Yard sale--worth it??

[floridagirrl2]

I've never had a yard sale myself, although DH and I go yardsaling a couple of times a month. I'm trying to decide if I should have a yard sale or just give everything away to charity.

The frugal Disney-saving part of me says we should go for the yard sale. However, DH doesn't think it's worthwhile to have a yard sale--he thinks it will attract seedy people to the neighborhood who might decide to burglarize the area (!! we do see some scary people when we go yardsaling!). He also doesn't want to deal with some of the unpleasant people who come as early birds (in this area there are some really aggressive early birders).

We don't have a lot of big things to sell but we do have lots of things liked framed art work, tray tables, folding bookshelf, lots of decorative dodads (vases, etc.), and household stuff ( cordless phone, toaster oven, etc.). We have a few cool things that would attract attention from the street (a couple of antique mirrors).

I'm really torn. For those of you who have had yard sales, did you think it was worth it??

 

[Grumpy'sMom]

I have a yard sale every two years - right before I go to Disney. I usually make between $150 - 200, I've never really had any large items. This past Sunday, instead of having a yard sale, I went to a local flea market and paid for a space. The cost of the space was a little high ($45) but even with that I made $200 for Disney. Think of it like this - if it is worth it to you to spend a day of your time, then do it. If you really don't like dealing with the people and are not sure if the money you make will pay for your time and aggravation, then maybe donate to charity. JMO, I'm always looking for extra Disney money! Good Luck!

 

[Mel6197]

I never have big items, But Kid clothing at 50 cents a article adds up. 2 dollars for Jeans, And other crap that I have. I made 180 dollars on Clothing, that I would throw out usually..
I think of that as paying for 1 airline ticket to Disney..
My sister made 600 But she had bigger ticket items to sell..
The way I think of it, I get crap out of my house, I get a Day away from my kids (daddy takes them) I spend time with my Sister (we team up) and what Ever I make helps. Even if I make 50 dollars Heck, that Pays for Mickey Ice Cream Bars for the week.. And Again I get a day Children free...

 

[LauraR]

Sounds like you have alot of good stuff for a yardsale. But yardsales can be alot of work, getting things ready and outside. I'd probably do it, and then cart the leftovers to a charity. I know what you mean about strange people at yardsales, though (one guy I see alot always tries to offer a nickel for things marked a quarter!) But most people are just looking for a good deal. I see a mix of middle and low income yard salers in my neck of the woods. I've never really heard that criminals case out neighborhoods during yardsales, and the two times we've had bikes stolen it wasn't anywhere near when there had been yardsales in the neighborhood.
Don't know what to do about early-birds, they can be obnoxious. But you can always tell them to get lost!

 

[swilshire]

The framed art work and antique mirrors probably won't bring what they're worth at a yard sale. You might look into whether there are auction houses around that consign to sell art, antiques and collectibles.

We go to one about once a month. I bought two framed prints and a shadow box (Christmas gift) there Saturday. I probably wouldn't have even considered paying what I gave for them at a yard sale. You'd probably come out ahead even after paying their commission.

Sheila

 

[crisi]

We do better donating it and writing it off on our taxes. Fair market thrift shop value is a lot more than I'd sell anything for at a garage sale, and its much easier to box it all up and haul it to Goodwill. Plus, with a garage sale, you still box up the extras and haul them to Goodwill.

However, if you need the money now - rather than next Spring - yard sale. If you hubby doesn't want to do it, maybe get your girlfriends together. In our area there will be neighborhood garage sales. A few years ago one of my girlfriends coordinating a bunch of us bringing our junk to her house for her neighborhood garage sale.

 

[pygmymom]

I'm gearing up for the first of this year's garage sales--last year I made $500 selling mainly little quarter stuff. I have one in the spring and in the fall (decluttering my house is an on-going adventure). It's not worth it to me to deduct it on my taxes because we won't have enough to itemize this year. I consider it real money in my hands.

You sound like you've got a lot of great "merchandise", things people will really be looking for. It shouldn't take you that long to organize. Make sure you have a "helper" and good signs. Some people advertise in their local paper, you could do this and list your bigger items. Also, you could state "no early birds, please!"

You'll probably want to do a little research and make sure you price your more expensive items right.

Whatever you do, good luck! Make lots of Disney money!

 

[snoopy]

I made $1100 the last yard sale we did, so I'd say they are definately worth it. Just be sure to take the time to make sure everything is CLEAN, the price well marked, and all of laid out where its easy to see and browse through.

