Garage sale tips.

[redandblue]

Ok so I want to have a garage sale this summer and I am clueless, I have never had one. I would like some opinions.

1. I would like to have it on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning until noon only. Is that too restrictive? I plan on putting an add in the paper and making a few signs.

2. What would you charge for a 19" tv about 8-10years old. Is $20 too high. How about VCR/DVD players?

3. Gymboree/name brand baby clothes vs misc like target, Jcpenney ect.

4. How much do you mark down for new with tags. For example my DH has a pair of carharts that are too small and have a tag on them saying $30 would you charge $20?

5. How well do winter baby clothes sell at a summer garage sale?

6. Please give me all your tips and ideas.

Thanks for your help. I am cleaning out some extra stuff from the house and getting rid of clothes the kids have grown out of and earn a little money to put towards a Disney Trip

 

[Jill in Chicago]

Consider Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Saturday will be very slow. Usually people who come on Saturdays are there more for an outing. People on Saturdays are very chatty.

Thursday and Friday the earlier you open the better, but be ready. Once you open that garage door you better be ready or people will start going through your unpacked boxes... on their own.

Money. You need change for twenty dollar bills first thing in the morning. Don't let one person wipe out your whole "bank."

People like bags. Plastic, paper, anything to put their purchases in.

Money. Wear it in your fanny pack. Pay attention. There are garage sale moneylifters!

Most things, in great condition, can be priced at 1/4 of the price you paid.

Remember people love kitchen stuff. Even if you have only one wine glass, it will sell.

If at all possible hang all your children's clothes. They will sell better and for more money. You can duct tape a mop between two ladders... be creative. I staple the paper price tag right to the clothes. If you think about it that plastic stuff they use on clothes is thicker than a staple. If it's silk... I would not staple it.

Adult clothes need to be priced at $1.00 or less. Children's clothes in great condition can go about 1/4 of original price. Children's shoes do not sell. Seasonal clothes sell. Winter coats in the summer do not sell. (No matter what kind of deal you offer.)

Market your garage. Put things out in the driveway where people can see them. Do you have a screen tent? Set that up. I've put lawn furniture in the middle of the front yard with my garage sale signs the week before the sale. Get's their attention.

Do not let the bargainers make you mad. You are making someone's day with their deal, and getting rid of stuff.

One table with little things for a quarter or 5 for a $1.00. Children love to be able to buy something.

Costume jewelry sells.

Free with purchase. For instance a great little boy's shirt with a tiny stain. Put it in the free with purchase box.

Price it all. If you have one table for $1.00 and another table all for $5.00 you need to know EACH item and how much. People will pick up something and then wander and pick up something else forgetting which table is which, and then they'll set things down wherever.

But cheap twist tie baggies. Put little things all together and staple/tape the top. They can see it, but the little stuff stays together.

Like items together. All the Christmas stuff over here. All the kitchen stuff there.

Tables. People do not like to bend over.

Men stuff. Tools... men like to garage sale too.

Electricity if you need it to test out items.

If it's an unusual item write down what it is, or how to use it. (You can do this during the slow times.)

Park your car at the end of the driveway. Otherwise people will pull up your driveway and literally drive up to your garage.

Be ready for rain.

Anything they can see, they will ask if it is for sale. Cover your own stuff with sheets.... Or, do as I do and say, "Sure it's for sale," and I'll name some price over what I paid.

Order pizza for dinner. You will be exhausted.

 

[amylynne01]

Those are great tips! I've been reading this list for a successful yard sale. Mine is on 6/5, and I'm hoping it adds a good bit to my Disney fund. Good luck, OP!

 

[redandblue]

Wow those are great tips I may have to write these down. Thanks so much I want to make it fun, I work full time and I really doubt the money I make will pay for my time but I plan on having my SIL over and make some daquiries(sp?)

 

[tink576]

Ok so I want to have a garage sale this summer and I am clueless, I have never had one. I would like some opinions.

1. I would like to have it on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning until noon only. Is that too restrictive? I plan on putting an add in the paper and making a few signs.

Saturday morning till noon will be fine...I wouldn't necessarily do Friday afternoon though. I've gone to Thursday afternoon sales, because there is no competition then, but after I've been out sailing all morning on Friday I can tell you I wouldn't be going back out for an afternoon only sale, just my two cents...

