You can't just set up on your lawn and expect people to show up, pay the price you want while you rake in the cash. You need to put some effort into it.
Here are some tips from my experience holding and buying from yard sales.
Tip 1 - Pick a good date and start time.
Make sure you find a date that is good for you. You'll need time to prep the week before the sale (clean items, price items, clean yard.) Find a week and a weekend that fits your schedule.
I've even picked the date by seeing signs for another neighbor's yard sale and decided to use their advertising to my advantage.
Saturday's seem to work best but many people are starting to do Friday nights as well. I've rarely had a successful Sunday sale.
Check the 10 day forecast before putting time and effort into it as well.
Tip 2 - Find friends to join you.
Buyers like have lots to pick from. So see if you can find a few friends to join the fun. The words 'multi-family' or 'neighborhood' are very enticing to buyers. Plus, having a few people to help you set up and stay safe/secure from any potential problems.
If you do this, make sure you have a way to either distinguish what items belong to who and how you will keep track of sales.
My family has used different color stickers for each seller, and then peeled the stickers off the item and stuck them to a sheet of paper to keep track of the sales.
Another option is to decide to split the money equally with everyone no matter who sells what. This could lead to hard feelings if someone sells big ticket items and has to share in the profits.
I would not suggest everyone keeping their own money for sales because this could prevent bundling of items and get confusing if a buyer has to exchange money with multiple people. (This is of course if you are all in one yard - if separate yards such as a neighborhood yard sale, then keep separate cash at each house.)
Another thought is to see if a local church or social group has an annual yard sale day. You show up, pay a few bucks and don't have to worry about anything but selling.
Tip 3 - Advertise.
Put up signs in your neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods in the days leading up to the sale.
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| Not a bad sign - but I think the address should be bigger. |
Set your signs up a few days before. And make sure to check them before and the day of (even during the day) to make sure they are still there and pointing people in the right direction.
If you have a HOA - check and see if you can even post signs!
Post on Craigslist or garagesalefinder.com. It's free to post on these sites and many people use them. Try to put up an attention getting headline with some of the big ticket or most sought after items (baby clothes/toys, furniture, lawn items, tools...) In the body of the add list as much as you can. If you don't want earlybirds showing up (and they will) add 'No earlybirds please!' If possible, add pictures of big ticket items or a variety of items.
Some people still buy ads in papers but that cuts into your profits. Eh. I check these out in the local paper, but why spend the money.
See if there are any local businesses or community centers that let you hang fliers for free. Post a sign there with details and directions if possible.
Tip 4 - Price your items. Be willing to change those prices.
Take a few days before the yards sale to price your items. You can buy little stickers, you can make them yourself, you can even make signs that cover entire table worth of goods.... but for god's sakes. Price your items.
It saves time and energy so people won't have to keep asking you what the price is. It saves confusion if the item is someone else's and you don't know how much they want for it. It's just the right thing to do.
Plus people will know where to start haggling about the price. It's part of the deal and the day. Do not try to price things the morning of the yard sale. You'll only find yourself waking up waaaaaaaay too early and being grouchy towards each other and your customers.
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| Grandma's dentures might not be as valuable as you think. |
Start your prices just above what you would really like to get for an item. And then go from there.
At the end of the day (or Sunday), consider dropping all your prices by half. Or take any reasonable offer. Is it better for you to make a few last minute dollars? Or pack all the crap you're trying to sell back up and store it in the attic for another five years?
There are full sites dedicated to pricing guides -google it, Try this link or check out this link.
Know what you are selling, too. If you are unsure about an items value, look it up on Ebay or ask around. You hear many stories of people buying treasures at yard sales. You don't want to be the one who sells a $500 piece of furniture for $10.
Tip 5 - Offer food and drinks... for sale.
At my last yard sale, I bought a case of water for $2.99 and ice for $2. I then sold waters for $1. I sold out by noon. After putting out the $5, I made an extra $19.
Some people buy donuts and sell them, or grill hotdogs and burgers. I've seen some people let their kids set up lemonade stands.
Even if you just sold water, it's an easy and cheap way to add some money and make some sales.
Also, make sure you have something for you to eat while out there. It's going to a long day, you'll need snacks, food and drinks. I'd stay away from the alcohol to be safe.
