Any yard/garage sale veterans? First timer needs tips.

[mommaU4]

I want to have a yard sale this summer or spring. Maybe in May depending on the weather.
I know that's along ways off but I'll be going through the entire house little by little as time allows and then boxing up the stuff that's to be sold and putting it in the shed until it's time.

I've never had a yard sale before. Sold some stuff at my SILs once but she was in charge.
I've been to lots of them since we moved here. Michiganders sure do love their yard sales!

Anyways I was looking for some tips. Should I advertise? What days/times are best to hold it? What about pricing? Start high and bargain? Any advice would be appreciated as well as any things NOT to do.

 

[NMAmy]

Save yourself some work and price items while you're boxing them up. Then you won't have to do it the night before as you're setting stuff up. Also, price like items all the same--for example, all hard cover books $1 and paperbacks 2 for $1.

I always price low because frankly, I'm just trying to get rid of stuff--not really make money. Although I usually end making quite a bit of money anyway. You can always price higher and then bargain toward the end of the day. People will bargain with you regardless of how much you have it priced.

Advertise in your local paper. I like to have a one-day sale on Saturday but that's because I work all week. I know a lot of people have them on Friday and Saturday.

Good luck! I'm probably having one again this summer, too.

 

[anewvance]

It definately depends on the area as to the days, here in South FL most are just one day on Sat. But in Denver Colorado i've seen them on Friday Sat and Sunday all day long. Start early on Sat, people around here are out looking for garage sales at 7am or earlier. We usually start ours at 7am. We've never put it in the paper, we just use signs at all the intersections around the house and get plenty of traffic. But in your area, advertising in the paper might be helpful.

As for pricing, make sure the least amount you are dealing with is .25... don't start pricing at .10 to get rid of it because then you are dealing with a whole lot of change instead of just quarters. With clothes, I usually pick out the better stuff and then put the rest in a bin and mark them .50 a piece or something like that. And put the better stuff on a rack and price those individually.

Be prepared for the people who barter. There is the normal bartering, even I do it. But then there are the people who want something for next to nothing. Stand your ground. Don't feel like you have to say yes to get a sale. I'll seriously have someone come up to me with every shoe I am selling, 15 pairs and ask to buy them all for $2 (yes, some of them are THAT nervey) You just smile and tell them the price you do want. They will bug you for awhile but usually will either leave it or give you the price you want when they figure they can't take you for a fool and they are items they really do want. Sorry to go on a tangent on this but it's common here in South Florida. The people buy the items at garage sales for next to nothing and sell them for crazy prices at the flea market. Like pay .10 for a shirt at a garage sale and sell it for $2 at the flea market. I've had someone come up to me right when my sale started and grab all my bins of clothes and ask how much for everything. I outright tell them i'm not ready to sell them all and i'm sure the price is too high for them. So they tell me $5 and I laugh and tell them, how about $50? And they laugh and leave. I might be more willing to bargain after i've been out there a few hours.. but we have JUST opened, lol.

 

[mommaU4]

Save yourself some work and price items while you're boxing them up. Then you won't have to do it the night before as you're setting stuff up.

Ah ha, good tip! This seems fairly obvious and yet I wouldn't have thought of it. You just saved me a bunch of time later on. Thanks! See, I knew I asked here for a reason.
Good luck with your sale too!

 

[C.Ann]

I've been holding and attending garage sales for more years than I'd like to admit and my biggest peice of advice to you is: Make sure every item has a price on it!! If I walk into a garage sale and the items aren't already priced, I will turn around and walk right back out again..

Also, keep things as organized and tidy as possible - like items grouped together - clothes folded or hanging - etc.

Definitely price the items as you're packing them up - that will save you tons of time.. Advertise in your local paper for the biggest turn out and be aware that even if you state "8 a.m." people will be in your yard at 7 .am..

Also make sure you have lots of bags on hand for people to carry their treasures home in..

Best of luck!

 

[kmp1191]

My neighbors and sisters laugh at me because I have a garage sale every year. I don't like to accumulate "stuff".
I put set prices....womens clothes $2.00 unless otherwise marked
Kids clothes $1.00 - shoes - $.50 toys - $.25 etc.....junk box...free!
Around 11:00, I usually go half price. A couple of times instead of going 1/2 price...I'd hand the people a (plastic walmart)bag and tell them....fill it up for $2.00! they loved it!
Mark the electronics individually. Also, make sure it's plugged in and working. If it doesn't work, tell them...they may want to try to fix it themselves. Make sure games have all the pieces, same w/ puzzels, if they don't, then toss them. Also, on the day of the sale, have help...you can't do it all by yourself!! (oh, I NEVER get change...I don't know why, but i always forget.it actually helps w/ the sales..."sorry, i don't have change, but if you get that radio, I'll give it to you for $5.00 instead of $8.00!)...sometimes it works.

have fun and don't stress!!

