Yard sale advice

[anna08]

Planning my first one and was wondering if any experienced budget boarders could give me tips -

organizing, advertising, pricing, timing, etc...

Thanks!

 

[poohfriend77]

It seems like the "rules" vary by region. I've had good luck on Friday mornings, but Saturdays are always popular too. Around here, they seem to run from mid-April through October.

My neighborhood has a big sale and pays for the newspaper ad. But I create my own craigslist ads for any "big ticket" items. For example, I posted pictures and prices for my stroller and crib, but said they were available only at the sale. I listed my address only as "near the corner of X and Y streets," so no one rang my doorbell the night before! No early sales, cash only, and I won't hold items for anyone.

I like having a price tag on every item, or a clearly marked sign stating "All books 50 cents each." I've also had good luck listing prices as "50 cents each or 3/$1."

Good luck!

ETA: Oooh, and if you have clothes (especially kids' stuff) organize by SIZE!

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

I always write a small description of the item on the price tag. I was really surprised how many people would try to switch tags on things.

Try to merchandise your belongings together.

Rent clothing rack to hang your clothes. It looks better and things will sell.

If things are dirty or dusty, give them a quick wipe down.

Don't be to "proud" of the things you want to sell. Mark things fair and you wont get to many haglers.

Also, at the end of your day, whatever time you want to end, I put a sign out in the yard...Everyting $2.00 or less. This gets rid of all the "junk" no one really wants and fast.

 

[Zim]

Definitely agree with those who say put a price on everything. I had a nice little mini tent sitting in the yard all morning. I put a tag on it, gone in 10 minutes. Most people don't want to ask.

If you have a LOT of clothes and your thinking is "this or Goodwill", then I'd set it up as fill-a-bag of clothes for $x (and provide bags so they don't bring their own leaf garbage-sized bag!) You'll get way more interest.

Set up a "free" table or box, particularly with junky trinkets kids will like - keeps them busy so parents can focus on the other tables.

I don't like to haggle, so I usually put the lowest price I'm willing to part with an item (which means most is really cheap!) If someone buys a lot of stuff, I'll round down on the total somewhat.

And most importantly, don't forget to have lots of ones and change on hand, because invariably all your first customers will want $3 worth of stuff and only have twenties on them.

 

[AnninIowa]

Make sure everything is CLEAN, nicely laid out and has a price on it. Price your items to SELL! Ask hourself what you would want to pay for a similar item at a garage sale. I go to a lot of sales and so many people overprice. Remember that your goal is to make a little money and clear stuff out. Also, put signs up at intersections with LARGE block letters and arrows. I see so many little signs that people write on with pen. People driving by need to be able to see your sign quickly and clearly.

Good luck!

 

[iheartdisney]

The best selling item I ever had was happy meal toys. I fill up a quart ziploc baggie with like toys and put them in a bin with a sign $1 each. Every child at the sale walked away with a bag.

 

[North of Mouse]

I am in the process of cleaning closets, cabinets for a yard sale. I keep containers in each room and as I find things I need to get rid of I put them there. I also plan to have my sale VERY early in Spring before all the neighborhoods start having theirs as who wants to go to a single sale, if they can park and walk to several - NOT ME In this area, about the only day to have one is Sat. Very few people have them on Fri. here - too many working couples. I also empty my garage of cars the week before to give me lots of preparation time. I make things as neat as possible, as clean as possible and as others have said, try to price most items. I NEVER post hours as it doesn't seem to do any good. I am up early and it's surprising how many people come before 8am. I sell most of my stuff by 10am and then it really slows down. Usually by 1-2 pm I take inside the things I don't want to give away, and the rest box up and take to Goodwill. I usually sell most things, as after about 10am I make good "bargains" It's been about 3 yrs. since my last sale, but I had two ladies here at 6:30 am They both bought a lot of stuff. I've found that the first few are usually people that own some type of "used" shop of their own, but that's ok just so I can clean it out of here. Hope you have a very good sale

 

[3boymthr]

I run a huge charity yard sale every other year. We made over $1,300 last year.

For organizing, except for toys and furniture and other large items, have plenty of tables for displaying items, beg borrow and steal them if you have to. People are much more apt to buy stuff that they don't have to bend over or kneel on the ground to look at. Clothes, hang them, they sell better than those folded, plus people don't hesitate to step on them if they are on the ground. If you have a ton of stuff and don't want to price very single item, price by table and make sure signs are clearly visible. But even if pricing items by table try to make sure to group items of a similar nature together (craft supplies, dishes, decorations, sport equip, etc.).

I've learned that there are a number of unscrupulous people hitting yard sales. If an item is "real", i.e., Coach, Waterford, etc. make sure you label it as such on the price tag. Do research the prices that these types of items sell for on e-bay and craigslist beforehand and be prepared to justify your price but also be flexible. As a word to the wise, some not so nice people will try to switch the prices on these expensive items and if you have it labeled with the brand then you'll be able to say uh, uh sorry no that's not how that was priced as all my brand name items have price tags that say what the item is on them. And unfortunately, jewelry items, even costume, should be pinned to a board that is always in sight of someone. We had a few jewelry pieces just walk away before doing this.

Make sure to have plenty of shopping bags.

Change; have lots and lots of change, ones, fives and tens plus lots and lots of quarters.

Advertise, advertise, advertise. Put up signs, as many as your community will allow. Also advertise in the paper, both your community paper and the neighboring communities, place the ad the full week before hand. Also post a notice on facebook for your friends (ask them to spread the word) and list your sale on craigslist.

As we've learned to our regret, DO NOT hold your sale on a day that a big community event is being held unless your sale is right across the street from that event.

Our items are all donations, another thing I've learned: Even broken items will sell if priced correctly. We sold a broken (literally in 10 pieces) desk this year someone was willing to pay $10 for it.

For electrical items, have a really long extension cord handy so they can be plugged in to show they work. Have batteries handy to put in those items.

Line up places to take your leftovers before the sale. Best place we had to take our stuff, the local church was running a rummage sale at christmas time. They were very happy to take whatever we had.

ETA - if it is going to be hot that day or unbelievably sunny, make sure to have a shady spot to take items that could be destroyed by the heat/sun. Consider putting them in the garage or using a pop up awning if you don't have a garage.

 

[HannaBelle]

The best selling item I ever had was happy meal toys. I fill up a quart ziploc baggie with like toys and put them in a bin with a sign $1 each. Every child at the sale walked away with a bag.

I did something like this too... I had a big bin of "junk" toys that I set out with some brown lunch sacks and a sign that said $1 a bag. I had adults digging through there for treasures. It was a big money maker.

 

[anna08]

Thank you all SOOO much! What great info and ideas! It's been a lot of work preparing for, but it will be so worth it to have someone else cart off things we no longer need! You all touched on so many things I would never have thought of!

 

[SandrA9810]

A good sign and craiglist helps a lot. Although I've had neighbors cash in on my signage. Make sure all your signs are the same. If I see a sign on the road, I'm going to look for that same design again down the road. Make sure you take down all signs afterwards.

In the craiglist ad, I list the items I have, with prices and pictures. Make sure you put up a new ad every couple of days depending on how busy the listings are. Some plan early, some later, so you don't want yours hanging put on the second page that no one reads.

Candles melt. Make sure they're in the coolest place as possible, so they don't get soft to the touch or melt on other stuff. Same for crayons.