I Break For Yard Sales

Good Afternoon America co-host Lara Spencer has revealed her best secrets for turning trash into treasure in her book, I Break for Yard Sales. She also admits that her favorite flea market is the weekly and seasonal Elephant’s Trunk in New Milford, CT. For die-hards, the largest antique flea market on the east coast comes up every spring, summer and fall in Brimfield, MA for one week.

Lara’s “flea-mergency” kit: Bring a large tote bag to carry purchases and pack it with supplies for the day including a tape measure, bubble wrap or newspaper to wrap any breakables you buy, a sun hat, sun block and hand sanitizer. Toss in a notebook with lists of what you need so you don’t get overwhelmed by the selection, along with magazine photos of your dream home. “I use them as a road map. You might not be able to afford what the big designers are doing, but you can be inspired by them.”

How to know if the furniture is a good buy: “You can see the bones. You can tell that even underneath that stained fabric or, you know, the scratched finish that it’s got good bones.”

When to buy: “Ask yourself these questions, ‘Do I need it? Do I love it?’ If you do, then buy it. One of the biggest mistakes people make at yard sales and thrift shops and flea markets is hesitating. You snooze, you lose!”