Serious Collectors Scour the Flea Markets
By Teresa Ambord
Do you rise up at the crack of dawn on Saturday mornings to make the rounds of garage sales, thrift stores, and flea markets? Everyone’s heard of bargain hunters finding what turned out to be a treasure on sale for pennies on the dollar. Some people actively avoid second-hand sales because they’ve never found anything at these events but junk. But if you’ve got a sharp eye, you could be one of those shrewd shoppers who has taken home real treasures.
Before you set out to find treasures on Saturday morning, plan ahead and remember these points if you want to bring home the best bargains:
- Wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing and maybe a sun hat
- Take along directions and the phone number if available, and
- A tape measure, and the measurements of spaces you seek to fill. For example, if you have an alcove that’s begging for a desk, know how much desk will fit in. It’s not a bargain if it doesn’t meet your need (unless of course it’s true antique that you can sell).
- Sunscreen and lip balm
- Bottled water
- Pen and notepaper
- Cell phone
- Cash, and maybe your checkbook and ID
- Bags and wrapping material like newspaper
- If you’re in a truck, take a tarp and rope
- Small tools, in case you need to take an item apart to get it home
- If you are going specifically to find large items, like desks or chests, arrange to take a vehicle large enough to haul it home. Otherwise, you risk losing it.
- Samples of the colors you want to match. Example, a swatch or a snip of material from an unseen place on a sofa if you’re looking for a coordinating chair. Just make sure that, if you take a snip of inside material, it is the still the same color as the outside material. Some people take photos of the item or room they want to match or furnish. If you do that, check to make sure the color is true.
If you’re looking for antiques and need some tips, check out Kovels' books... a series of guidebooks for a variety of collectibles that should put you on solid ground.
Besides going prepared and comfortable, the number one rule is, don’t be afraid to negotiate. Think of it this way: if you were the seller, you’d build a bit of wiggle room into the price, right? They probably do too.
Here are some books that may help you make some money by finding flea market treasures:
- Garage Sale & Flea Market Annual: Cashing in on Today's Lucrative Collectibles Market
- Flea Market America: The Complete Guide to Flea Enterprise
- The Official Guide to Flea Market Prices
- Good Things from Tag Sales and Flea Markets
- The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Garage and Yard Sales
- Garage Sale Decorator's Bible: How to Find Treasures, Fix Them & Furnish Your Home
If you’re a flea market lover who travels, here’s a book you may like. U.S. Flea Market Directory to find the best flea markets in all 50 states.
