How do i have a successful yard sale HELP NEVER DID A YARD SALE?
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1) Give clear directions in large print on your signs. Keep info on them to the minimum since people are driving as they see them & don't have the time to read alot.
2) Price everything. People are turned off by having to ask how much things are. Some refuse to ask for that reason. Use those little round stickers you can buy at Wal-Mart.
3) Price things to sell if getting rid of them is your object. If you have antiques/collectibles, you can price them according to their value. Check e-bay for ideas how to do this.
4) Antique dealers will come early to try to scoff up all the good stuff before people get there. If you do not want that, put "No early birds" on your sign or newspaper ad.
5) Fold clothing or hang on hangers. Make sure clothing,glassware and other items are clean. No one wants to buy dirty items.
6) If it should be thrown away because of it's condition, don't put it out to sell.
7) Be sure to take down your signs after the sale is over.
8) Items that don't sell can either be donated to charity or placed at the curb with a sign on them saying "Free" before garbage collection day. You'd be surprised how many people cruise neighborhoods after sales looking for this opportunity.
9) Keep your money in a small purse over your shoulder or a fanny pack around your waist. Do not have it in a tin box sitting on a table. People have been known to walk off with it. Have lots of one and five dollar bills for change. Some people use the ATM before going to sales & have big bills. Have some coins, too. Write down the amount you are starting with so you know how much money you made.
10) Have fun with it--you'll meet alot of nice people!
Sell the stuff cheap.
Keep money made out of public view for safety.
Have two people at the sale for the same reason.
Put a time limit on it so that people will feel and urgency to come.
Make sure everything is clean or dusted. Organize by group such as dishes, lighting, electrical, clothing etc. If you have lots of clothes and can hang them up do it by size or season etc. Put the attention getters out in front so people driving by will see them and stop. Be ready to accept lower prices. Most people will make an offer just to get it for less. Have an outlet available so you can show an appliance works. Have plenty of change and dollar bills for the person who gives you a $20 for a $1.00 item.
In addition make sure you have change
arrange items so they catch the eye
place clothing by size also if you know the size mark it on the item.
Be willing to negotiate
Good Luck
This is advice coming from an avid yard-saler!! Sell cheap, after all you want rid of it so don't go overboard on the prices.
Don't sell broken, torn or non-working items, just throw them away.
And finally.remember people are trying to find you, don't be afraid to post signs. I have given up on lots of sales this year because they didn't have signs posted and I couldn't find them with only an address! Hope you're successful!
If it's hot have someone (kids) sell cookies/lemonade
Even if something's not perfect have a :freebie box..You'd be suprised at what people take. If you have larger items like furniture price in on the high side, but know that you'll probably negotiate much lower...
What I do is make sure everything is organized and priced a little more than I expect for it. That way you can have room to haggle as you can alway come down in price. If you are putting something expensive out make sure it is within viewing distance, you would be surprised how quickly things can disappear. When it gets to be the afternoon and somethings are not moving but you see people looking at them go up and offer them at reduced prices. Say something like "if your really interested in this I can let that go for x number of dollars. Good luck and get plenty of rest the day before and put out lots of signs with proper directions and that people can read from cars.
Make signs with large lettering so that when people drive by your sign, they won't have to squint to read where your yard sale is. Keep it simple. Like: Yard Sale, Today, Street Address and maybe an arrow pointing the way.
I keep my money in a fanny-pack so that it never leaves my sight. Price everything so that you'll only be handling dollar bills and quarters (instead of a dime for something, make it two for a quarter, etc.). I go to the bank and get a roll of quarters, 20-40 ones, a few fives and tens.
Sometimes, I will put a whole sack of stuff for a set amount. These items need to be very similar, like matching dishes, clothing of the same style/size. The stuff goes faster this way and I had less to take to charity when I was done.
It should look clean and organized when peple drive by. If everything looks clumped together, people will just go on or at least have a hard time looking for something.
Price everything to sell and keep everything organized and neat. Nobody like to see a whole bunch of junk scattered on the ground. Put as much as you can on tables.
Like the others are saying make sure its clean & cheap but I know from having a few make it appealing buy balloons & put them up everywhere make sure there's lots of walking room & if you have a driveway move the car..we handed out water as well was a hot day & a case is cheap even sold the cooler they were in.
Good Luck
Hang as many items as possible on the fence for people to see as they pass.Price every thing.Write the price on the tag inside the clothes.Advertise well.Set up your table by the exit,people do steal from yard sales.Signs at the end of street really help.Some people put sign on their car in front of sale.Don't go down right away,people will like or not like the items.Have fun at sale,if hot sale water for cheap to keep them there..Hope this helps,I am a yard sale Queen.I put down my pet peeves.
Lots of good advice. I'd add to put big items out front that would entice people--like a play house or furniture; do mark everything--makes it go smoother as people tend to arrive in groups. Clean stuff sells, dusty or dirty stuff turns them off to everything else as well.
Use garage sale stick on tags that are prepriced, makes it easier to mark stuff. don't pile stuff on the floor or drive; just big items. Older people don't want to bend over to pick stuff up to look at it--you can make tables out of doors or 2x4s with pieces of plywood, sitting on chairs. People will come early-- at my uncle's estate sale I had people sitting out front at 6:00 am while it was still dark. Don't let them in if you are not ready, though. The early birds tend to try and get stuff cheap and will haggle a lot.
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