If you have kids, put them to work by setting them outside selling brownies and lemonade. No one can resist a cute kid. My son made $200 to take on vacation with him at our last yard sale.

 

[MEM]

It really depends on your neighborhood and the traffic pattern near your house. I am no longer having yards sales after the last 3 netted me only $60 each, before deducting the cost of the newspaper ad. I figured my hourly wage was about $1! I put alot of effort in to my sales and hold the type of sale I like to attend! I toss any item of clothing that is stained, torn, or worn looking. All toys get scrubbed clean. Everything is priced fairly, with wiggle room to negotiate. All clothes are hung up and sized and priced, most for $1 each. Everything is sorted by type (looks alot like the yard sales on TLC's Clean Sweep program). I hang a HUGE yard sale sign made from a bedsheet on my cedar fence, run an ad in the paper and make huge neon signs at major intersections.

I tend to get customers of a certain culture who will rake up huge piles of my stuff and offer "ten dollah" for what is probably priced to sell for $100 total. Other customers drift away when they see what they want is in that pile. I can see no way around this so DH and I donate a bunch of stuff every fall to an elementary school and the rest to the Salvation Army. Since I can't itemize deductions, it doesn't help me financially but I have to think it helps someone.

I am truly AMAZED when I hear what others on these boards make at their sales.

 

[jacksonsmom]

Yard sales are alot of work, but for me they are worth it.

We have had 2 since 9/2002. Our first one we took in $1900. We sold alot of baby equipment at that one & our second sale in 5/2003 we made $1700.

So to us it was very worth it as ALL the money went to fund Disney!!!

We are having another weekend yard sale 4/30 & 5/1. We have already made $310 from my neighbor & my mother had some of her co-workers come over.

So, as I said it is hard work but depending on your area it really might be worth it.
Btw--we always have ours during our city-wide garage sales, so there are MANY people out.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I normally just donate everything, that way we get it out of here quickly, but this year I'm planning to have a yard sale with DH aunt. I have several bigger baby items that I want to get rid of, and bunches of clothes that ds2 has outgrown. We will be moving in the next 6-8 months, and I'm hoping to get rid of a bunch of stuff. What doesn't sell will be going to charity at the end of the day, it's NOT coming back in the house!

Steph

 

[Misty89]

We have had 2 since 9/2002. Our first one we took in $1900. We sold alot of baby equipment at that one & our second sale in 5/2003 we made $1700.

can i ask what kind of baby stuff you sold ? are you in a low or middle income area?
we are having our first garage sale may 1st....and i have ( to me) a ton of baby stuff, from every darn toy made in 1999 LOL to a pack n play, etc. i am curious how much i could make!!!! ( i already know i would be happy with $200)
also we have a few large ticket items, a fridge and a upright freezer...so i hope we get a good chucnk of $$ !!

also.thanks for the tipp about the lemonade stand! - my DD will love that idea! that way she can " earn " money too




Tina

 

[Luv2Roam]

When it is just me -- it isn't worth it. I don't have THAT much for a yard sale. Odds and ends. I usually walk away with $100. But it is A LOT of work before, during and after. Often, I rather just take the tax deduction.
Now one place I worked was a large dept. Once a year at least a half dozen of us got together and had one LARGE garage/yard sale.
We split the cost, had a carry in and a great time. And it made it easy and fun. (One day sale)

 

[PatriciaH]

We usualy do Saturday and/or Sunday 9am-2pm. At the two sales we have had we made over $500 and most of it was small stuff! We do take an ad out in the newspaper for $25 or so. We are in a middle class area and do get EARLY birds. The first sale I was annoyed at them but the second sale one guy bought a TON of stuff early and you know what I was GLAD We price/tag the items 1-2 nights before and keep the tables set up in the garage. The morning of the sale we just carry them out! We make sure to have plenty of change and bags/boxes for people. We also run an extention cord from the garage so people can test electric items. We are looking forward to our sale this spring. It is hard work but worth it to us for the $$ we make in one day! We are in the middle of 2 busy streets so this helps

 

[CEDmom]

I'd say give it to charity and possibly consider trying to sell anything really good on ebay. Our neighborhood had a yard sale last year and we participated. I got so fed up with people trying to nickel and dime me as though they were doing me a favor by buying stuff that I won't do it again. I tried selling DD's highchair and pack n play which were almost new and people were trying to offer me $10-15 for each when new they were $90 each. I packed it in after and few hours and gave the stuff to charity. We got a nice write off and I plan to do the same with more of DD's stuff.

