Car boot sales: spot bargains, skip mistakes

Before you go

Bring a charged phone, a tape measure for larger goods, a reusable bag and a small budget you are comfortable spending. Decide what kinds of items you can test, store, photograph and ship. Remember that entry fees, fuel and time are real costs.

Look for easy-to-identify items

Recognisable brands, model numbers and complete sets are usually easier to research. Consider small tools, working game accessories, board games with all the pieces, branded sports equipment and niche hobby items you understand. A rare-looking object is not automatically valuable.

Use a 60-second decision routine

1. Check for damage, missing parts and signs of a fake.
2. Photograph the item or type the model into HowMuchForThis.
3. Compare actual sold examples, not just ambitious listings.
4. Allow for platform fees, transport, packaging and uncertainty.
5. Set a maximum price before negotiating; walk away if the numbers do not work.

Know when to leave it

A heavy item may have a great listed value but be awkward to transport. Fragile items risk breakage in delivery. Unknown electronics may be locked or faulty. Items whose resale depends on specialist authentication should not be treated like routine flips.

After the sale

Test items where appropriate, clean them safely, take photos of the actual condition and list promptly. Track what you paid and what you really received. This tells you which types of finds are earning money and which are simply taking up space.

If you are in the US, the same method applies to garage and yard sales, although markets, fees and terminology differ.