Friday, April 29, 2016

Top Five Things to Look for at Yard Sales this Year

Yard sales, garage sales, estate sales.....  what do you call them?  Up north, around Chicago, we always call them garage sales because that's where most people pile their stuff for sale.  But down south, like Kentucky, everyone calls them yard sales, because that's where most people down there set out their stuff for everyone to pick through.   I also noticed that we have way more estate sales up north than what I see down south.  In fact, down south they tend to do auctions more than estate sales.  But no matter what you call them, or what part of the country you live in, they are great places to go poke through someone else's junk treasures.



Maybe you go with some specific items in mind, or, maybe you'll find something you never knew you were looking for.   Personally, I go with a combination of the two.  I usually peruse the items with an eye towards something specific that I need or want to re-do....  Like a breadbox that I can repaint and use, a desk to refinish, or my favorite - a trunk or chest to recreate!




Mostly I go because I'm on the look out for unusual items that I can list in my Etsy shop.   I like it when I can find something, list it, and it happens to be just the thing that someone across the country was looking for.  And I will admit, hearing that little Cha-ching on my phone when I sell something trips my triggers too.

This week I'm joining up with a bunch of great bloggers who also love the thrill of the hunt.  We're all listing the top five things we look for at the sales.  This should make for some interesting reading.  Plus, I'm really curious to see what sells good for other people.  Do you think some things sell better regionally?   I don't know.  At any rate, here's my top five items that I look for....

Vintage Hot and Cold Faucets.  We happened upon a whole box of these about 2 years ago and I'm sorry I didn't buy every single one.  We bought about 20 sets, but they are such good sellers for me that I'm still kicking myself for not buying the whole box.  Besides selling them in sets, I also attach them to painted boards and sell them as towel hangers so this gets a high five as a two-fer.  It's easily my best selling item.

Vintage Porcelain Hot & Cold Faucet Handles

Vintage Porcelain Hot & Cold Faucet Handles

Beachy Distressed Bathroom Towel Rack Hook

Beachy Distressed Bathroom Towel Rack Hook


Printers Trays.  I love printers trays and cherish the one that my good friend Moira gave to me.  I have it filled with all my beachy finds like sea shells, coral and mermaid's purses.  Don't ask me to sell it because I won't.  These are hard to find around Chicago and I snatch them up on the rare occasions when I see them because everyone from crafters to rock hounds, and marble collectors to shellers love them for organizing their treasures.....

Vintage Letter Press Hamilton Printers Tray

RESERVED FOR DELLA -Vintage Letter Press Thompson Printers Tray - Wood

Vintage Jugs and Thermos.  Here is one item that I wish I had the room to keep for myself.  I love these, especially the older ones and it tears me apart when I have to box one up and send it to it's new home....

King Seeley Thermos Picnic Camping Red Plaid Vintage Travel Trailer Decor


 I'm still sort of sobbing about selling these beauties.....

Woodland Thermos Jug Picnic Camping One Gallon- Vintage Travel Trailer Decor


Vintage PATIO PINK Therma A Jug Picnic Camping Jug Cooler with Spigot, Knapp Monarch, One Gallon - Vintage Travel Trailer Decor

Aluminum Cookie Press with attachments.  People love these.  I sell them as quickly as I list them...

Vintage Aluminum Cookie Press with 12 Disks and 3 Decorator Tips

Accordion wood folding racks.  Go figure.  I have no idea why, but this is another good seller.  They also sell quicker if painted white and distressed for some reason.....

Accordion Wood Folding Rack Hat Rack Coat Rack Towel Rack Vintage Repurposed

Accordion Wood Folding Rack Hat Rack Coat Rack Towel Rack Vintage Repurposed


So there you have it - the top 5 items that I will throw you to the ground for if you happen to pick them up before I do at a sale.  I know you're as anxious as I am to see what the top sellers are for everyone else, so go over and check out their posts.   I'll be taking notes, will you?



43 comments:

  1. Kim, I would LOVE to find a printer tray and I would have never thought of the H/C faucets! Happy hunting!

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    1. Printers trays are so hard to get but SUCH a thrill when I find them. :-) I hope you find one.

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  2. Great list! I had thermoses on my list too!

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    1. I think thermoses are a big favorite right now. 3 or 4 of us listed them. LOL.

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  3. Chucks and I once bought a stack of printer's trays from a hardware store which used them to print a newsletter for their synagogue. I have a reserved stock in the attic. Love the addition of thermos and picnic jugs - one of my favorites.Great list, Kim!

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    1. You might want to pull out some of those trays and sell them. They are highly sought after right now. Lucky you to find them.

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  4. Love your list Kim. We like a lot of the same stuff. Last year I found an old printer's drawer that was painted purple when I bought it. So it is going to get a makeover.