 

[mommaU4]

As for pricing, make sure the least amount you are dealing with is .25... don't start pricing at .10 to get rid of it because then you are dealing with a whole lot of change instead of just quarters.
Be prepared for the people who barter. There is the normal bartering, even I do it. But then there are the people who want something for next to nothing.

Good tip with the quarters. Again something I wouldn't have thought of.

Speaking of pushy people, I remember one guy at my SIL's yard sale who was unbelievable. She was selling a pair of Teva sandals she had only worn once so they looked brand new. I know nothing about them but she said she paid alot for them.
Anyways she had them marked at $5 and this guy hands her two quarters. We were like sorry those are $5. He says no, you take 50 cents and thrusts the money at us. He stood there and argued for the longest time.
For a minute I thought we might have to call the cops because he was so obnoxious and wouldn't leave or give back the sandals! He finally threw them down and left. Scary stuff! Over sandals no less.

I might need to hire security for my yard sale!

 

[Nancy]

All good points. I just took over our neighborhood annual block sale. We have found that early in the season sells best, unless you have a lot of seasonal/school clothes. Make sure things are clean and clothes not torn or missing buttons etc. We advertise in all the local papers. (I collect 2.00 from each participating house and usually have to put in more of my own money to cover the advertising fees) We put up signs, we actually have nice wood stands that go on the corners (like real estate open house signs) and signs that tie to the poles. I start to set up about 2 hours ahead of time, cause people show up really early. I also make sure I have a good supply of change and singles, a few 5's and 10's for those that don't have small bills. I also have a box of freebies, usually junk that I don't think would sell even for a dime, but people will grab it cause it's free. I actually have repeat buyers of my kids clothes every year. How much I make depends on what I'm selling. The year I got rid of a lot of my gilrs toys, like the kitchen, fridge, washer/dryer and baby doll stuff I made a fortune. A nursery school came by and bought them all.

 

[Shugardrawers]

We just helped our parents with emptying out their house and moving into their RV. When we got there they had a small ad in the paper and a white sign with black lettering on the tree out front. It was a sloooooooooooooow day. The next day DSis and I took over. We took out the part in the ad about no early birds, heck if I'm out there and they want to spend go right ahead! We bought neon posterboard and paints and made TONS of signs and arrows and put them everywhere it was legal. We had balloons all over the yard. We priced fairly but took any reasonable offer. The last day we had a special, with just a few exceptions, fill a bag for $5 and a box for $15. We got rid of TONS of things we'd have otherwise had to haul off to Goodwill. We gave away a lot of stuff too. If they bought a bed, we threw in a set of used sheets. If they bought dishes we gave them some flatwear.

Be prepared to dicker, most people expect to. But don't make the mistake of pricing too high to compensate. Price fairly with a little wiggle room and if you don't like the idea make a counter offer or throw something extra in. Say they offer you $10 for a suit priced at $20. Try countering $15 for the suit with a shirt to match (priced at $1 or so) thrown in free.

Load up on $1's, $5's and $10's along with plenty of quarters, dimes and nickels. Have lots of things priced under $1 and plenty of dime and quarter items for kids. Have a freebie box too. Kids love it. You can make some money by going to Costco and getting pop, cheese and cracker packets and candy and selling those too. Don't forget a prominently displayed jar for your favorite charity. We had one for the American Cancer Society and were able to donate over $100 to them.

And PLEASE, don't make the mistake of thinking that because it's new or has only been worn/used once or twice that you should get full price. It's a yard sale! If you wore that $100 dress only to a wedding you probably won't get $80 for it. Price to move, not recoup your money.

 

[Nancy]

Good tip with the quarters. Again something I wouldn't have thought of.

Speaking of pushy people, I remember one guy at my SIL's yard sale who was unbelievable. She was selling a pair of Teva sandals she had only worn once so they looked brand new. I know nothing about them but she said she paid alot for them.
Anyways she had them marked at $5 and this guy hands her two quarters. We were like sorry those are $5. He says no, you take 50 cents and thrusts the money at us. He stood there and argued for the longest time.
For a minute I thought we might have to call the cops because he was so obnoxious and wouldn't leave or give back the sandals! He finally threw them down and left. Scary stuff! Over sandals no less.

I might need to hire security for my yard sale!

I love those people. I was selling all my girls snow pants and I had at least 10 pairs. I was selling for $1.00 a piece. The gentleman wanted to give me $1.00 for all of them! Was getting a bit weird about it, so I called DH out to talk to him. Guy left pretty quick after that.

