Bargain Shopping for Christmas or New Year's Home Decor Gifts at Estate and Garage Sales

As Christmas looms and New Years nears, buyers are turning to alternate means to find that perfect Christmas gift or items for renovating or redecorating their home during the new year to come. Garage sales used to occur mostly in the summer, at least here in the Midwest, but now they are happening year round. Foreclosures, last minute home sales and other factors have led to both garage sales and estate sales being offered weekly. Potential buyers of items offered don't even have to browse newspaper or online ads but can see signs posted along the street, noting that a sale is happening - right then, right there.

Could your dream Christmas gift be waiting in someone else's house? Is the sofa of your dreams lurking just around the corner, not in a retail store, but in a neighbor's home. It is entirely possible. Last year, we bought a brand new washing machine and dryer for our college aged son, for about a fourth of the price it would have cost new. If this idea appeals to you and you hate fighting last minute crowds at the mall, consider these tips:

Pros and Cons of Last Minute Shopping for Christmas and New Year's Finds at Estate, Foreclosure and Garage Sales

The most obvious pitfall? You most likely won't be able to return items that you don't like. Some sellers might be kind enough to accept returns, especially if items are small, but don't look for the same courtesy if you buy a heavy sofa or bedroom suite. You'll want to make sure that the great bargain doesn't look terrible in your home. You can avoid problems, however, if you keep a tape measure in your car, along with a small notebook with the dimensions of your rooms as well as sofas, tables and other major items you are looking to replace. That way, you could luck out - as we did - and find the ideal washer, dryer and even living room furniture.

In fact, much of our home is filled with quality, name brand furniture. Nearly all of it was purchased at garage or estate sales, for a hefty savings. We have no problem with gently loved furniture which has a proven track record of being cleaned and looking good, year after year.

Of course, every estate and garage sale may be boosting someone's bottom line but not that of a retail or store manager. So you'll have to face some ethical decisions. Would you like to help the struggling neighbor who needs every cent to move and start a new life? Or do you want to help the economy by buying items in retail stores? We don't take a hard line and compromise. Some items we buy in stores and other we buy at bargain prices, freeing up more dollars to spend as we wish.

Another possible problem is that selections can be very limited at garage and estate sales. If you're hunting for a neutral or solid covered sofa, this won't be an issue. But if you find a print covered piece, even at a substantial discount, you'll face some major decisions. Are you willing to buy it and perhaps recover it with another fabric? Is the price low enough to warrant that? It may well be worth the price or you may decide that living with a print footstool is no big deal in a room full of solid covered pieces.

What to Have on Hand for Christmas and New Year's Garage Sale and Estate Shopping

It is well worth taking the time to collect some items to have on hand and simplify your estate and garage sale shopping experiences. Keep a small notebook with paint chips from each room or have several photos, each taken at different times of day, that shows a full range of colors in each room. A tape measure is a necessity, as are the dimensions of major pieces of furniture. Don't neglect accent tables or large standing lamps. Any major piece of furniture should be noted, including bookcases.

Have a "wish list" in the notebook. These are the items you really want and need, in order of priority. Try to find those items first, whether it is a kitchen sink (yes, they can be found, brand new, at sales) or new living room curtains. If you are prepared, the savings can be huge. Instead of spending thousands for living room furniture and accessories, we got the entire room furnished, including sofa, side chairs, tables and more.....all for under $500. That leaves us with plenty of money left over for holiday shopping - or perhaps to replace an aging furnace- and that is a win/win situation all around!