Say No to Retail: Lawn Care
Spring has sprung, and we all know what that means... It's time to dig in the garage, pull out all of those yard tools and get back out in the yard. If you're not lucky enough to have a whole arsenal of implements to work with, shopping estate sales is a budget-friendly way to get the tools you need to get your yard looking like something out of a magazine!
It's time to get cutting!
"They don't make 'em like that anymore'' is something we've all heard our parents or grandparents say at some point, and I have listened to it more times than I can count. My grandfather owned a small engine repair shop when I was growing up, and as I watched him tinker with carburetors, replace pull ropes, and clean filters on old lawnmowers, he would always make sure I knew that buying new isn't always the best option. As I am writing this article, there is a sale on EstateSales.NET that features several antique push and riding lawnmowers, and according to our in-house expert, Matt, there is a Cub Lo Boy that is to die for! If your new mower doesn't purr like a kitten when you get it home, have no fear. Most of the time, a few simple, inexpensive fixes will get it running like new. I would suggest contacting a small engine shop in your area, and they will steer you in the right direction.
Can you dig it?
Growing up, my family always had a huge garden, and there was something truly special about enjoying the foods you've grown yourself. Getting the garden ready was like a national holiday for us. From plotting out exactly where the garden was going to staying out of my dad's way when he was tilling the yard, we loved every step of the process. As a kid, waiting for the fruits (or vegetables) of our labor was the hardest part. My dad's tiller of choice was an archaic Troy Bilt that he got from...you guessed it...a farm auction. Saying this tiller was a dinosaur is an understatement, but it worked like a charm. One thing that seems to be accurate, especially around this time of year, is that there is no shortage of lawn and garden equipment available at sales on our site. Adding things like "Lawn Equipment" or "Tillers" to your Treasure Tracker is a great way to know when they pop up on EstateSales.NET.
Take the hands-on approach!
It's not just gas-powered machines that can save you a ton of money at estate sales. If you prefer to do things the old-fashioned way and aren't afraid to get your hands dirty, consider shopping at an estate sale to find rakes, shovels, trimmers, edgers, and seed spreaders. I was able to snag a few hard-to-find lawn tools at a local estate sale, so taking the time to look through the garage and sheds can pay off.
Restoration isn't just for gas pumps.
It's no secret that folks will restore just about anything from antique gas pumps to Hoosier cabinets, and old lawn equipment is no exception. It's one thing to buy an old piece of equipment and make a few minor repairs to get it running again, but taking the time to restore a part of grass-cutting history ultimately can be something truly rewarding. After falling down a YouTube rabbit hole, I came across several channels specializing in finding cheap mowers and other equipment at auctions and bringing them back to their former glory. If that's your thing, shopping estate sales and auctions for that perfect mower or trimmer is the way to go.
From doing a few searches on EstateSales.NET, lawnmowers, hand tools, and tillers seem to be a few of the more readily available items in estate sales and auctions, so do yourself a favor and go check out a few local sales before you shell out big bucks at a retail store.