Has anyone here had a yard sale? I'm planning my first one for next weekend

[Trailrider1951]

I have lots of good stuff that I don't use anymore, and I can surely use the cash. Can you give me any tips for a successful sale? I'll be in and out all day today and tomorrow prepping for the sale, and I would appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks!

[hlthe2b]

1. Help is key. To set up, to man it (avoid things "walking off," ) to move things hurriedly in rain,

and to help you move what is left over.

I've tried to do them with virtually no help--maybe a friend coming over to add some things to the sale but only staying a few hours. Uggh. Never again.

Oh, and expect some people to come REALLY EARLY-- when you are setting up--and well before any advertised starting time. AND, as to the latter, you do need to advertise, unless it is a community-wide sale that already offers banners, signage and probably some promotion.

Increasingly people want to not pay with cash or check so be prepared to offer digital alternatives like Venmo, maybe Paypal, or have a credit card scanner if it is a big enough sale.

If you have expensive items that you really need to recoup at least some of what you have in it, a yard sale is generally a poor way to sell. Most items go for pennies on the dollar. Likewise, have a variety of items to attract the widest interest. If you know something is likely to attract interest (e.g., tools) and you have a lot of them, you might do a separate Craig's List or another type of ad to bring this to the attention of those who might come for those specifically.

[Inkey]

2. Best Wishes for a successful sale !

I have seen alot of yard sales. Posting signs near
by on busy roads helps. Small adhesive tags for
pricing works, but expect a little haggling.
Setting up theme areas of the items is good.
Keep any small valuable items near you is a good idea.
Have a helper to also assist you.

[MOMFUDSKI]

3. Price stuff reasonably. ADVERTISE on Craig's List if you are able. Put signs out in your 'Hood.

If it is big stuff (furniture, etc.) add OBO (or best offer) to the price tag. Be willing to come down on offers. You don't want to end the day having to put it all back into your house/garage because you were too in love with it to let go. Put a "FREE" box at the bottom of your driveway and make sure to point it out to the folks. Keep adding to it as you see which things will just not sell. The goal is to get it out of your hair. Play some background music and HAVE FUN. Loosy Goosy will win the day. Good luck!

[MOMFUDSKI]

4. Price stuff reasonably. ADVERTISE on Craig's List if you are able. Put signs out in your 'Hood.

If it is big stuff (furniture, etc.) add OBO (or best offer) to the price tag. Be willing to come down on offers. You don't want to end the day having to put it all back into your house/garage because you were too in love with it to let go. Put a "FREE" box at the bottom of your driveway and make sure to point it out to the folks. Keep adding to it as you see which things will just not sell. The goal is to get it out of your hair. Play some background music and HAVE FUN. Loosy Goosy will win the day. Good luck!

[Runningdawg]

5. Make sure the first thing people see are NOT clothes.

Furniture, tools and electronics up front, flanked by books, art and household items.
Don't spend time pricing each individual item. Price them in groups.
Post signs;
Hardback books $2 each, paperbacks $1,
Plates .50, cups .25, cutlery 3/$1
Jeans $5 pair, shoes $3 pair
Also use signs to make deals; People love to think they are getting a great deal;
Buy one get one free, 1/2 off after 5 pm, make me an offer, barter....
Have an electrical connection available for people to check electronics, and a light bulb if you are selling lamps.
Hang a sign over a cooler near your location and sell water/soda.
Cash only, don't hold items, have plenty of change available.

[usonian]

6. Price everything twice what you want and accept the first half-price offer.

Good luck. Sell lemonade. You might make more money that way.

[taxi]

10. This

If you were selling dollar bills there would be people offering you 25 cents. To make it worse, they are the ones who try to make you feel quilty about refusing the offer. Good luck!!!

[Mr.Bill]

7. If you advertise, state in the advertising

that this is your very first yard sale. Many of the buyers at yard sales are pros that buy and then resell items at their own yard sales. If you go to enough yard sales, you start seeing the same junk getting resold. Saying this is your first sale means fresh merchandise on the market.

Also state in the ad that you have tools for sale if you do. This always attracts buyers. Also children's items, anything from clothes to toys. If you don't want people camping out in front of your driveway before sunrise advertise "no early birds". The pros know what this means. Be punctual with your opening time.

If you have a good turnout from the advertising, expect to do about 75% of your sales in the first hour or two. It will trickle in from there. If you really want everything gone, consider lowering prices about halfway through the day. Stay firm on your prices for the first few hours.

[2naSalit]

8. All of the above.

I want to add though, people will show up too early make sure nothing is next to an outer fence, do not put things out the night before unless it's in a fenced yard that locks and it's too big to carry off. Do not let anyone in early and be stern with those who whine. Seriously. People turn into jerks in a hurry when they don't get their way.

Have plenty of help, offer those people the opportunity to add items if they have them so they have some skin in the game and will stick with you throughout.

Otherwise, have fun, hope you make some cash.

[Niagara]

9. Advertise, advertise, advertise.

Put up an abundance of signs. Please remember to take those signs back down after the yard sale is over.


Actually, if possible having a multi-family yard sale or a community sale brings in a multitude of shoppers. So if address 12, 14, 15, 16 and 19 on Cherry Street will bring a high volume of traffic.


