The days are getting longer. The sun is thawing us back to life. And with that comes the renewal of adventure, the urge to start the day off early with a coffee in hand, setting out to find the ultimate antique store bargain. (Is there anything better than chasing that thrill of stumbling across the perfect, gently used piece to add to your niche collection—at a fraction of the retail price?)
Sometimes digging for antique treasures can feel more like a hunt. But tracking them down is half the fun! When it comes to searching for antiques, or simply spending a weekend at garage sales, having a plan in place can simplify the process. This list will help you prep for a day of thrifting and give you some clever ideas on how to haul your goods home. Keep this checklist in mind next time you head out to search for secondhand items at an estate sale or vintage store near you.
Know what you need.
Before you start out, having an idea of exactly what you’re after can help simplify the process. But keep your mind open—you never know when you'll discover a 19th-century painting on sale for $10!
If you're going to a flea market, antiquing or garage sale shopping all day, wear or bring the following items with you:
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Printout or digital map of yard, estate and garage sales near you
- Water
- Snacks
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Tape measure
- Cash
- Large tote bag
- Hand sanitizer
- Lotion
- Chapstick
- Duct tape (you never know!)
- Phone charger
Do some online research.
If you’re not sure of the going rate for a certain piece that you have in mind, do some research online before you head out.
At antique stores, be prepared to pay more for used items, especially furniture. You can also hit up local garage sales to buy cheaper furniture, but don't get your hopes up in terms of quality.
Ask questions about an antique piece’s history.
How old is the piece? How did the seller come to have it in their possession? Have any repairs or alterations been made to it? These are all important questions to ask before going through with a bigger purchase at a vintage store or even an auction.
Many times, you can speak with hosts of estate sales to get information, such as receipts or overall provenance, about certain items.
Check the return policy.
While it is not uncommon for individual sellers and secondhand stores to have a no-return, no-refund policy, many of them do. If you are unsure of the functionality of your potential purchase, a return policy would prove extremely helpful.
As for yard and estate sales, don't expect to be able to return any pieces; they're almost always as-is buys.
Set your vehicle up for success.
Even if all you're looking for is antique jewelry, always prep your vehicle to be ready to take home whatever you may find. You really never know what treasures are out there.
A large SUV is perfectly capable of serving as your antiquing vehicle, but nothing beats a pickup truck. This is when a small truck like the Honda Ridgeline comes in handy. Its 33.9-cubic-foot bed can carry over 1,500 pounds of payload and is equipped with a convenient and lockable in-bed trunk that stores 7.3 cubic feet of additional small items—like those vintage necklaces and rings you found. If you're a serious thrifter, Ridgeline offers 5,000 pounds of towing capacity, allowing you to hitch up a trailer and haul around everything from New England armoires to vintage cars. (Ridgeline also happens to be one of the best trucks for drive-in movies due to its in-bed audio system.)
In any case, there are a few items to have on-hand when you shop for antiques with a truck. Always keep extra tie-down tables, a drop cloth, a bed liner and a cargo net. These will come in handy more often than you'd expect.
Need a Honda Ridgeline accessory near Carthage? Visit our Honda dealership in Joplin to order an authentic auto part and have it installed.
Figure out the best antique stores, garage sales or vintage shops to visit
Flea markets, vintage shops, garage sales, swap meets, salvage yards, and estate sales are some of the best places to buy antiques near you. If you want to try and narrow down a reputable antique dealer or retailer with whom you can do regular business, check out what people are saying about them in online reviews.
Here are some good secondhand shops, swap meets, vintage stores and flea markets in the Joplin area to search for antiques, furniture, home décor and more:
- Joplin Flea Market
- Rangeline Antique Mall
- Kay’s Antiques
- Country Pickins Antiques in Webb City, MO
- Junkerville in Webb City, MO
- Finicky Fox in Carthage, MO
- Carthage Route 66 Antique Mall & Flea Market in Carthage, MO
You can also check garagesalefinder.com for local yard, estate, garage and tag sales near you.
Interested in buying old automotive parts? The Sedalia My Car Swap Meet, which is held every summer in June, is a great place to find used car parts and components for everything from automobiles to motorcycles to race cars and hot rods! You can also try the Ozarks Antique Auto Club's Swap Meet in August. (While we strongly urge everyone to purchase authentic OEM auto parts to avoid counterfeits and DIY auto repair problems whenever possible, sometimes older components for specialty vehicles are the best options.
Whether you’re an old timer or new to the antiquing/thrifting game, the process can prove a little uncertain at times, but once you get the hang of buying antiques and secondhand items, it can be a fun experience.
About Roper Honda
Our car dealership in Joplin serves shoppers throughout the region, from Rogers, AR to Pittsburg, KS. We have excellent pricing on new Honda vehicles and deals on used cars for sale in Joplin, as well as superior auto service. Visit us at 902 N Rangeline Rd or call us at (417) 625-0800 to schedule an appointment or test drive.