housework or gardening, either.
Be hands free. Use a fanny pack, waist belt for runners, jacket with large pockets, or a crossbody bag…any method to hold money and valuables and leave both hands free for perusing, collecting, and paying.
Bring small bills and coins. Having correct change makes your day go faster.
Have a plan for large items. If you know you are looking for a large piece of furniture or other item, such as a spare refrigerator, have a plan in place for hauling the item. Be prepared to pay for the item and return the same day if needed to haul the item away. I once snagged an armoire because a woman left to find out if her hubby could haul the item, while I came along and paid for the item, and arranged for pickup later.
Early or late?–depends on your goals. If you are looking for specific things, go early to find the best stuff. If you are just browsing for a general list of items (“clothing”, “household goods”) or for items to re-sell (at your garage sale or online via craigslist or eBay), go late in the day to snag good deals on leftovers. (Read this article about How to sell stuff online via Craigslist and eBay.)
Learn to negotiate effectively. Be genuinely interested in the seller’s goods; avoid being over anxious as well as over critical. Strike up a conversation by asking questions: ask about condition or history, inquire whether they can come down on the price of a large item, or ask if you can get a discount on several small items. Being kind and genuine will get you much further than being catty, insulting, or ungracious.
Be open to unexpected finds. If you see something that doesn’t exactly fit your goals, stop and consider it carefully. But, don’t get too carried away. Remember your goals for the day, but consider how you might feel in the future, whether you buy the item or leave it behind.
Take a break. If you plan a whole day of garage sale trekking, plan to take a short break every couple of hours. Bring snacks and water, or stop at a coffee shop. Review your progress so far, and re-prioritize as needed for the remainder of the day. Do you need to skip a stop, or review you goals? Take a moment to do so.
If you’re not having fun, stop for the day. Be aware if you are feeling inpatient or discouraged. If a taking a break doesn’t perk you up, it may not be your day.
At a garage sale, be genuinely interested in the seller’s goods; avoid being over anxious as well as over critical – DepositPhotos.com
Want to hold a garage sale?
Read these 19 tips for hosting a successful garage sale. Then add your garage sale using gsalr.com (see below).
To add your sale to the map, just click on the “Add a Sale” button on the upper right corner of the map. Then follow the instructions. You can add photos to show off your best offerings.
Listing your sale is fast, easy, and best of all, listing your garage sale on gsalr.com is FREE. What are you waiting for?
Calendar of Community Garage Sales
This list of upcoming garage sales includes consignment sales and community garage sales. Community sales are typically held May-October in cities and neighborhoods around the Seattle-Tacoma metro area. Consignment sales are usually held spring and fall.
If nothing is listed below, there are no upcoming sales in our calendar. Theoretically, this shouldn’t happen. But any time of year, you can also check the garage sale map (below, after the calendar list) or visit our Used Goods page for thrift stores, flea markets, antique malls, surplus stores, and online auctions.
Sunday, April 11, 2021
Saturday, April 17, 2021
Friday, September 24, 2021
Saturday, September 25, 2021
Map of Garage Sales from gsalr.com
Below, you’ll also find our map of Seattle garage and yard sales from gsalr.com (pronounced “gee-saler”). It has become the largest and most successful garage sale listing site on the internet.
Antique toy cars – DepositPhotos.com
But wait, there’s more!
- Best used clothing and consignment stores
- Flea markets, swap meets, and antique malls
- Best places to browse, buy, and trade used books
- Surplus stores, auctions, salvage, and recycled materials
- JBF consignment sales of children’s & maternity
- Get CASH for used books, music, movies, and games
- Find free and cheap things to do every day on the Greater Seattle on the Cheap calendar.
- And here’s a list of 101+ always free things to do for fun.
- Visit the Greater Seattle on the Cheap home page and choose from a menu of free and cheap activities in the Puget Sound region.
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Upcoming Used Goods & Recycling Events
If it’s not garage sale season, then check our list of other events for buying and recycling used goods.
Featured Events: The items listed first each day HIGHLIGHTED in GRAY are FEATURED EVENTS. Featured events are usually one-time or seasonal events that we or our advertisers don’t want you to overlook. (If you would like to feature your event, please see our the Greater Seattle on the Cheap advertising page for more information and rates).
