1st yard sale

[mrsboz]

My neighbor is having a multi-family yard sale this weekend. This will be my first one! I've done other little sales at our church or local yearly town event but most of the stuff that I sold was made. This is all stuff that I want gone. I want to get rid of it but at the same time I would like to make a fair dollar. I just am not sure as to how much to charge for things. Does anyone know of a website that will give any rules of thumb or things that usually sell well. Thanks.

 

[weluvdizne]

I had my first garage sale back in June. We had rain all day, but I made $63. Having another one this Friday, and can't wait.
I'm glad I had that first sale, as I learned, that even though I would love to make lots of money on the stuff I want to get rid of, Nobody will pay what I want to charge. I am rethinking my pricing for Friday. I'm going to price it low and (hopefully) watch it sell. I learned that is the most important thing. If it's priced too high, it's not going anywhere, and I will have wasted my time and effort for the day.
I just did a google search for yard sale pricing and got ideas that way. Some people say 10-25% of the retail price is what you'll get for it. Depends on your area of the country, too. I went out and looked at a few local sales, and got ideas from them. It will give you an idea of where to start.

Good luck to you. I hope you do well!!!

 

[eyor44]

While I like to make $$ (who doesn't) I want the stuff gone also. I price cheap and am willing to deal on some things. Big stuff I price a couple dollars higher than I actually want and let people deal. If someone wants something and doesn't like my price and it's early. I take their name and phone number and list the item they want and call them at the end of the day if the item didn't sell. I've never had to call anyone.

Clothes are the hardest to get rid of. I price most everything at $1. After 1200 I drop it to .50. The really good stuff (dressy dresses and suits are $2-$3). Shoes $1 a pair if barely worn, obviously worn .50.

I've learned by trial and error on what works in my area. But my motto is if someone else is willing to give me a bit to haul it off, then it's that much less I have to deal with.

Have a great time this weekend.

 

[MrsPete]

My neighbor is having a multi-family yard sale this weekend. This will be my first one! I've done other little sales at our church or local yearly town event but most of the stuff that I sold was made. This is all stuff that I want gone. I want to get rid of it but at the same time I would like to make a fair dollar. I just am not sure as to how much to charge for things. Does anyone know of a website that will give any rules of thumb or things that usually sell well. Thanks.

General rules of thumb:

Price things around 10% of their new value.
Things that're genuinely new /still in the box can be priced a little higher, but not more than 25% the cost of new -- not if you want to get rid of them.

Price your good condition kids' clothes.
Put stained /worn things into a pile and sell them for .25/item or $1.00/bag.

Adult clothes (with the possible exception of coats and other large items) should never be priced more than $1 -- people just won't pay it. Don't bother with outdated clothes; no one will buy a 1980s prom dress, even it's priced cheaply. If you have things that're genuinely worth something (i.e., a set of barely-used ski bibs) consider putting them on ebay or in a consignment store. There you'll have a larger audience and will get a better price; at a yard sale you're hoping that the right customer will come along in the small time frame you've allotted for the sale.

Kids books will move at .25 each.

Set the price at whatever you want to get. Most people will not negotiate -- they'll just leave.

Run an electrical cord out your door so people can test things.

Do not allow anyone in your house for any reason, even supervised by another family member. Some of these people are pros and are there to steal. For example, one may go into the bathroom and "camp out" while the other asks you about pictures on your wall, etc. And while you're distracted, the one in the bathroom comes out and walks around your house unsupervised. If they insist that they MUST try on an item of clothing, just say no. If they can't risk $1, then you'll just have to give up that sale. It isn't worth letting people into your house.

Place your big items out in front to attact people.

Group things into organized piles: Clothing to the left, household goods to the right, books in the middle.

Get a fanny pack to hold your change. Even at yard sales, some people are dishonest.

Good luck with your sale. Personally, I gave up on yard sales after a bad experience last time. A group was absolutely determined that they were going to get into my house -- kept sending their kids running up my steps, while at the same time their parents were trying to shove plates into a box underneath some glasses. They tried to pretend they didn't understand English, but when I started RAISING the prices, they suddenly understood every word I said. Finally I told them that they had to leave, and I would not sell them anything. When they wouldn't leave, I had to send my kids in to get their dad, who came out and sat on the steps looking mean.

Now we just give things to Goodwill, and I think we do just as well.

 

[MrsPete]

After 1200 I drop it to .50.

Good point. At noon, your best customers have come and gone. Look through the things and decide if there's anything you really don't want to part with cheaply . . . and then put up a sign that reads EVERYTHING 1/2 OFF.