I'm Having a yard sale!

[dolphin]

This will only be my 2nd yard sale in 50 years, lol. I'm having it weekend after next on Friday and Saturday.

I've read all of the stuff online about how to do them and gotten great advice from some of you ladies like using one of those change purse things that goes around your waiste so I think I can do it. The only problem will be that I'll be doing it all by myself so there is the theft factor but I'll just have to do the best I can.

If any one has any advice or tips for me I would really appreciate them. Also, I need all of your support to do this since I will have to take pain pills just to get it done. Luckily I have a hand truck and a wheel barrow I can use to haul stuff out to the driveway so that will help. Dh might help a little if I beg but ds will be gone out of town that whole weekend for his work so I can't get him to help.

I'm just hopeing and praying that I can get a lot of people to come out here. My neighbors had one a few months ago and there were gobs of people at their sale so I'm hopeing they will come to mine too. Everyone says to just make sure you have lots of signs and so I'll be making signs and putting them on boxes. Then you put rocks in the boxes. LOL It's the only way to do it around here with the winds and not having telephone poles at every corner. I'll also be putting an add in the paper with directions to my house.

Wish me luck and pain free days please.

[FrugalMomof3]

I hope you do well! I love having yard sales, I will be having one in about a month or so.

Good Luck!

[Pepper]

Good Luck.....wish I was closer, I've got the fever

[Vannie]

Just reading your post, it looks like you have it in control. Good luck.

[Emerald_Mommy]

Good luck! I wish we lived where there were year round yard sales!

[Valerie in WA]

My advice is to price most items very low - you'd rather sell them for a modest price than give them away, right? The exception is higher valued items. For instance, in my region clothing shouldn't be more than a dollar, but if you have a gorgeous business suit in like-new condition, be fair and price it at $10.

A general rule of thumb is your price should be 10-25% of the new price.

If you have owner's manuals, put them with the items, such as a crockpot. Not only is it nice to have instructions or recipes, but it shows that you take care of things.

Bag up little pieces in ziplock bags.

If you have lots of small items, put them in boxes and label the boxes 25c each, 50c each, etc.

Another way to keep pricing simple: Post signs that say: "Adult clothing 50c, Jackets $1, Books 25c"

Post a big sign that says "FEEL FREE TO MAKE AN OFFER".

If someone walks up to you with six items that total $5.75, and they say "Will you take $5?" just say 'yes.'

Have bags and old newspapers available to wrap items.

If you see someone holding more than three things, bring them a bag so that they can shop more easily (and pick up more things).

Have coffee or cans of pop for sale. This works well if you have small children to ask customers (on their way out) "Would you like to buy a pop?" We bought our usual soda from Costco (at 17c-21c per can) and sold them for 50c each - we made $12 just on those! If you do coffee, you'd have to factor in cups, sugar & cream and it might just be too much trouble.

A newspaper ad is GREAT!! If you have craigslist in your area, make sure to list your sale there too, and include any big ticket items you have.

Good luck!! Let us know how it goes.

[madkat2618]

Lots of good advice from Valerie! The only thing I might add is to put arrows on your signs, pointing which way to turn. It never fails when DH & I go to garage sales, we always turn the wrong way down the street! LOL!

[dolphin]

Wow! You girls are great! This is really valuable advice and I thank you so very much!

Update and great news!!!! Dh is going to try and pry the big garage door open so I can use the inside of the gargage too! (it's busted and won't open but a friend said he will help him try to get it to open). Yeah!!! He is in a pretty good mood and is doing everything I'm asking him to do, lol.

About the ad in the paper: Do you think it matters if I just list it like....Sale, day, date, time, addy, and directions or should I list some stuff? The difference would be between spending $18.00 or $33.00 for the ad. Does all the "fluff" really matter or will people come if I just list that I'm having a sale?

I've already decided that I can't even list the stuff like the organ, snowmobiles, and vehicles because no one will be here except me on Friday and I would have to let people in the house and/or leave the yard sale to take them to the back yard to show them the vehicles and snowmobiles so I guess I'll have to put that stuff in a seperate ad with my phone number.

Should I put a sign up that says "not responsible for accidents or injuries", or am I responsible anyway if someone gets hurt?

Would you put up a sign that says....CASH ONLY!....or do people already know that?

How about a sign that says "no refunds"?

I have a whole bunch of coffee mugs to get rid of and they don't usually sell well so I thought I would offer coffee in a mug for .25 cents and they take the mug with them, lol. I won't offer cream or sugar.

Will $50.00 in change and bills be enough or will I need more? How do you break down how much change you will need?

Do you ever let people use your bathroom or do you adamantly say no?

I'll probably have more questions as I go along. Thank you so much for your support on this.

[Julia Kimber]

Good luck with the yard sale Carolyn! Hope you gets lots of customers.

Julia

[chewawalove]

I'd be cautious offering coffee. It's a very nice gesture, but the risks involved with hot coffee would concern me. Most folks would probably be fine, but my luck would be to get one of the sue-happy ones...urrggh.

Good Luck with your garage sale !!

[Mom23boys]

I wouldn't let anyone use my restroom, but I am a worry wart anyway. It's the thought of them looking through my cabinets, etc.

As for as the newspaper ad, when I am looking through the classifieds for garage sales I like to see what people are offering. It helps me make the decision whether or not I plan to go there or not.


Good luck on the garage sale Carolyn!!

[dolphin]

Thanks everyone! My arms were killing me today and I was so very tired that all I did was make my signs but atleast that job is almost done.