It’s that time of the year again, the time where neon posterboard signs pop up and you just have to take a detour; a time where spring cleaning yields unique finds, like that Wedgewood box your grandmother used to have on her coffee table, or a like-new designer blazer that you were eyeing at the boutique that cost a Benjamin Franklin or even, gasp, an Andrew McKinley bill, has somehow ended up in a pile of Bill Cosby sweaters at the latest garage sale.

A garage sale—also known as a yard sale, rummage sale, tag sale, attic sale, moving sale or junk sale—is an informal event that usually is scheduled for a weekend during set hours. Staples of garage sales include old clothing, books, toys, household knickknacks, lawn and garden tools, sports equipment and board games. Larger items like furniture and occasionally home appliances are also sold.

Pique your interest yet? We’re going to show you the ropes on how to navigate garage sale season in style.

Get Informed
Browse your local newspapers for the latest garage sales, usually advertised a few days before the weekend. Or, check out websites like patch.com, craigslist or BergenTagsales.com that are updated daily for the latest news on sales.

Get Directed
After writing all the addresses down, research how to get there via Mapquest. Recently, the site has had a lot of upgrades, including live traffic, 360 street views and even a tipsheet on the best deals on gas (score!). Map out your route town by town to save money on gas. Watch out for traffic on major thoroughfares such as Kinderkamack Road, Broadway and Pascack Road, especially at commuter times.

Get the Time
“No early birds” usually means that the garage sale hosts want you there at the beginning or end of the sale—not lurking in the perimeters an hour beforehand. Tag sales offer tickets for those to wait, but garage sales are more of an informal, drop-in occasion. Update your watch battery (Radio Shack sells ‘em) if you don’t know the time!

Get Change
Most garage sale finds will cost a few bucks or if you're really lucky, a handful of change. Stop by your local bank, on foot or in the drive-thru, to break up those $20 bills. There are branches of PNC (in Westwood and Washington Township), Valley National, Chase and Pascack Bank along the way in the Westwood/Washington Township area, to name a few.

Get Hydrated
Before you go on the hunt, pick up a bottle of water at your neighborhood CVS or Rite Aid—don’t forget sunscreen and a snack, too, if you’ll be out for a few hours! Grab the latest coffee drink at Dunkin Donuts in the township or Starbucks in Westwood if you need a caffeinated pick-me-up after an hour or two out there.

Get Tunes
A soundtrack makes garage sale cruising even more fun. Stop by local staples such as Music Merchant on Westwood Avenue for the latest releases or stock up your iPod beforehand with new tunes. Stick with classics such as The Beatles, Bob Marley or The Beach Boys or check out cutting edge new artists online.

Get Bargains
Knowing what's new in your local stores can help identify if you're even getting a deal or what you can negotiate for price. For example, big discount retailers such as Kmart or Harmon in Westwood have sales all the time, so make sure you're actually getting a bargain and not just buying a used item at a new price!

Get Safety
That nifty bottle opener, candle or slow cooker might have been a recent recipient of a Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recall. Subscribe to their newsletter for the latest updates on recalled products in the U.S. They also just unveiled a new consumer review website where people can report on hazardous experiences with products that are available for the public to view and also are sent to major companies for informational purposes.

Get Inside
Big garage sale plans got rained out? Check out the area’s burgeoning thrift and consignment community reviewed here.

Happy shopping!