Make sure that items to be sold are in working order and are clean such as dishes, drinkware or collectibles. Make sure clothing is clean and there's no holes. Same with shoes. Perhaps keep a mirror nearby the clothing so that shoppers can hold a shirt up to themselves. Although, you'll have to label the mirror "not for sale", unless you're actually selling a mirror.



There are some items like collectibles that I do price a tad higher since any type of sale will bring in hagglers. And you will get hagglers. If you get a shopper that's not a haggler but they're looking at an item, you can let them know that your flexible about prices. Books and DVD's could go for 4 for $2. Tools could be bundled as well.



You'll want plenty of cash and coins on hand. The more people that you bring into your sale, the more restroom breaks that the sale holders can have and someone else can answer questions or watch the cash box. Very imperative. I keep a notebook on on hand and if more than one person is selling items, everyone gets their own page on what was sold and who's item it was originally with how much they made.


Keep an extension cord nearby for any appliances, lamps or what haves. Keep batteries nearby if you're selling items that need batteries, you don't have to keep the batteries in said items. Just place the batteries in items so that costumers know the items does indeed work.


Don't forget to provide shoppers with boxes, bags, and newspaper so that they can carry their new treasures out to their vehicles. The newspaper will help protect breakables from breaking on the way home. I recently purchased quite a bit of Indiana Glass pieces at a yard sale. The sale holder had placed my goodies in a box wrapped each piece with newspaper.




If there are younger children helping out, have them set out a lemonade stand.



Depending on how many days your sale is, you'll usually get a jerk that will stop by at the last minute on your last day and will really want to haggle. Sometimes these people will be fast talkers, so please be aware.


Hope some of this helps. Good luck, Trailrider1951.


P.S. Do you have any Indiana Glass or Fenton pieces for sale?

[Diamond_Dog]

11. All of the above

And … this is a pet peeve of mine …. If you make a sign to advertise your sale and nail it to a pole on a street corner or something, make sure the letters are big and bold enough to read while driving by in a car. I can’t believe the signs advertising yard sales I see that are written in small letters scribbled in pen that are impossible to read or flapping around in the wind written on flimsy cardboard. And, take ‘em down the same day your sale is over.

Good luck!

[a kennedy]

12. Bundle items with same price instead of individual prices is possible, as stated above.

This is huge, and good luck, hope ya raise tons O’ money.

[brush]

13. Post directional signs with arrows on the major intersections...

near your house. Use red or orange flourescent poster board. Tack to a tree of tape to light poles. A couple of cut out arrows mid-block to your house, and of course a big one at your house.

Get the sheets of sticky back dots to magic marker a price on pieces...$4.00, $10.00 like so.

Have long tables to put items on. if not enough table, use blankets on the driveway.

Have chairs for yourself and friend. Station yourself behind the main table with the most valuable items. Be cheerful and prepared to haggle. Price a bit more than you really want and come down when haggling.

Towards the end of the day, tell custormers you're cutting prices as you're about to pack it in.

Have change, ones, fives, tens and quarter.

Good luck.

[Marthe48]

14. Make sure you have plenty of change and bags or boxes

When I have a sale, I try to start with $100.00 of change, mostly small bills and about $5 in coins. Keep the money with you, do not leave your change box unattended. Have a notebook that you can count up a multiple purchase. Also, if someone wants something you haven't put out, get their name and phone number. Follow up later. Have plenty of bags, plastic or paper. I noticed the last few sales I held, people didn't want bags as much as they used to. Have one person manage the money. If you have several people helping, make sure they are identifiable as being part of your sales force.

Get up at least an hour before your sale starts, even earlier if you have a let to set up. If you don't want early birds, mention that in your newspaper ads. They'll come anyway, but you tried

If you are selling kids' stuff, put it on lower tables and out front the the kids will see it. I usally put chairs out, either for people to rest, or to sit and look through jewelry, books or other items like that.

The free box is a good idea, and adding to it through the day is a nice touch.

Good luck!

[LakeArenal]

16. Yes a free box really works and it's amazing what people will take for free

I will added.: as said before lemonade but I say sell bottles of ice water. It will sell.

Clean your stuff. No dust no dog hairs

Some one will be there too early. Be prepared for a response.

If you have time or get a friend to have some baked goods.

Look people on the eyes and smile. If you look like you’re having fun it will be contagious.

You might advertise, no pets. People will let their dogs pee on your stuff.

Maybe have music.

[Marthe48]

17. One of my friends had a free box at her sale

She didn't know what to think when someone picked the whole box up and took it

[LakeArenal]

20. I had a clock. Sign does not work. First thing to go. Just a plastic clock.

A bag of plastic grocery bags. Half chewed rubber dog toy. A broken vase!!! Parts missing. It’s crazy.

[Trailrider1951]

15. Thanks everyone for your tips! I've already roped my adult son into this venture

and hopefully everything will sell on Friday and Saturday. I don't have any real valuables to sell. The priciest items are a used gas BBQ grill, an electric lawn mower, a used street bicycle, and 2 large pet carriers that I used for my cats when moving up here. All clothing will be free, along with a couple of large pails of white roof coating that was left here by the former occupants. Other items include a computer monitor, a camping cot, and two large rolling duffle bags. Just stuff that I don't use anymore and need to pass along to someone who can use it.

[Marthe48]

18. Sounds like a fun sale

Let us know how it goes

[keithbvadu2]

19. No one can shop like an 8 year old girl.

If he has a buck, a boy will find something for a dollar and spend it.

A girl will find 5 things for a quarter each.