Ok I have decided that here in a couple of weeks I am having a HUGE yard sale. I have never had one. I am kind of nervous. Please tell me you secrets, hints, ideas and thoughts for a successful yard sale!!
We live in an area that should be very good for a yard sale. I walked down to a neighbors today and I was shocked at the turnout. I have sooooo much stuff to sale. How inthe world do I get started?
All the advice sounds good! I ALWAYS have a cooler of sodas and water and caprisuns on hand. For myself, but also sell them for 75 cents or a dollar! You can make your money back if not more and you always need them for yourself!
I've had many sales and as for getting change ahead of time I usually get $50 in 1's and $40-$50 in fives since many people will start the morning with a $20 bill and need change. Also get a roll of quarters ($10) and have some dimes and nickels maybe like a dollar of each. That should do it for change. If you are having other people bring stuff to sale then make sure to either mark your initials on everything or have different kinds of tags/stickers. We had a garage/yard sale last weekend (we had 5 families) and it was great! Let me know if you have any specific questions I'd be happy to help. Don't forget to sell all of your 1/2 used bottles of hairspray or sunblock for 10 cents - 25 cents! It really adds up and people will really buy that stuff! Good luck!
I for one HATE garage sales. The people who come to you want something for nothing. Be ready to deal and watch the crowd. You need more than 1 person watching what is going on. Have plenty of change on hand.
I do not mean to sound rude but it we decided it is not worth our time to try to garage sale.
I was sick that I paid $50 for a pair of Abercrombie jeans for my daughter that she outgrew before they were worn out and I was offered a measley $2 for them. I only asked $10 for them which I consider reasonable. I can get a better deduction on my taxes for that.
Be ready for a long stressful day. I have learned to donate donate donate!!! However, I just placed my first ad on ebay today!!! Another mom said that is the way to go!!
Susan
Try to get two or three people to be there with you to just watch people and answer questions. When you are busy with a customer is when you will be likely to get ripped off. Good luck!!!!!! :)
You might want to try a site called jbfsales.com. It is a site that has a sale twice a year. the sales are in many areas. There is one next week in Ft. Worth. Then one in North Richland Hills,Denton, Arlington, Aledo/Weatherford,and Dallas at later dates. It is like a huge garage sale but they run it for you.Plus you don't have to worry about stuff disappearing. You get a percentage depending on if you just sell stuff or volunteer to help. The JBF stands for Just Between Friends. It is very well attended. The one in Ft.Worth will be at Will Rogers Memorial Center Exhibit Hall. You can go to the site for more information. They take kids clothes, toys and furniture items, maternity clothes and sometimes have a area for other household furniture. Most people get a better return at this than at a consignment shop. Hope this helps you.
Get all the stuff you're going to sell and have it ready in the garage the night before and have everything clearly marked with the price. Be aware that most people who come to yard sells come to shop and negotiate so have a good idea of the lowest price you will accept on some of your bigger items.
Do not accept checks, cash only!!! Get change from the bank before hand, lots of $1s. Always have the $$ with you, never put it down somewhere. Have someone else out with you to help but make sure customers don't play you against each other with pricing. Also most people are honest but some people will tell you they've paid the other person when that's not the case so watch out for that.
Put your signs out the morning of and be prepared that as soon as people see the signs you'll have customers. When we had a community garage sale last year people were out waiting on the street and as soon as I opened the garage doors (before 7am) they started coming in.
Good luck!!
I agree w/other poster. Get change at the bank the day before. Only accept cash. If people give you a sob story.... don't buy it....tell them where the closest ATM is.
Also... keep the change/money on your body -- like in a small purse strapped to you at all times; or a fanny pack.
Keep expensive items near where you'll be sitting (or a helper will be sitting) -- items like jewelry, electronic gadgets, etc. So they don't grow feet and walk off.
Price things reasonably. Search online at craigslist or ebay if you have no idea what to price something at. This is a garage sale and people go to these for bargains. Don't think 'well, i paid this much for it so i should get this for it.'
Your items are USED. Not new. So don't expect to get "new" prices on them.
Advertise your garage sale on craigslist w/specifics on what you'll sell; times you'll be open. Say "no early birds" on your ad so you won't get people knocking on your door early.
