Any tips for having a yard sale?

[Melaniee]

I did a few with my mom when I was younger...but other than that, we're yard sale virgins.

Any last minute tips?

I got a little change ($15 in ones and we have some quarters). Made humongous bright neon easy-to-read signs...everything has (or will have) little circle price stickers. We figure people go to talk you down, so we've priced a little more - is that bad idea? Like, if I'll take 25 cents for something I put 50 cents.

We want to start at 8 am (yawn) and put that in the ads (online only, unfortunately it was too last minute to make the papers). I figure we could start putting stuff out around 7:20 and send Dh and the signs off at 7:45.

What am I forgetting?

Thank You

[amanda823s]

If you have any electronics/appliances for sale, make sure you have an outlet near by so people can test them out first. I'd get some more change too...I've had a lot of people come to my yard sales and only have a $20 . As far as overpricing a little, I think that's okay. Just make sure you don't overprice too much, or people will just walk away. Some people are too shy to make an offer. Good luck and have fun!

[_Tookasmama_]

As someone who lives for yard sales, here are my thoughts : )

~ Make your stuff look as nice as possible. Even though most of us go home and rewash things we buy, sometimes it's hard to see the big picture. Last week there was this high back booster seat that I was interesed in that she wanted like, $15. Not a terrible price, but the seat was filthy, the straps were mildewy - not attractive at all. I knew that it would clean up well, but didn't want to HAVE to scrub it down for that much $$$, KWIM?

~ Have things set up sort of together. Housewares over here, baby things/clothes over there...etc, etc.

~ Talk to the people shopping, but don't hound them. I can't stand when people are trying to talk me into buying something that I really don't want/need. If I wanted that lamp I'd take it, okay?

~ More change!! You'll need it, especially if you're one of the first stops of the day for folks. Oh - and this is a great time to use up all of those plastic grocery store bags that have probably been breeding in your pantry/garage.

~ Do you have kids that can do a lemonade/koolaid stand? I don't know if it helps anything, but I get a kick out of buying it and I know my kids do too.

~ Do you have anything you can give away for free? Junky happy meal toys or whatnot? I always appreciate those when I have to take my kids out w/ me so I don't feel like a mean-ol mommy when I'm not buying them every little toy they want, and they still get something "new" too.

Good luck - hope it all sells for you!! We're having one in a couple of weeks ourselves so I'll be watching this thread!

~Ashley~

[kas]

my only tip that hasn't been mentioned would be to BARGAIN, BARGAIN BARGAIN! i hate when people would rather keep their old junk than come down off their asking price a few bucks.

hope it goes well and you make a small fortune

[Tap dancin mama]

I'd say, start earlier than 8. All the yard sale hounds go out at 7 around here.

[Chickapea]

Originally posted by amanda823s
I'd get some more change too...I've had a lot of people come to my yard sales and only have a $20

Did I come to your yard sale today? hehe

Normally, I get $20-30 in $1's and $5's and I spend them at the first yard sales that I go to b/c I figure by the time I get to the later ones, they will have change.

[apmommy]

A thought---

Our best yard sales were where we didn't try to make a killing. Most people come to yard sales with about $20 in their wallet for the morning, and so we price things .50 and .25. SOME things go for a dollar. The lure of "what else might be out there" always keeps people from plunking down $3.00 for 1 baby outfit--no matter HOW nice it is. Think about checks for big ticket items--if you say no and hold it, they usually won't bother to get the cash IMO. They'll just find another crib or whatever at another place.

Some people try to price high expecting you to come down, but it's a pain to bargain each and every single thing (or ask the price of each and every single thing).

Today, I was at a yard sale, and she was selling everything for 1.00. Great, but a video isn't really worth a dollar IMO. I would have bought 2-3 if she'd sold them for .50 but she wouldn't budge.

Also, have your clothes*folded* and grouped according to size. Even though everyone messes up the stack, *no one* looks at the junk in the big TV size boxes because there are too many good deals at other yard sales to waste valuable time at one place.

Also, *most* of my purchases for the morning are made by 7:15am. I start yard saling around 6:45am, even if the sign says 7am. By 9am, you can about forget it--most everyone is out of money or just isn't interested in buying.

I agree with having things grouped together....and want to add to consider having them on tables, chairs, old quilts, etc. Nothing irks me more than to see boxes of junk sitting around that we're supposed to comb through! lol

Last of all--focus on getting rid of the stuff. I will shamelessly bargain. I got 2 bags of Motherhood maternity clothes today--- .50 a piece and my total was 8.50. I offered $6 and she took it. I got Stride Rite shoes for .50 a pair (almost new!) for dd the same way. Ebay everything that you truly feel you could make a bit of money on, cut your losses, and yard sale the rest. Then, take everyone out for lunch to celebrate!

Good luck!
Lisa