The warmer months are upon us. Grasses are greener, trees are billowing with newborn buds, and telephone poles are ripe with freshly stapled signage announcing the weekend's upcoming yard sale. Take a deep breath, ignore that fragrant smell of lavender and lilac, and focus on the sweet, sweet scent of savings. Here's where to start your yard-sale-season dominance.

Begin by [1] AGGREGATING LOCATION INFORMATION and [2] SAVING THE DATES. Often, neighbors will try to sync their sale with other sales in the area to boost business, so keep your eyes peeled for postings in you local coffee shop or around town. If you are planning to venture outside of your neighborhood, then [3] CHECK OUT LISTING SITES such as or Craigslist, which can offer a compiled list of sales in any radius.

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There's an app for this! So [4] DOWNLOAD APPS like Garage Sale Rover or Yard Sale Treasure Map that let you plan your attack by plotting out Saturday's agenda right from your smartphone. These apps also let you sort through sales by categories, such as baby clothes, furniture, and antiques, making it easy to find the stops that will have the items you want.

Once you know when and where you're going, [5] SET YOUR ALARM … FOR SAVINGS. Novice yard-salers may stroll by a sale late in the afternoon, but not you. The best items will go quickly, so don't miss your chance at scoring big. Save the snooze button for next weekend. It's also worth noting that some yard-sellers may be okay with early arrivals. For instance, you might show up at 8 am for a sale advertised as starting at 9 am. The unspoken rule is that you must politely ask the seller for permission to start shopping before the posted hour. If you violate this rule and anger the seller, you're pretty much guaranteed to lose your bargaining power.

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Many savvy sellers have credit card swipe devices such as Square, but don't count on it. Cash is king, so [6] BE SURE TO BRING PLENTY OF IT. You never know what you will find and how badly you will want it when you do, so be prepared. [7] SMALL BILLS WILL SERVE YOU WELL TOO, in case the seller doesn't have any change. It could be the difference between spending $18 versus $20 on a must-have item. These small savings can add up!

Having cash on hand will also be valuable when it comes time to haggle. Being able to close the deal with cash is a tried and true method of bartering, so [8] DON'T BE AFRAID TO NEGOTIATE. Most sellers price their items high knowing that they will be talked down, so never pay sticker price. Remember the magic phrase: "What's your best price on this?" Right away you are opening a dialogue for negotiation.

[9] THINK BEYOND YOUR IMMEDIATE NEEDS. You may find great gifts and seasonal decorations, so stock up while the price is right. Buying Christmas ornaments or lights in July might feel a bit strange at the time, but when November rolls around, you'll be glad you dropped the dough in the summertime. Kids' toys are big sale items; this could be your chance to score cool birthday gifts for the youngsters in your life at a great deal. (Just make sure you thoroughly wipe down the toys with sanitizer before gifting.)

[10] TOTE A BAG. You may forget to bring them with you as you rush into the grocery store, but just this once remember that they are in the trunk of your car! They will come in handy if you need to carry multiple items. It's good to carry newspapers for packing fragile items too. If you're a Bubble Wrap hoarder, congratulations! That stuff is perfect for yard-sale wrapping.

Did you start your Saturday intending to buy that 17th-century armoire or a giant rooster sculpture for your kitchen counter? Maybe not, but just in case some must-have heavy-duty item crosses your path, you will need a way to cart it home. Be prepared by [11] BRINGING THE RIGHT TOOLS‚ measuring tape, rope or bungee cords to secure larger items to the car, and screwdrivers for disassembling any large pieces.

If you're eyeballing big-ticket items such as speakers, laptops, and household tools, be sure to [12] GOOGLE THE NAMES AND MODELS ON YOUR SMARTPHONE to make sure what you're buying is worth the price . And don't be shy about asking the yard-sale host if you can [13] TRY IT BEFORE YOU BUY IT. Typically, all sales are final, so make sure you haven't purchased an electronic paperweight.

[14] BUNDLE YOUR PURCHASES AND OFFER ONE PRICE FOR THE LOT. Sellers want to get rid of stuff just as much as they want to make a buck, so they're probably more likely to give you a great deal on four items than just one.

[15] KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. Make a list or carry one in your head. This will reduce the chances of frivolous purchases (also known as wasting money).

[16] FLATTER THE SELLERS. Try, "You've got some great stuff here," or "Wow, what an amazing collection or antique linens!" This will make the sellers feel good about you, and make them more likely to bargain. If you feel odd about the flattery bit, [17] MAKE SMALL TALK. There is nothing more off-putting than a silent shopper. You are on this person's property, so you are a guest. Be a good one and you're more likely to get a good deal.

If you really want a big-ticket item, [18] PAY FULL PRICE FOR IT ON THE SPOT. Then, keep shopping, and offer less for any additional items you want to purchase. A bargain is almost guaranteed on those subsequent purchases because the sellers won't think you're cheap.

[19] SHOP WEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS. Oh, don't look at us like that. You know it's true. You may find gold there. Literally.

[20] GO BACK AFTER THE SALE. They won't sell every item. What they do not sell, they might throw out. After all, there is no better price than free.

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