These items are hot at Rockford end-of-summer garage sales

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) – Fall isn’t here yet officially, but several Rockford-area residents are having end-of-summer garage sales before the chilly weather hits.

“We like to purge before the holidays especially, because we always bring more in,” said Kristin Lewis.

Lewis has two sales per year, including one in early fall so her family can de-tether from things they no longer use.

“There’s furniture. There’s toys for kids. There’s clothes from newborn up to like 12 years old. There’s women’s clothing, shoes, purses,” Lewis said.

When Kristin’s sale opened Thursday, there were already customers waiting in front of her house, many of whom like to hit as many locations as they can.

“Hopefully more than 10,” Rockford resident Marisella Ortega said. “I am going to drive around until it’s time to pick my kids up from school.”

Atti Hall, of Rockford, likes to hunt end-of-summer sales for herself and the kids she works with at a local church program.

“You can find a lot of cheaper things, a lot of things that are better quality,” Hall said. “I think a lot of clothes aren’t made the way used to be. So, a lot of times at garage sales, you can find nicer quality for a lot cheaper. And it’s nice because you don’t have to pay taxes.”

With spooky season just around the corner, end-of-summer garage sales are often hotbeds for everything a family needs for trick-or-treating.

“Halloween costumes,” Lewis said. “Perfect timing.”

Lewis said other hot items during her latest Regents Park Road sale have been DVDs and antiques. She says what she doesn’t sell, she will either donate to charity or save until she does it all over again in spring.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.