 

[Taja]

Be sure to mark your display tables "not for sale"--unless you want to sell them! At least half the people at my last garage sale wanted to purchase the tables and bookcases I used to display items--and they were marked "not for sale!" Of course, they wanted to pay a dollar or two for them--and I really did not want to get rid of them! *LOL*

If you're short on tables and have some sawhorses and wood, set those up as tables. Just be sure they are sturdy. People have a tendency to lean on things or set their children on them.

We have different yard/garage-sale seasons than most of the country (October through March or April--if we're lucky!), but it can be pretty warm to absolutely hot during those months. I refrigerated a case of bottled water, tucked it in a cooler with some ice and sold nearly all of the bottles at 50 cents each. It's amazing how many people go out for the day without at least emergency water in their vehicles!

If you don't live on a main street, be sure you have good signs on the major and lesser roads to lead people to your home. And be sure they are LARGE signs and easy to read if someone is zipping along at 45 mph or faster. Most of the signs people use are far too small--can't read them while driving!

All of my primary lettering was at least 5" tall and the strokes at least .5" wide. Day and time were in 3" high letters at the bottom. I used white posterboard with red letters outlined in black for "YARD SALE," with the day and time in black in a rectangle outlined in black and red. You can make the signs in advance, then attach the day/time information after you make that decision. I had mine on an October Saturday morning only (6 a.m. until noon)--weekdays everyone works where I live. The pickers are out first, then everyone else begins showing up about 30 minutes or so later. About 150 or so adults, plus children.

If you have lots of related, inexpensive items, bag them and price them. For some reason, I had a ton of kids meals toys--unopened. I know I bought a few of them, but--good grief! So I mixed them up, put 10 in a bag and marked them $1 per bag with a note on each one (printed on computer) for suggested uses: party favours, unexpected surprises, bribes... Sold all of them as marked--which was amazing! Most people were trying to get me to sell $1 and $2 items for 25 cents--or give them away for free.

Personally, I found the entire yard/garage sale thing tedious. I was organized, priced most things at $2, $1 or less (and most had conservative values of $10 and up), and people still wanted to pay less or get it for free. I have zero patience with that. Seriously doubt I ever will have another yard/garage sale! *LOL*

Good luck with yours!

 

[homeschool101]

Wow! I thought I was going to have great ideas to add to the other advice you've gotten, BUTTTT, it's all been said! You guys are REAL garage sale experts! I like having coffee and pastries available for a little extra $$. Hope your garage sale is a great success!!

 

[redandblue]

Sometimes I am not sure if it is worth the hassle. I work Monday-Friday and there is no way I am going to take a day off to make a few bucks at a garage sale. I could sneak away early and have one from 3-7. I don't mind haggling but I think I will get a little po'd if someone expects me to give stuff away for free. I understand yard sale items are used but I am using my free time to plan, prepare and sell stuff when it would have been 100x's easier to take it to goodwill if I didn't want to make a little money.

 

[lorac4disney]

Just a little tip:

Be prepared for people to continue stopping by AFTER the garage sale is over. I've had some that have come up and offered me a small lump sum for whatever is left over. Sometimes I have taken it, sometime I have not. Most of them have been resellers. One of them was not. It was a single mother trying to make ends meet (she had her kids in tow). Needless to say, I just gave her whatever she wanted. It's just something to keep in mind so that you can have an idea of what you want to do with the leftovers.

 

[MomofSixinSC]

Another tip on signage. The advice you got already was really good. Just be sure to make all your signs look the same. Use all the same colors and styles of lettering. It makes it much easier to follow the signs. We usually use hot pink poster board with black lettering. Also, use something on the back of the board at the top (good if you can do bottom as well) to keep the sign from trying to roll up.

And do take down your signs when the sale is over. I hate that people leave their signs after they have closed up for the day and gone shopping.

 

[lisaross]

Great Advice...

i enjoy having yard sales - meeting people and chatting a bit.

I like to have mine on Sat. and Sun. Sat. is usually a much better day, but if i can get 2 nice days in a row its worth a shot!

I usually price kids clothing at either .50c each or 1.00 each and bu 5 get 1 free.

Only real nice stuff i will price a bit higher..

Good Luck