Need some yard sale tips

[kargo]

My mom and I are going to have a yard sale next Friday and Saturday. We're trying to get some extra money so we can bring home my new Sun Conure (plus we have a bunch of stuff we don't need anymore.) I could use some tips. Anything you've got. Rant on me. Don't bring pets, price things at this, ahve lots of tables, have change on hand-anything you've got, I need it. We've never done a yard sale before and I don't want to be clueless.

 

[Elite Silkies]

The thing I hate most at a yard sale is seeing clothes piled on top of each other. I do not like to dig through stuff. Set it up so that it is appealing to the eye.

make sure most of your clothes are on hangers. Have everything priced, so that no one has to constantly ask how you want for the item.

Make sure the stuff is not dusty!! Drives me crazy

Have some Walmart baggies or some type of bag that they can carry their stuff in. Make sure you have plenty of change. Put an ad in the paper, that will get you several people coming by.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Price reasonable. Have plenty of change like at least $40 worth in small bills and actual change like quarters. Price things in 25 cent increments so folks can figure how much they are spending as they go along. Neat and spread out items are best, I can't stress that enough! It makes the sale look bigger and easier to sift through which is appealing. The last yard sale I had, I made over $600 in 2 days and didn't have all that many big items, so......it can be done! I hope you do great! Oh, and you could offer free coffee while it lasts in an ad in the local newspaper. It actually draws the early risers to your sale before they're broke

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Good signs! If people can't find you, they won't come. I've seen a sign with an address and tried finding a sale with no other signs to help find the way and I've given up, so make all of your signs the same color. Put one on the main road, and if you live back in a neighborhood, put more signs up in increments to help people get to your sale.

 

[sgtmom52]

I go to a lot of yard sales and some things I find important are ~

Good Advertising ~ newspaper & Craig's List ~ include basic list of what you have on Craig's List

Good Signs & directions to get there.

Adequate parking.

Everything priced to sell. Do not expect to get high dollars for used name brands or you will be packing it away again.

Clean items.

Have everything out of boxes and ready to sell at advertised opening time.

Have bags & newspaper to wrap purchases.

If you have children ~ make sure to have someone who can watch them so you can attend to your customers.

Although it doesn't bother me ~ a lot of people don't like or are afraid of dogs ~ if you have them make sure they are secure.

If your items are outside make sure they are covered and don't get wet overnight.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[EweSheep]

One of my pet peeves in this town are the poor sign displays, floppy signs waving around or curled up, you can not see the signs or directions. Get a white heavy duty cardboards or foamboards to post your signs and securely glued or stapled to wooden stakes or telephone poles (do not use nails! I know, us city folks still do it!).

Please, please BOLD and HEAVY prints that you can see the letters half a mile away (figurively speaking), no cursive writings or chicken scratches. Do not make bold letters with no inking space in the middle, I can not read that.

I agree about the clothes...also sort by size if you can. Put clothes on one table, dishes, kitchenwares on one table, bedsheets, towels, comforters on one table, radios, electric equipments (non tools) on one table, tools, mech. things, one table, odds and ends on one table. Toys in a box, which you want away from the items in case the kids come over and sort thru the box, not in the middle of things which customers wold have to walk around or trip on toys. You get the idea.

Sometimes on certain time during the day, if you want, you can make signs on your area that you "would take best offers, please ask!" signs or some of those after noon time, all items are 30 to 50% off!

And most of all, NOT LIABLE FOR DAMAGES OR INJURIES!!!! You break you bought it! signs would be sufficent in case someone is sue happy.

 

[babymakes6]

We have found that if we also advertise a "Bake Sale" we do better. IF you do have a bake sale, have nice-looking goodies out; offer samples; and be very clean!
Also, keep your prices reasonable. I hate going to a garage sale looking for children's clothes, and finding that everyone wants $2-3 for one shirt, or a pair of pants!

 

[dappertophatter]

Keep stuff cheap.

Make all your signs the same- put up lots and lots.

It bugs the heck out of me when people have or bring their dogs at sales- I don't LIKE dogs, and some are extremely protective of their person or yard.

OH- have a radio on- it makes people feel more comfortable if you're not the chatty type (another pet peeve there). It's also hard to ask your mom what she thinks of something in whispers.

ALWAYS say hello, good morning!

Good luck!

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Invite me & It'll be a success! I'm a " yard-sale junkie" !!!

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Great ideas so far, last one we did I had hot dogs and sodas and made more money off of the food than the sale items!!!!!