What makes for a good yard sale?

**ml2620** · 05-01-2009, 10:37 AM

I'm sure many of you are experienced yard salers, both as a buyer and a seller. What do you think makes for a good yard sale?

Do you have any tips of signage, organizing stuff, pricing, dealing with people - any horror stories, any big success stories? Best things to buy at a yard sale? We have lots and lots of furniture to sell.

DH came home with the "final truckload" of stuff from his batchelor apartment. That's right, 26 foot truck of packed crapola (the fourth truckload that is supposed to fit into our 1500 sf home!) And the house is already full, and he wants his mother to move in (which is fine, but where do we put her stuff?) We will be having yard sales all summer!

Any and all advice appreciated!

**Thevail** · 05-01-2009, 12:00 PM

For clothing...don't over price, offer the buy two get one free thing, or maybe fill a bag for $5 or whatever, and try (even if you have to talk friends and relatives into donating) to get as wide a variety of sizes as possible.

Make your signs a distinctive color and use BIG arrows to point towards the next sign or corner. It's hard to read small print at 25 mph. and use a few more than you think you need. Remember, you know where your house is, others don't.

Talk to the neighbors about the parking issue. It's wierd getting yelled at by the neighbors because you parked in front of their house to go to a yardsale on the other side of the street.

Everything at the yardsale should be CLEAN. Kids lick stuff..

**Contrary Housewife** · 05-01-2009, 12:18 PM

Price stuff. Get a pack of stickers and label things, or make a sign that says "this table $1" or something. I hate having to constantly ask, "how much is this? And this? And this here? " especially if the seller is busy talking with someone else. I'll usually just walk away without buying if nothing is priced.

**ahmom** · 05-01-2009, 12:39 PM

Make things cheap enough.
price everything

Make sure there is enough signs pointing to your sale.

**rmy9** · 05-01-2009, 12:51 PM

Organization. Try to keep things in themed sections. I second the note about making sure everything is priced.

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 05-01-2009, 05:44 PM

Clean!! No one wants to by work. Make sure your stuff is clean. Remember most things can be run throught the dishwasher and cleaned up easy. Kids toys pop them in and wash away. Price everything. Set up early! Even if your up before the sun have it all priced out and ready to rock and roll. Instead of hauling it out with folks standing around. They'll leave and thats lost sales. Stay open late and deal! Think do you want to haul it back in and find room for it or put money in your pocket?

Laurie in Bradenton

**mauimagic** · 05-01-2009, 07:16 PM

Great ideas!! Tomorrow is our yard sale - have a lot of pricing to finish tonight!!

**known2him5** · 05-01-2009, 07:33 PM

Keep your money in a fanny pack. . . where you can keep track of it at all times.

Price everything, and try to keep like items priced the same. . . it's too easy for someone to switch price tags.

Have a place for people to plug in and try out electronics -- they won't buy if they aren't sure they'll work.

If you have high priced items (antiques, rare collectibles) it helps to find like items on eBay, etc. and print out the going price for the items. .. then price yours slightly less.

**Michelle** · 05-01-2009, 07:34 PM

ITA with putting prices on everything. If there's no price on it, I won't ask, and the seller misses out on a sale.

:goodluck: with your sale!

**savvy_sniper** · 05-01-2009, 07:38 PM

Price items to sell, not for people to look at and walk away. You don't want to pack it up and take it back inside.

Use stickers with prices. Don't make people come to you and ask how much.

Try to put things on tables, racks, etc. I am getting old and it is hard to get down to the ground to look at things AND then get up again.

Have plenty of change.

Have AT LEAST one person to help you on the day of the sale; more if possible.

Put up signs and make them READABLE.

Take down signs when your sale is over. I hate driving to a house only to find out the sign is from last weekend or even earlier!

**spyzvixxen** · 05-01-2009, 09:48 PM

No advice, just wishing u good luck! Around here, "no early birds" seems to appear in most of the classified ads. Wonder if people really abide by that or not?

**Must-Stash** · 05-02-2009, 02:49 AM

Everything that comes home with me gets cleaned by me before use. It does not matter to me that it's spotless looking. It still gets cleand.

If I want it, I'll ask the price of the item, just as I would ask if they will take less if I feel it's priced too high.

A smile and friendly/helpful attitude is always appreciated and makes me want to spend more time at a sale.

A good sale is one that offers what I want/need at a price I want to pay. That translates into luck and timing for the seller and buyer.

**frugalwarrior** · 05-02-2009, 09:53 AM

1. Put prices on everything and be clear if you'll take less and when.

2. Cash only sign on the garage.

3. Make sure you price market and not sentimental.

4. Bear in mind I want to get in and out because I have 96 other sales to go to.

5. Have a fanny pack. Have lots of fives and ones and small change. Don't ever leave your monet unattended.

6. Be out there when I walk up. It is awkward to walk up and have to yell "Hello". It makes me feel I shouldn't be there.

7. Don't or watch or oversell. PLease just let me look. If there is anything I'm looking for I"ll ask.

8.Sell water and cokes. Munchies-packaged. I am picky about hygiene and I don't want homemade cookies or koolaid and I feel bad disappointing little one or secretly throwing into someones bus when their not looking.

9.Make sure everything is washed. I can't stand a smelly garage sale. If an item needs washing I will pay alot less.

10. Hang all clothes you can by size. Use storage tubs for small items-this tub .50 or Girls 2T-4T priced as marked.

11. PLease do not tag w/ straight pins (oww).

12. Watch for stealing w/ large groups.

13. Play some not to loud music. Say hello when I walk up. PLease don't bicker w/ friends and spouses (its so awkward when people yell at their children)

14. If I ask politely for less on a price and you don't want to please just say no thanks. I have people say NO. LIke I was trying to rip them off.

15. Have bright signage and easy directions,arrows maybe a large object or balloons to mark it.

16.TEll your neighbors so they can protect their grass.

17. PLace an ad in the local paper. Give easy precise directions, times, put no early birds,rain directions,give some enticing specifics. (new items,Baby items,Scrap booking)

18. Organize w/ tables,tubs,blankets make it look like a store if possible, have a try on tent, group items.

19. Have help.Expect many w/ this economy.

20. Have test batteries,extention cords and know where the closest ATM is.

21. Don't let anyone in to use your bathroom,cell phone or play on your items. Children getting hurt is your liability.

22. Put a pick up time on furniture and a time limit on holding things before you put it back.

23. Garage sales are fun but be patient you will get some wackos.

24. Keep the dog in the house and don't let the chidren run under peoples feet (best to do it when their in school)

25. Make sure anything dangerous is out of reach from kids.

26. Keep things not for sale covered in garage covered w/ sheets. Some criminals come to case your house.

27.Start you sale at 8:30 to beat the other sales. Thursday is the best garage sale day not saturday. Saturday is deal day. Offer 1/2 off on Saturday.

That outta be more than you ever wanted to know.Have a party. Gotta go I'm late for deal day. lol

**ahmom** · 05-02-2009, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by frugalwarrior

24. Keep the dog in the house and don't let the chidren run under peoples feet (best to do it when their in school)

clean up any dog piles. If I have to watch where I'm stepping I leave.

**kittykatstrong** · 05-02-2009, 09:48 PM

Every one had great advice. When I hold a garage sale I have been told one more then once that I have it set up like store.

All the like items together, on tables, and all priced. I keep my books on a bookshelf, and I put my shoes either on a table or a shoerack.

Clothes on hangers and by size. Kids clothes I put in buckets by size or on a table by size.

Big items out front on the lawn or driveway so the people driving by will want to get out of their car.

Music-mostly for me so I dont get to bored.

Good luck!!