Yard Sale Glossary
From “antique” to “yard sale,” here are 33+ terms every buyer and seller should know. Bookmark this page for quick reference.
A
- Antique
- An item over 100 years old, often valued for its craftsmanship, rarity, or historical significance. Antiques can command premium prices at estate sales and flea markets.
- As-Is
- Sold in its current condition with no guarantees or returns. Buyers should inspect as-is items carefully before purchasing.
B
- Barn Sale
- A sale held in a barn, often featuring rustic, farm, and country-style items. Barn sales are popular in rural areas and can be treasure troves for pickers.
- Bundle
- Multiple items sold together at a discount. Bundling is a popular strategy for sellers to move more inventory and for buyers to score better deals.
- Create a bundle
C
- Church Bazaar
- A sale organized by a church community, often featuring donated items, baked goods, and crafts. Proceeds typically benefit the church or a charitable cause.
- Clean Out
- A large-scale sale aimed at emptying a home, garage, or storage unit. Clean outs often have heavily discounted prices, especially toward the end of the sale.
- Collectible
- An item sought after by collectors due to its rarity, age, or cultural significance. Examples include vintage toys, sports cards, vinyl records, and limited-edition items.
- Consignment
- Items sold on behalf of the owner for a commission. The consignor keeps a percentage of the sale price, and the seller handles the actual transaction.
- Curb Alert
- Free items left at the curb for anyone to pick up. Curb alerts are commonly posted on social media or marketplace apps to rehome items quickly.
D
- Downsizing Sale
- A sale held when someone is moving to a smaller home and needs to reduce their possessions. Similar to a moving sale but specifically driven by space constraints.
E
- Early Bird
- A buyer who arrives before the posted start time of a sale. Many sellers discourage early birds, while some offer early-bird pricing as an incentive.
- Estate Sale
- A sale of a person's belongings, often after death, downsizing, or relocation. Estate sales are typically managed by professionals and can include high-value antiques, furniture, and collectibles.
- Find estate sales
F
- Firm
- A price that is non-negotiable. When a seller marks an item as "firm," they will not accept offers below the listed price.
- Flea Market
- An outdoor or indoor market with multiple vendors selling used, vintage, handmade, and discount goods. Flea markets are held on a recurring schedule, often weekly or monthly.
- Flip
- Buy low, sell high — the practice of purchasing items at yard sales, thrift stores, or online for a low price and reselling them for profit.
- Start selling
G
- Garage Sale
- A sale of used household items held in or near a residential garage. Functionally identical to a yard sale, the name varies by region.
H
- Haggle
- To negotiate a price with the seller. Haggling is expected and encouraged at most yard sales — polite offers are always welcome.
L
- Lot
- A group of items sold together as a single unit, often at a discount. Common at estate sales and auctions, lots are a great way to acquire multiple related items.
M
- MCM
- Mid-Century Modern — a design style from the mid-20th century (roughly 1940s-1960s) characterized by clean lines, organic forms, and minimal ornamentation. MCM furniture and decor are highly sought after.
- Moving Sale
- A sale held when a homeowner is relocating. Moving sales often feature deeply discounted prices because the seller is motivated to clear everything before the move.
- Multi-Family Sale
- A yard sale with items from multiple households, typically held at one location. Multi-family sales draw larger crowds because of the wider variety of items.
- Find sales near you
N
- NWT / NWOT
- New With Tags / New Without Tags. NWT items still have their original retail tags attached. NWOT items are unused but the tags have been removed.
O
- OBO
- Or Best Offer — indicates the seller will consider lower prices. Listing an item as OBO invites buyers to make reasonable offers.
P
- Picker
- A person who searches yard sales, thrift stores, and estate sales for valuable items to resell. Pickers have a keen eye for underpriced collectibles, antiques, and brand-name goods.
R
- Rain Date
- An alternative date scheduled in case the original yard sale date is rained out. Sellers should always communicate rain dates in their sale listing.
- Rehome
- To find a new owner for an item you no longer need, often for free or a very low price. Rehoming emphasizes giving items a second life rather than sending them to a landfill.
- Rummage Sale
- A community-organized sale, often hosted by a church, school, or nonprofit for charity. Rummage sales feature donated items at bargain prices.
S
- Sticker Price
- The price marked on an item at a yard sale. At most sales, sticker prices are starting points for negotiation, not final prices.
T
- Tag Sale
- Another name for a yard sale, especially common in New England and the northeastern United States. Items are individually tagged with prices.
- Thrifting
- The practice of shopping at thrift stores, yard sales, flea markets, and secondhand shops for deals, unique finds, and sustainable fashion.
- Browse items
U
- Upcycle
- To transform old, worn, or discarded items into something new, functional, and often more valuable. Upcycling is a creative and sustainable alternative to throwing things away.
V
- Vintage
- Items that are 20 to 100 years old with nostalgic, aesthetic, or collectible value. Vintage clothing, decor, and electronics are popular finds at yard sales.
Y
- Yard Sale
- A sale of used household items held in the seller's yard, driveway, or front porch. Yard sales are a cornerstone of local commerce and community connection.
- Host a yard sale
Put your knowledge to use
Now that you know the lingo, dive in and start buying, selling, or scanning items with YRDSL.