Yard Saling

Why would anyone surrender a precious Saturday to go “yard saling”? As one addict put it, “But they’re soooo good here”. Only in the Hamptons is yard saling a verb and a legitimate sport to boot. Why? The Hamptons are the perfect confluence of extreme wealth and transient living. Constant renovating, flipping, and renting, plus the proximity to a city full of designers, decorators and every other sort of taste master, create killer yard sales. Case in point: Belgian loafers for $15. Knoll chairs $50 a pair. Plus crystal, Persian rugs, original art, etc…

As with any endurance sport, yard salers need to prep. Pick up the local papers. For high end items, phrases like ‘collectables’ and ‘wicker’ are good. ‘Children’s stuff’ can be a red flag, and ‘multi–family’ is often a synonym for bunch-of-junk. ‘Estate’ doesn’t necessarily mean valuable heirlooms, but it can mean that sellers are more eager to sell.

Get a map and mark locations. CVS and Rite Aid sell maps for a dollar. Gas stations offer laminated maps for $7. Bring a tape measure, big car and cash.

Going solo is more expedient, but having a partner in crime is more fun. When you discover Jimmy Choo’s for $10, you need someone to share the joy or at least bear witness.

How to yard sale depends where you fall in the spectrum between wanting great stuff and wanting rock bottom prices. It’s often a trade off. Here’s the very rough rule of thumb:

Start south of the highway if you’re after the authentic antiques, designer clothes and brand new kitchen equipment. Specifically, Georgica Pond, Sagaponack, Southampton Village. (Note: Don’t expect seasoned yard salers to point newcomers in the right direction. As one guru noted, “surfers don’t share their surf spots”.

You’re better off North of the highway, if cheap and practical is what you’re looking for (Specifically, the Springs, Shinnecock Hills, Noyac Rd).

For great picks, the earlier the better. The crack of dawn Saturday morning is optimal. Friday afternoon is even better. Honoring the “no early birds” request is debatable. You could scoop up coveted Adirondack chairs. Or get a severe reprimand. Either way, be polite.

If it’s the best deal you’re after, the conventional wisdom of going early works the opposite way. Wait until the end. As the day winds down, so do the sellers as they’re considering your offer vs. a trip to the dump. Start looking for “Free” signs.

Because yard sales are inherently hit or miss, focus less on hitting the jackpot and more on breezing around pretty country roads with good music, coffee, and the sweet anticipation of discovery.

Personally, I like not only to look for stuff, but for the story it tells. I found a giant disco ball that looked like it was straight out of Studio 54 for $8. When I offered the seller 6$, he retorted, “Honey, if that disco ball could talk, it would be worth eight thousand”.