This story is brought to you by Live in Everett Member, Lamoureux Real Estate.

Originally published on August 1, 2017. Updated August 4, 2022.

It was a mid mod glass-topped side table in good condition. It was on the side of the road at 18th and Colby. It had a wobbly leg.

My wife carried it home, tightened the bum leg, Windexed off the glass, and lined the top of the table with a jute coffee sack. It looked pretty fresh. We had it in our home for years.

The classy old homes of our city can be time capsules filled with 20th-century treasures.

Houses are sold, renters move, homes become estate sales— and these unique antiques appear in the public domain. Up for grabs: free or cheap. You haul.

In this spirit of Everett treasure-picking, I celebrate the ninth annual Mother of All Garage Sales. MOAGS is sort of like a big party in the Northwest Neighborhood. Area lawns are filled with credenzas, armoires, kids toys, clothing, paintings. All the goods. Bargain prices.

MOAGS has grown wildly into a capital “E” Event, an annual opportunity for bargain hunters to score outrageous deals and put some cash into their community.

Here’s what to know if you go.

1. Pack water

The MOAGS is held on the first Saturday of August. Of course, our Washington maritime climate can throw us a rain squall at any time, but expect crispy brown grass and heat.

It pays to pack in your own water. Or, if you are especially Eddie Bauer, you can always Camelbak it.

2. Park smart

What are you buying? Can you transport it? Things worth thinking about.

Larger items like furniture, of course, will need to be hauled by a truck. Do you have straps? Tarps?

Residential parking areas can fill up quickly on the day of the event. You may not want to carry your treasure trove seven blocks to your hatchback. Parking strategically and perhaps frequently re-parking can save you a headache or even a backache.

This Yard Sale Treasure Map app can help you come up with the ultimate MOAGS strategy.

3. Bring cash

Cash is the common currency of garage sales. Get bills beforehand, preferably in large and small denominations (for making exact change). And don’t rely on nearby cash machines because they’ve been known to run out. This isn’t a hipster boutique where everyone has Square readers on their cell phones.

Cash also makes it easier to budget if you want to avoid impulse buying ceramic deer figurines in bulk.

4. Bargain

The MOAGS has a swap meet-like mentality. The shrewd bargain hunter can talk her way into some killer deals—if the seller is willing to negotiate. As I see it there are two ways to play the game of yard-bargain hunting.

You could show up early. The inventory of secondhand goods will be mostly intact and unpicked-over. This is to your advantage. You don’t want some rival opportunist swiping your Pendleton before you get there. Show up early and pick hard.

OR you could play it the opposite way. Show up toward the end of the event and see what bargain-basement deals you can score. In the past I’ve seen several yards full of items with big signs that say “make an offer” or “everything must go.” I've seen shoppers hauling away goods by the literal truckload.

5. Take a break

Lots of homes will have drinks for you for a couple of bucks (or sometimes free!) if the heat gets to you. Need to powder your nose? Port-a-Potties will be located throughout the neighborhood and available at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park (on 13th & Colby). Need something more upscale? Real bathrooms are open at Legion Park.

Also at Drew Nielsen Park you’ll find printed maps at the information station, sponsor information booths and food trucks.

MOAGS
Saturday, August 6, 2022
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Northwest Neighborhood

To find it, drive/bike/walk/bus headed north on Colby from downtown and you’ll see the signs.

Or check out/RSVP/share the FB event by clicking the big button below.

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Richard Porter is a writer for Live in Everett.