The Complete Guide to Yard Sales — How to Find, Plan, and Shop Like a Pro
Everything you need to know about finding yard sales near you, planning your route, negotiating deals, and tracking mileage for tax deductions.
Yard sales, garage sales, estate sales — whatever you call them, they're one of the best ways to find incredible deals on everything from furniture to vintage collectibles. Whether you're a weekend bargain hunter or a full-time reseller, this guide covers everything you need to know.
How to Find Yard Sales Near You
Gone are the days of driving around looking for handmade signs. Here's where to find garage sales and yard sales in your area:
- Search on Garage Sale HQ — Enter your zip code, set your radius, and browse yard sales on a map or list view. Filter by date to see what's happening this weekend.
- Install the Browser Extension — Our free Chrome extension imports listings from Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, GSALR, Nextdoor, EstateSales.net, and 5 more sites directly into your account.
- Craigslist — Check the "garage & moving sales" section
- Facebook Marketplace — Filter by "Garage Sale" category
- GSALR — One of the oldest yard sale listing sites
- Nextdoor — Great for neighborhood sales
Pro tip: Don't just check one site. The best yard sale shoppers aggregate listings from everywhere. Our browser extension does this automatically — browse any supported site and click "Save to YSC" to add it to your list.
What to Bring to a Yard Sale
Before you head out, make sure you have the essentials:
- Cash in small bills — Most sellers don't have change. Bring plenty of $1s and $5s. A money belt keeps your cash safe and accessible.
- Reusable bags — Sellers rarely have bags. Pack a few reusable shopping bags.
- Tape measure — For furniture and larger items. A compact tape measure fits right in your pocket.
- Phone charger — You'll be using your phone for navigation, price checking, and scanning. A portable phone charger is essential.
- Wagon or cart — If you buy heavy items, a collapsible wagon is a lifesaver.
Check our full Yard Sale Supplies page for more recommended gear.
Planning Your Yard Sale Route
The difference between a good yard sale day and a great one is planning your route:
- Save sales to My Stops — As you browse yard sales near you, tap the green pin icon to save them
- Build a Route — Click "Yard Sale Route" and select your saved stops
- Set your start location — Enter your home address or use GPS to pin your location
- Optimize — Hit "Shortest Distance" or "Fastest Route" to reorder your stops efficiently
- Start navigating — Get turn-by-turn directions to each garage sale
Tips for Shopping at Yard Sales
- Arrive early — The best deals at any garage sale go fast. If the ad says 8 AM, be there at 7:45.
- Negotiate politely — "Would you take $X?" is always acceptable. Bundle items for better deals.
- Check everything — Open boxes, test electronics, look for damage
- Know your prices — If you're reselling, check sold prices on eBay before buying. The Amazon Seller app is great for scanning barcodes.
- Wear comfortable shoes — You'll be walking on grass, gravel, and driveways all day. Good walking shoes make a huge difference.
Tracking Mileage for Tax Deductions
If you resell items from yard sales and estate sales, your driving mileage is tax-deductible at $0.725/mile (2026 IRS rate):
- Track automatically with Pro — Mileage is calculated between each stop you visit
- Log gas and food expenses — Tap "Log Gas" or "Log Food" during your route
- Export for tax time — Download CSV reports or upload directly to My Reseller Genie
Just 28 miles of tracked garage sale trips covers the cost of a Pro subscription in tax deductions. Start your free 7-day trial.
Hosting Your Own Yard Sale?
If you're on the selling side, post your yard sale on Garage Sale HQ for free. Then use our browser extension to cross-post to Craigslist, Facebook, GSALR, and more.
Supplies you'll need:
- Yard sale signs with stakes — bright colors get noticed
- Price stickers — way faster than writing prices by hand
- Folding tables — display items at eye level
- Cash box — keep your money organized and secure
See our complete yard sale supplies checklist for everything you need.
Get Started
Ready to find your next great yard sale? Search for garage sales near you, post your own sale, or build your first route. Happy hunting!