Make 'em yerself or buy 'em but put 'em up! I staple-gunned mine into special little stakes I bought at Home Depot and hammered 'em all over. Plus, I bought some helium-filled balloons and put 'em at the cross streets of my house on the sign posts. Also ... park your cars along side your house -- that way people will think there are other folks there and it's easier to spot when driving up to your house. Finally -- DON'T price things too high!! Nothing annoys me more than to go to a yard sale and find stuff astronomically priced. My theory is this -- it's your junk -- you don't want it anymore and all you want is to make a little bit off it. If your prices are lower they'll buy more and not haggle. At least that's my experience. Good luck! I made @ $400 at mine a few weeks ago and had only one carload for Goodwill.
Lynn
P.S. Get enough tables for yer stuff and have primo stuff out in front so folks driving by can see it. If you don't have tables ask buddies to borrow sawhorse and an old door or something. Nothing worse than having stuff all over the ground IMO. Also -- get change the night before! Lotsa singles!
Question - do you find that there are a lot of thieves or ripoff artists at yard sales??
It's only going to be me and DH running the show and I'm a bit nervous about security. I know not to let anyone in our house, but I'm nervous about just two of us being about to watch everything.
I've had a couple of yard sales and I don't think security is usually an issue. (unless someone has had an experience otherwise??) I've probably been stolen from, but the major high price stuff is close to me....so if anything was stolen it wasn't a lot of $$ I always make it a point to say Hi or Good morning to everyone who approaches so they are more relaxed and apt to ask questions about something they're interested in. Also if I see someone looking at baby clothes, I'll ask what size they are looking for and point them in the right direction (oh yeah..it helps if you have a lot of clothes to seperate them by size!) price everything, a lot of people see that there's no price and won't ask, they'll just pass it up. (or assume that you'll think of a price only after judging what you think they can afford) I agree with keeping the pricing low too..I can't stand going to yard sales and seeing silly prices on stuff. Advertise well, have lots of change on hand, have someone to watch the kid(s) if possible, about the time they start getting bored is about the time you get a rush of customers and it's difficult to tend to your child's needs..but you said you'll have dh there, so it might not be a problem!
ooooh, and I also agree about having your stuff on a table, I don't like going to yard sales and having to get down on the ground to look through stuff...I'm not going to take the time to really look around or "dig" when it's on the ground.
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Shannon- mama to JJ, Janae and Peyton
I would definately pay those prices without haggling!
I think a table with everything $1 is fine.
I've never heard about having the soda at a yard sale. Most people don't stay at any single yard sale that long to get real thirsty, so I don't know. If it was a hot day, maybe. Does anyone else have experience with that?
Good luck!
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Kathy - mama of four lovely girls
All four in Cinderella's Castle, youngest to oldest
If its going to be hot.. yes, I would have sodas AND bottled water I always buy something from the kids or if the parents have drinks I get one too! (here in the south some of the churches even have biscuits lol and other baked goods and I always get something)
I think your prices sound GREAT! I wouldn't haggle you down on those. Also.. as far as security.. just put the items that you are worried about on a table in front of you so you can see them at all times. I feel if someone is desperate enough to steal clothing and such from a yardsale they must need it alot more than I do.. kwim? Not an exscuse.. just reasoning lol.. plus it is one less thing you have to worry about putting back or hauling off!!
I second the LOTS of signs, run an ad in your local paper and have plenty of change.
I generally don't haggle within the first 1.5 hours of my yardsale.. after that I am pretty much open to offers.. when time gets closer to close up shop I give stuff away or get out a box of trash bags and do the fill a bag for a buck!!
Good luck! I hope you make TONS of money!! BTW I Pm'd you too!
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Toni, UNC Tarheel Lovin' Mommy to Bailey, Caleb, and Daisy!
Originally posted by KAS
I've never heard about having the soda at a yard sale. Most people don't stay at any single yard sale that long to get real thirsty, so I don't know. If it was a hot day, maybe. Does anyone else have experience with that?
As a frequent garage sale attendee here in FL (where it is in the 90's now) I almost always buy a cold drink at one place I visit during my excursion. It especially helps to have a cute kid selling the drinks
__________________ ~Kelly~
Single mum to RS, JL, andJM
cold soda and brownies (no nuts and indivdually wrapped preferably!)
I sell the stuff but the beverages (bought super cheap and sold for $1 piece) and brownies (price according to size and again...factor in the mix or ingredients) go like WILD!
My dd mans the food area (she has since 5 ish) and I supervise the transactions.
Some people come back with friends to get more later on!
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~ Mari
'Of course Sarah Palin is pro-gun, how else can she give her daughter a shotgun wedding?' ...quote from a poster named Caren.
As for security, I've never really had an issue -- at least not that I'm aware of. I figure if someone steals something - shame on them cuz truth be told, I'd most likely GIVE it to 'em! One thing I'd suggest is to have someone else watch the kids cuz once there is a small gathering, you usually soon have a crowd and personally, people can steal any possession of mine -- just not my kid! LOL So try to get a sitter or a neighbor to hang w/kiddos. I usually lock the garage door when I have a garage sale just in case. And instead of a money box, I wore a carpenter's apron ($1 at WM) and kept money there. Much safer and handy for on-the-spot sales.
Good luck, hon! Get ready to be shocked at what sells first! LOL One yard sale, I had awesome stuff and the first things to sell were some old nail polish and a half bottle perfume! LOL
Your prices look great. Like what a yard sale prices should be!
I have one suggestions though on the books. If you want to make a little more, charge a $1.00 each for the hard back books. My mom had a yard sale this weekend and she charged $1 for hardback and .50 for kids and paper and they went like crazy! Noone ever haggled the prices on those.
Have fun! It sure is a lot of work, but so much fun!
Signs, signs and more signs!
I always buy something from the kids or if the parents have drinks I get one too! (here in the south some of the churches even have biscuits lol and other baked goods and I always get something)
, JL 
, andJM 
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