Local Garage Sales & Estate Auctions — Bid Online, Pick Up Nearby

Discover unique finds from garage sales and estate liquidations in your neighborhood. Bid online from anywhere, win at a fair market price, and pick up locally — no shipping, no haggling, no early-Saturday-morning scramble.

Secure bidding · Local pickup · Community-powered · No shipping needed

How BackyardAuction works

  1. Browse local auctions. Search garage sales and estate auctions by city or ZIP code. Each listing shows the pickup city, what's in the auction, current bids, and time remaining.
  2. Bid online with proxy bidding. Set the maximum you're willing to pay. The system bids the minimum needed to keep you in the lead, up to your ceiling. You don't have to watch the auction clock.
  3. Win and pick up locally. When the auction closes, your card is charged automatically. You receive the pickup address and seller's pickup hours, then arrange to grab your item — no shipping involved.

Why BackyardAuction?

  • Browse garage sales and estate auctions near you, with photos and pickup distance shown up front
  • Bid on multiple lots from a single auction, with anti-sniping extensions in the final 5 minutes
  • Payment processed securely through Stripe — sellers paid out within ~2 business days
  • Pickup addresses are only shared with winners, never publicly posted
  • Real neighbors, not anonymous resellers — sellers are clearing estates, garages, and storage units

Frequently asked questions

How does bidding work?

Enter the max you're willing to pay — we'll bid for you. Our proxy system places the lowest bid needed to keep you in the lead, up to your ceiling. You don't have to babysit it. If someone edges you out, you'll get an email so you can decide whether to go higher.

When does bidding close?

Each lot has its own countdown, shown on the item page. Bid in the final 5 minutes? The clock automatically extends by 5 more. Auctions close on merit here, not last-second luck.

How do I pick up my items?

Once you win, you'll get an email with the seller's pickup address and any special instructions. Everything on BackyardAuction is local pickup — no shipping.

When does my card get charged?

Automatically, when the auction closes — you don't have to come back to pay. A buyer's premium of 5% per item is added to your winning bid. You'll see the full breakdown in your winner email before you pick up.

How much does it cost to sell?

Two options — pick what fits your volume. The Casual tier is free to start: 10% on what sells, no subscription, no setup fee, no minimum, no commitment. Auction Pro is $249 per active month with zero per-sale fees and unlimited auctions — and the $249 only bills in months you actually run an auction. Above ~$2,500/month in sales, Pro saves you money. Plug your numbers into the calculator to see which fits.

How do I get paid?

Through Stripe, directly to your bank account — typically within 2 days of auction close. We never hold your money.

Do I have to ship anything?

Never. BackyardAuction is local pickup only. You set your pickup address; buyers come to you. No boxes, no labels, no carrier damage claims.

Is there a contract or exclusivity requirement?

No contract, no setup fee, and no contract-term lock-in. Items are locked to BackyardAuction only during the active auction window — otherwise selling the same item elsewhere mid-auction would invalidate live bids. Outside of that, you're free to cross-list anywhere. Cancel anytime, no penalties.

Is it safe to buy and sell here?

Payments are processed by Stripe — we never store your card details. Seller pickup addresses are kept private and only shared with auction winners. We're also rolling out a two-sided review system so every transaction builds a verifiable track record for both sides.