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    1. I've found some in some really bad colors too and I almost always repaint them. Let me know if you repaint yours, I've love to see what you do with it.

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  5. I wouldn't pass up any of those beauties either, Kim! And we all had some seller's remorse once in awhile!

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    1. Thanks Linda. It was a lesson learned for me. :-)

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  6. I am in the Rochester, NY area and I have some similar best sellers in my Etsy shop. I have everything that you show here in my shop but the best sellers consistently are the peg rack and the cookie press. Also vintage frames are a good seller for me.

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    1. I just started selling some vintage frames. I had no idea they were so popular.

      I am always on the look out for the cookie presses now too. :-)

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  7. Interesting! Will look at the other posts. Happy hunting!

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  8. That pink jug is killing me!!! Too cute! Great list of items. I would never think the cookie presses would be a good seller, mainly because I have two in my closet and I never use them :)

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    1. That pink jug was my absolute hardest thing I ever had to part with. I just loved it!

      I found out about the cookie presses being good sellers because I had one in my cabinet that I seriously haven't used for about 10 years so I just listed it and it sold immediately. :-) Happy dance!

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  9. Those thermoses are amazing! I love the faucet handles too. What a fun post!

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    1. I love everything - that's my biggest problem. LOL!

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  10. What a fabulous list! I'm so envious of the printer tray. I've been looking for one forever. I'm always looking for bakeware and have found a few vintage cookie press sets. They're so cool. I haven't been able to list them in my etsy shop because I can't part with them just yet. I don't use them, just like to look at them. lol. I'm adding vintage faucets to my list. I love the ones in your pics.

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    1. The printers trays really are hard to find around here. I hope you get one.'

      The cookie presses are so pretty. I didn't use mine for like 10 years and just listed it to get rid of it and it sold immediately. :-)

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  11. Well knock me over with a feather--who knew about cookie presses and accordion racks?!! Not me! I'm going to have to give those a try--thanks for the tip, Kim :)

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    1. I'm flattered that I knew something I could pass on to you. You are my expert "go-to" person.

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  12. Great finds! I love all the amazing treasures you posted! I'm off to a great garage sale tomorrow, can't wait.

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    1. jealous - rain here tomorrow. :-( Find something good. Thanks for coming by and leaving a comment!

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  13. We had some friends helping us with my Mom's estate sale and I mentioned that Moira had given you a printer's tray and how neat it was, the last day I worked with them, they gave me one!! Can't wait to starting putting some of my specials shells in it!! Yes, I am taking notes, thanks for this post!!

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    1. LOL - now that is some awesome friends. I can't wait to see it with your shells in it.

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  14. I learned some neat things from your list. Thanks for sharing. Those faucet handles totally rock! I think estate sale vs auction may be a city vs country thing and not a North/South thing. Here in Louisville, there are estate sales all the time.

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  15. Shows my age but some of that is familiar - I like you in the trunk

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    1. Yeah, I find it discouraging that I am now considered vintage. LOL!

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  16. Kim, I love old faucets too! I bought a slew of those a couple years ago with the same intention - wall hook thingies. I've sold them, slowly and steadily, as part of our hardware stock. I just passed up a Mirro cookie/pastry set this past week - should've bought it. Vintage kitchen kitsch did very well for us at one time...until all the other vendors who work in the mall (we don't) starting seeing ours sell and jumped on the bandwagon, so we've moved on. Love thermos too. Good list.

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    1. Thanks! I also noticed that about the vintage kitchen stuff.

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  17. Love what you do with the faucet knob/handled! And I forgot about the accordon style coat hangers

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    1. I used to see those accordion racks ALL the time until I started looking for them - now I don't see them as much. LOL!

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  18. Aw, that vintage thermos would look so cute beside the matching cooler I found last year!

    Love the distressed accordion rack!

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    1. Are you using your cooler? I found an awesome red cooler last year and I'm KEEPING it!!

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  19. I'm glad I already have a printer's tray...you're tiny but I would want to fight you over one! haha! I don't go to yard sales but I go to the thrift store with something of a list in my head. I love finding Christmas tablecloths...don't ask me why! But it gives me a thrill. Happy hunting! Hugs, Diane

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    1. I would NOT want to fight you! hahaha! I better be clear on that!

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    2. ROFL - oh Diane, you are SO funny. That cracked me up! I could never fight you - you're too sweet. xo

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  20. Great post!! Thanks so much for sharing your tips with us!!

    Hugs,
    Deb

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    1. Hi Debbie. I'm glad you liked the post. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!

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  21. Kim this was a great post. I have enjoyed everyone's tips for what to look for at garage sales.

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    1. I did too - this was a lot of fun and I actually learned a lot.

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