 

[anewvance]

I was having a sale at my grandmothers house once and she had put some stuff out including a really pretty silver tea pot. It wasn't worth much but she did have $5 on it. A woman had it in her head she was paying .25 cents for it no ands ifs or buts. She was shoving the quarter into my hand and she was starting to take off with the pot. She was on her way out and my grandma in her gruffest voice said "YOU STOP RIGHT THERE OR I'M CALLING THE POLICE". OMG, it was so funny. But I tell you what, that lady dropped that pot and took off as fast as she could.

 

[Aidensmom]

I have a yard sale twice a year (I can't stand having extra "stuff" around). I don't advertise, but I check the ads and I hold my sale on the same day that others in my neighborhood are advertised. I do put up a lot of signs though. Like someone else said, all similar items are marked the same price. Put large items out towards the front of your sale to attract the attention of passerbys. I mark larger items (furniture, strollers, etc) a little more than what I really want to get for them, because those are the things I have found people really try to bargain on. I have my sales on Saturdays, and start at about 7 am, where I live that is when yard/garage sale traffic is the heaviest, it lessens the later it gets. I end at about noon.

 

[Lynn CC]

I didn't have time to read everyones post, but I like to go to yard sales and love it when things are grouped in clear plastic bags. Anything you can put into a clear bag sells, such as jewlery, scarf, socks anything!

My DH was just up our attic and he was FURIOUS at how much we have accumulated since our last yard sale (quite a few years ago). He said we are lucky the ceiling hasn't fallen in. Looks like I'll be having one right along with you when the weather gets nicer. Good Luck

 

[Lynn CC]

I didn't have time to read everyones post, but I like to go to yard sales and love it when things are grouped in clear plastic bags. Anything you can put into a clear bag sells, such as jewlery, scarf, socks anything!

My DH was just up our attic and he was FURIOUS at how much we have accumulated since our last yard sale (quite a few years ago). He said we are lucky the ceiling hasn't fallen in. Looks like I'll be having one right along with you when the weather gets nicer. Good Luck

 

[Laurabearz]

I have yet to have a garage sale, but I keep talking about it and keep hoarding stuff away for one.... lol

One tip I read that I plan on doing is make an appt with Amvets (or whomever) to come the Monday after the sale to take away everything that didnt sell.

I may make up a flyer and pass them out to some of the people on our block to see if we can pull in some other families... (lots of us have lots of kids)

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would always take out on ad in the local paper, for the town. We had a journal that everyone advertised in. Include directions to your house, very important. It got me people from all over. I started doing the Friday at 4pm-8pm & Sat. Sale I always had more people on Friday.
For some reason, I would have the best luck the weekend before Easter...why I don't know. But you are in Michigan so I don't know if that is an option for you.

I would list furniture, garage stuff, anything old or out of the ordinary.
People expect clothes, toys, kitchen stuff...etc...don't really have to say that, unless is it old aka "vintage".
People love anything old and beat up, literal trash. I am not kidding.
I would have tubs of old junk...cleaners, paint, computer stuff, junk, junk, junk...marked FOR FREE at the end of the driveway...hehehehe always gets them out of the car.
So do not toss ANYTHING! Make up FREE BOXES.
(Toss after the sale)
People would force money on us....it was weird. They wanted to say they "got a deal"!!!

Mark anything 10cents that you want GONE. 10cents is the magic number. I know my husband said it wasn't worth it but anything I had marked 5 or 10 cents left my garage.
Again...it made them look harder at my stuff.

I have had about 20 sales and am going to do it again. I thought I was done but I have to DECLUTTER again.
I hope this is one of my last sales.

 

[Shugardrawers]

Another tip that echos what some other posters have said: When DSis and I go yard sale-ing, we drive past first and look from the car. Ones where we see good stuff right away we stop, others we call "drive bys" Put the very best of what you have closest to the road but either make sure it's the heavy stuff you can't run off with or keep somebody posted right there. Shoplifting from yard sales is unfortunately quite common.

 

[we3disneygo]

we have a yardsale every May/June here in IL, it seems to be a good time, I do put an ad in the paper it's around 20.00 but it get's people to our house!! dd12 always has a table with muffins, cookies, etc. and always sells out ! we don't like to live with alot of clutter either !

 

[mommaU4]

I'm getting great tips! Thanks guys!

 

[bigbabyblues]

Make sure every item has a price on it!![/B] If I walk into a garage sale and the items aren't already priced, I will turn around and walk right back out again..:

Definitely price everything! However, I went to a garage sale last summer with my mom, and as we were walking up, the lady told us she hadn't marked anything because EVERYTHING was 50 cents. That suited me just fine, I got three pair of Tommy jeans and a pair of Old Navy khaki's all for 50 cents each!