The Most Valuable Tools & Home Improvement Items To Look Out For At Garage Sales

Garage sales are a great place to find tools and home improvement items. Whether you intend to use them around your own home, flip them for profit, or add an antique to your collection, there are many valuable discoveries to be made. The only caveat is knowing what brands to look for and how to recognize the difference between high- and low-quality items. Fortunately, you don't have to be a professional craftsperson to spot a great find; you just need to know what products are well-made and in demand.

Below are eight valuable tools and home improvement items that may be hidden at local garage sales. Most of these items are brand-specific, although other companies with similar products could also be a good investment. Even used and with obvious wear and tear, these items are worth more than cheap no-name tools at popular in-person and online retailers. Read on to find out what makes these brand-name items so worthwhile, how their secondhand cost compares to the original price point, and other branded products to look for.

Craftsman is a revered tool brand that's been around since the 1920s, and its most collectible power tool lineup was sold from 1946 to 1967. During this time, they were sold under the "Sears & Roebuck" company name, making them affordable and common tools at today's garage sales. These post-war tools were made so well that many of them still work today. Craftsman power tools and their pros are ranked at #2 for best brands, based on a 2024 Lifestory Corporation survey, but many people insist the vintage, American-made models are superior. Old tools weren't made to be replaced; they were built to be serviceable, which is a notable difference seen in some modern tools.

Many working models go for $50 or more on eBay despite their age. Just be careful not to purchase these items from people claiming they're "rare" or still under warranty. Many of their items were mass-produced, even back in the day, making them far from rare. Additionally, the lifetime warranty isn't always applicable. Some products are only covered if you have proof of purchase, meaning secondhand tools may not qualify.

Older table saws, like 1980s Craftsman products, were solid, and all inner workings were adjustable and fixable. Instead of replacing the entire table, the arbor, belt, fence, pulleys, tabletop, or motor just needed tuning up. It's well known that these tables were built to last a lifetime, which is why many craftspeople swear vintage tools have more value over modern builds.

Vintage Craftsman table saws range from $70 to $200 on eBay and other secondhand listing sites. These prices are slightly cheaper than buying a new Craftsman saw, which shows how desirable these decades-old products are. Keep in mind that the older listings may look banged up, but they are likely just cosmetic defects that don't affect the working power of the saw. If there are functional defects, it's up to the seller to be honest with you, which is always a risk when buying secondhand. On another note, older tables didn't have the same safety regulations as current standards. Experienced carpenters who formerly owned the tool may remove "unnecessary" items like guards, not thinking they need the same safety features as common laypeople.

If you come across any ratchet, screwdriver, wrench, or other similar toolset with the "Snap-On" name on the handle, don't pass it up. A brand new set retails at over $200, and it's not easy to acquire unless you know a local distributor or order directly from their website. Most people collect these tools used through eBay, where they're still listed at higher prices than typical toolsets. Finding them for cheap at a local garage or estate sale is like finding gold. 

Snap-On is a top-quality brand, and the products' workmanship is reflected in the prices. However, you should also know that these high prices are also partially inflated due to the included lifetime warranties. However, like some Craftsman products, this warranty does not extend beyond the original customer, rendering it useless if you purchase these items secondhand. Inspect the tools and make sure they're in decent working condition before you buy them since you can't expect the company to repair, replace, or refund you without original purchase proof.

A multitool is a must-have for any craftsperson or homeowner. These tools have everything you need for a quick-fix job and are great for emergency situations. Depending on the quality and how many tools it contains, a multitool can range from $10 to over $100. Leatherman-branded products typically go for $60 and up, and if you spot one at a local sale, be sure to snatch it. They're easy to overlook due to their simplified appearance, but these savvy essentials have up to 19 tools included in their design.

Like most tool companies, Leatherman's 25-year warranty only covers the original purchaser. Bearing this in mind, you should test it out before purchasing if you can. As long as most of the tool still extends and functions, and the seller offers below the original price, you're getting a great deal. Many people humble-brag online about finding vintage and modern Leatherman multitools for less than $10 at local sales. Since the average person doesn't realize how much these items are worth and what they can do, it's a lucky find for those who are aware of the brand's reputation.

At first glance, broken-down machinery isn't most people's first pick at a garage sale. If you come across a gas-powered engine and the rest of the device is in decent shape, it may be an incredibly good deal if you fix it up. Many gas-powered tools from garage sales require only a simple replacement to be up and working again, such as swapping out the carburetor or spark plugs. This logic applies to anything old with a popular vintage brand name, including gardening equipment, generators, lawnmowers, power washers, and more. Paying $10 for a "broken" device and around $100 for replacement parts is sometimes cheaper than purchasing a new tool.

Be on the lookout for vintage devices that were built prior to the 21st century. It's also advised to stick to recognizable brands. No-name, budget-friendly tools are usually just aesthetic copies of name-brand tools, and their low price is often possible because they lack the same materials and mechanics. Another potential downside to bear in mind is that buying "defective" gas-powered engines doesn't always have a happy ending. You always run the risk of purchasing an unfixable item.

When browsing for table saws, most brands sell for a few hundred dollars. Only a few products blow those prices out of the water, costing $1,500 or more. Sawstop table saws are among the most expensive for a good reason: they're built for both efficiency and safety. If you see one of these table saws at a garage sale, it doesn't matter how old or new the model is (all models will be 26 years or younger since it's a newer company). Even used, they go for thousands of dollars on eBay, and it's unlikely a local yard sale will charge such an exorbitant price.

The cheapest Sawstop table saw currently retails for around $899, so you don't have to worry about accidentally picking up a cheaper model — a cheap model doesn't exist. Tool Show ranked this brand as the best if prices are omitted as a discerning factor. Although Sawstop is objectively one of the best finds, you shouldn't pass up other high-rated table saw brands you come across at any garage sales. Grizzly, Milwaukee, Jet, and Shop Fox have a few pricey models to also watch for.

Most people wouldn't expect drill bits to be a thing of value at a garage sale. To be fair, standard drill bit sets cost around $5 to $20. Fortunately, Viking drill bits usually stand out with the black and gold oxide coatings that spiral down each bit. You can also identify them using Viking's online catalog. Viking's drill bit set usually goes for $100 or more, making them far more expensive than the average brand. Project Farm on YouTube tested many brands and found these to be the best overall — the only setback being the high price.

If you're lucky, you can find these bits for around $10 at a yard sale when the seller doesn't realize their worth. Even half off the original price is a steal for these grooved High Speed Steel (HSS) builds. There are no downsides to these drill bits, as they're expensive for a reason. The popular brand Milwaukee also makes high-end carbide-tipped tools that are worth buying if you come across them. Just make sure not to mistake them for Milwaukee's cheaper sets that are made of weaker alloy steel.

Tool bags are always a useful commodity, but a well-made leather bag is an even more valuable discovery. Occidental tool bag belts are recognized for being American-made with heavy-duty leather and nylon fabric and over 20 pockets and holders. These belts are usually between $340 to $400 brand new. Even dirty and worn out, they're visibly well-made and sought after in carpenter and handyperson communities. Even pre-owned listings on eBay are often several hundred dollars. Unless you get extremely lucky browsing online marketplaces, the only place to find these bags cheap would be at a garage or estate sale.

Keep in mind these tool belts are pricey for a reason.  They're professional-grade and bulky, making them impractical for casual use. Not all carpenters are fans of the numerous pockets or unwieldy design. Therefore, this bag might be better off being flipped and resold rather than put to personal use. Although this brand is debatably the most valuable, also keep an eye out for Weaver, OX, and Milwaukee high-end tool belts at garage sales.