Garage sales are still alive and kicking.  There are so many people out there that don't think that EBAY is the way to go.  Some people don't have the time to list or they just don't think that their "junk" is worth anything.   This is where you can make some money.  I started my EBAY career, and still enjoy, making money off of neighbor's garage sales.  Let me tell you how I do it.  If you follow my lead, you too will be able to make some extra cash every weekend!!

First off, I carry a laptop everywhere I go.  You never know when you will need to get online.  My garage sale searching begins on Wednesday.  this is perfect if you work from home or are a stay at home mother.  Most people think that garage sales are on the weekends.  I have found that there are more garage sales on Wednesday than there are on Sunday.  So if you can get out mid week, do it!  You will be able to find more deals if there are less people out looking.

I carry a laptop with a WIFI card.  How ever you do it, have access to EBAY while out on the Garage Sale route.  If you don't have Internet access with you, have someone at home that is ready for your calls.  This will help you so much.  The reason yo should have internet access available is to research your potential items before you buy them.  I use a wifi card and if I can't connect to the wireless router at the home that has the garage sale, one of their neighbors has an open network. 

Once you are online, check out the ended listings for the item you see at the garage sale.  You will find what you are looking for.  RARELY have I not found a completed listing for the item I see at a garage sale.  Now you know what this item will fetch on EBAY.  It is time to negotiate.

When you are negotiating be hard.  I usually go for half the price they are asking.  It is a garage sale.  These are normal people, not salesmen.  When I offer 1/2 what they are asking, I have the cash in my hand ready.  People like to see cash and it makes it harder to say no.  They see how serious you are and know that you are ready to buy.  It is easier to just take the money than it is to wait for a better offer.  I say this works about 75% of the time.  Remember NO price is firm.  Even if a price is marked FIRM, it isn't.  I bought a snowmobile at a garage sale and the price was firm at $300.  I bought it for $275.

If you buy items this way, you will never loose money.  You KNOW what the item will bring on EBAY before you even begin to negotiate a price in the driveway.  You are really negotiating how much money you will be making!

Here is what I look for in an item at a Garage sale. Anything old and in it's original packaging is worth looking up on EBAY.  Anything unusual is also good to look up.  If an item seems to be marked very cheap, it probably is.  Trust your gut.  You will get the hang of it!!

Now get out there and MAKE SOME MONEY!!!