I think you have to be of a certain frame of mind for this type of thing and it just isn't me.

 

[SnowWitch]

Yard sales can be alot of work. After our first 2 experiences, I now plan as I take clothes my kids have outgrown out of their closet. I have a huge rubbermaid container, I price it, fold it, and throw it in the container. No folding, sorting , or pricing later!

I just grabbed a container this past weekend and went to a friend's house that was having and yardsale and made $150 with no effort!

We're having a big one at my home in about a month. And we live in a fairly rural area.

 

[gassmandy]

This is a great topic. We are doing our second Sat. (this Sat.) for our neighborhood's garage sale. Anyone in the neighborhood can "set up shop" and our homeowners association put the ad in the paper for us. The reason it's our 2nd Sat is because the paper messed up and didn't run the ad last Sat., but w/ all the signs up in front of our entry to the neighborhood--it was a decent turn out. I have TONS of baby stuff--onesies, pj's, outfits, swing, toys, as well as other clutter. Let's put it this way--with NO paper ad this past week, and with only about 5-10% of my stuff having sold (due to low crowds) I still made $101. I plan on making at least 300-400 more. I spent a good week pricing items and HANGING up all my daughters (and our) clothes. I found some good web sites w/ pricing hints and other tips. It said that if you hang the clothes up--their perceived value is higher--and it is working!! It also said that one problem is people tend to under-price. I priced the items a dollar or 2 higher than what I'd want ( bigger items 5-10 more) knowing that I could always go down! Which in some cases I did and other cases I didn't have to. My sister sold her pack n play for $35. It was used only a few times and she threw in some sheets too. This week our neighborhood should be packed w/ the ad running for sure this time!!! Wish me luck!!!

 

[jacksonsmom]

Originally posted by Misty89
can i ask what kind of baby stuff you sold ? are you in a low or middle income area?
we are having our first garage sale may 1st....and i have ( to me) a ton of baby stuff, from every darn toy made in 1999 LOL to a pack n play, etc.

I had stroller, baby tub, baby dresser, those stationary "walkers" (had two of them), TONS of baby toys (V-tech, little tykes, Fisher price, etc) TONS of infant clothes. (I was lucky, my son rarely spit up so his clothes looked brand new!), bouner chair, high chair.....I think I am forgetting some things but that is at the top of my head.

As far as what kind of area, we really have a mixed of income in this area. It isn't really low but I would say average to middle income.

With baby clothes, if you can HANG UP the clothes. They go SO much better that way. I think I only had about 4 outfits left by the time the sale was over.
Do not price your toys too cheap! If they are brand name toys, like V-tech, Fisher Price, Little Tykes, Step 2...price them at a nice price.
I sold my Fisher Price Little People barn for $6.00.
I sold one of my stationary walkers for $25.00
V-tech toys, I mark between $3.00-$7.00 ( a few even up to $10, those V-tech toys can be spendy) depending on the toy.
Little tykes are another great toy that people are usually willing to pay a little higher for.
If they still look brand new, people are willing to pay that price.
Now, if the toy looks like it has been played with ALOT then I mark it accordingly.

I tell you I have never had a Little Tykes, V-tech or Step 2 toy left after any of my garage sales!!!!

Good Luck!!!!!

 

[gassmandy]

Another thing to add--I have TONS of Gymboree and Janie and Jack clothes and I am doing better w/ those on ebay rather than garage sales. People don't want to pay $5 an outfit but I can get about $8/outfit on ebay. Carters and other brands--$1 or $2 at garage sale since they aren't popular on ebay. I sold a complete Janie and Jack outfit (6-12 months) on ebay for $32 final bid (cargo jumper, matching shirt, canvas shoes, bucket hat, socks). i would've been lucky to get $8-10 at garage sale. I paid more than $32 initially for all (probably 50-80) but since I bought it when it was on sale--I made back 1/2 of what I paid. Granted it was in excellent condition. Worn 2 times while the hat and shoes were never worn. Gotta love ebay---my tip--if you do ebay sell things that "go" well on ebay as opposed to trying to squeeze a dollar or 2 out of someone at a garage sale.
With that said--still can't wait till this weekend!!

 

[floridafam]

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to ask for a Playstation at a yard sale.

It works, we just no longer use it.

Also, I have tons of household stuff and don't know what to ask for glassware, books, dishes, etc.

I am beginning to think I shouldn't have a yard sale. I don't want to sell the stuff for pennies but I don't want to ask too much for it, either.

Thanks