One family's cast offs are another's treasure

Stampedes occur every weekend in every part of the country - stampedes for grandad's goods at garage sales, where bargain-hunters seek out treasures to sell on internet auction sites.
The internet has enabled all citizens to tap into the global market for accumulated household flotsam.
Grandad's old Stanley wood plane could be worth $1000 to United States collectors, his old petrol can $80.
Accountancy student Jeremy Healey - who supplements his income by visiting garage sales and selling his purchases either through Trade Me or a traditional auction house - says, "I go to most of them. I buy all sorts of stuff, from retro to double beds.
But he says he would never hold a garage sale himself.
"People think it would be fun but I think most of them find it can be very stressful.
"If they stick to the time they advertised there could be 50 people waiting at the door, which can be pretty scary if it's a little old lady by herself.
"Whole van-loads of people go round the different garage sales, flooding them, and there have been some accused of stealing.
"They always have an excuse though, saying something like, 'I thought she paid for it'."
He says people holding a garage sale have the option of advertising their address or just naming the road and putting out a sign.
"I think just advertising the road and putting a sign out when you are ready is probably the way to go, that way you don't get people knocking at your door the night before."
Auction business owner Colin Johnston says he receives many garage sale purchases at his weekly auctions, brought in by traders looking for profit.
He says more money could be made, with less hassle, by people taking their unwanted goods
straight to an auction house, which could help with cartage and
present the goods for maximum profit.
"We get leftovers from a lot of garage sales and the seller makes more money through us with the rejects than at the garage sale.
"The other week a beautiful ping-pong table was brought to us.
"Nobody would pay them $100 at the garage sale but it sold here for $160, so even after our commission they were well ahead."
TIPS
* If you are considering a garage saleExpect early visitors if you give your address rather than the just the name of the road.
* Price all items or have a table of items that are the same price to save time over haggling.
* Collect money near the exit point of the sale to prevent theft.
* Check newspaper deadlines to ensure your notice is in the paper.
* Save advertising costs by checking when neighbours are having their garage sale and put out your signs out at the same time.
* Have your sale on a Saturday, the day with the most number of garage sale shoppers.
* Ask at the back door of supermarkets for their banana boxes to present items well.
* Don't let strangers inside your house to use your toilet or things may disappear.
* Consider sending everything to auction and enjoy breakfast in bed instead.