Tip 6 - Have lots of change and watch the money close!
Hit the bank in the days before the yard sale to get change.
You should start out with close to $70 worth of change.
$20.00 - 2 ten dollar bills
$20.00 - 4 five dollar bills
$20.00 - 20 one dollar bills
$5.00 - 20 quarters
$2.00 - 20 dimes
$1.00 - 20 nickels
(I usually don't stock the nickels and dimes. Mostly things sell for a quarter but some people can be cheap.)
Do not keep money in plain sight. Do not just leave a box of money on a table while you are walking the yard and talking to people. Do not accept personal checks. Someone should have the money on them at all times.
A money box is ok if someone is sitting with it at all times. If you don't have a main table, you may want to consider a carpenter's apron with pockets or a money belt/fanny pack.
When making a sale. Try to do it at a main table or point.
Keep the buyer's money out and in plain sight until you hand their change to them. This will help avoid 'You didn't give me the right change!' problems. If you encounter this, you should have the original payment out and able to show them exactly what they gave you. If you put the money away... It's your word against theirs. This will also help if someone flashes a big bill and then asks you for change. Take the money from them and put it on the table. That way they can't stuff it back into their wallet and make it look like they gave you the cash and are waiting for their change.
If you are recording your sales to split the money, have a notebook handy and a few pens ready to go.
One point person should handle all the money if possible. This avoids confusion about who paid for what and how much.
Take large bills ($20's, $50's) inside frequently. Hopefully no one will try to buy a $5 item with a $50. If they do, know where there is a local bank or place they can get change instead you taking the risk of it being fake or not having enough change. If they refuse... oh well. Better to lose a $5 sale than deal with fake cash. My policy is nothing over $20 unless it is a big ticket item.
How to spot counterfeit money.
When someone comes to buy a number of items, add up the total yourself and do not just take their word for it. It helps you know how much you've sold and keeps you from getting ripped off. If the person is offended, say that some of the items belong to someone else and you need to check.
Tip 7 - Have bags and boxes handy.
When people buy your items, they will need to transport them. Start saving your grocery bags, take-out bags, and boxes in the weeks before. Also have newspaper on hand to wrap any fragile items. Have the buyer watch you wrap the items so they are sure the items don't get broken while you are wrapping.
Tip 8 - Clean your yard. Keep your house secure.
It seems simple, but have your lawn mowed and rope off any areas (if possible) where people should not venture. Make sure people do not have access to your backyard area (unless that's where your sale is) or any exterior doors where they can gain entry to your home. Make sure any other doors or windows are locked as well. Yeah it sucks. But people have been robbed during and after yard sales.
If you have pets, clean up the poop. Some people might not love your little pooch, so do not let them wander the yard sale like they own the place. It may hurt your sales.
If you have a few cars to be parked at the house that day, park them down the block. Try to leave parking spots at the front of your house so people don't have to circle for parking or walk to far. Some potential buyers might just keep driving.
Tip 9 - Clean your items and display properly so they are easy to see and inspect.
Again, it seems simple.
Wash the clothes, blankets, coats or things like that in the week or so before. If possible, hang clothes rather than lay them out. People can easily pull them out and put them back. Folded items need to be refolded every time someone picks it up and looks at it. Consider buying price tags with loops on them to wind around buttons. Stickers can easily fall off clothes
Dust any other items that need it. Would you buy something dusty? Make it shine and look as new as possible to people.
Display items on tables with easy access areas where folks can walk around. I've been at to many yard sales where people just lay things out on tarps and hope you can reach into the middle of it to grab the item you want. This invites things getting broken.
Tip 10 - Other prep work.
If you are selling anything that needs batteries or power, have spare batteries and an extension cord ready. Make sure people know you are not selling the item with the batteries and/or cords. also have a small screwdriver handy to remove battery compartments. Again if possible be ready to prove CD's and DVDs play.
For larger items, have measurements handy (write on the price tag or 3x5 card ) or a measuring tape ready for people to use.
Hand sanitizer is a must. Clean your hands often, especially before you eat or drink after handling money.
Have sunscreen ready too.
Tip 11 - Be friendly but don't hover.
Greet people as they come in to the yard. