TL;DR
A buy list is your cheat sheet of items and brands worth grabbing, each with a target buy price from sold comps. It lets you source fast and confidently instead of freezing over every decision at a busy sale.
Sourcing is where new resellers either freeze up or overpay. The fix is a buy list: a short, living reference of the items and brands worth grabbing, each with a price you would pay. With it, you can walk a thrift store or garage sale and make quick, confident calls instead of second-guessing every item or looking everything up from scratch.
Decide what goes on the list
Your buy list should hold the items you already know sell in your area and categories. Before adding anything, confirm it with recent sold comps so every entry earns its place. Focus on things you will actually encounter while sourcing.
- Specific brands and models that reliably resell in your area.
- A target buy price for each, drawn from recent sold comps.
- Quick condition notes on what to check before buying.
- Rough resale price and how fast the item tends to sell.
Attach a target price to every item
The point of the list is fast decisions, and a decision needs a number. For each item, note the most you would pay based on its sold comps and your target margin. When you see it priced at or below that number, you buy without hesitation. No number means you are back to guessing.
Build it from your own flips
The best buy list grows from experience. Every time you flip something successfully, add it with its numbers. Every time you look up a brand and it checks out, note it. Over weeks, your list becomes a personalized map of exactly what to grab, tuned to your area and categories.
Keep it current
Prices and demand shift, so a buy list decays if you never update it. Every so often, re-check the sold comps for your top items and adjust the target prices. Drop items that stopped selling and add new winners you discover. A maintained list stays far more valuable than a stale one.
Common questions
What exactly is a buy list?
It is your cheat sheet of items and brands worth grabbing, each with a target buy price from sold comps. It lets you make fast, confident sourcing decisions. Think of it as a personalized map of what to buy.
How do I decide what to put on it?
Add items you know sell in your area, confirmed by recent sold comps. Focus on brands and models you will actually run into while sourcing. Every entry should earn its place with real numbers.
Why does each item need a target price?
A number turns hesitation into a fast decision. When you see the item at or below your target, you buy without freezing. Without a price, you are guessing every time.
Where should I keep my buy list?
On your phone, in a note or spreadsheet, so it is with you while sourcing. A list left at home does not help you mid-aisle. Accessibility is the whole point.
How do I build the list when I am new?
Start with a few researched items and grow it from every successful flip and every brand you confirm. Over weeks it becomes tuned to your area. Experience turns it into your best sourcing tool.
How often should I update it?
Re-check sold comps for your top items periodically and adjust target prices. Drop items that stopped selling and add new winners. A maintained list stays far more useful than a stale one.
Keep going
Build a buy list and source fast without freezing.
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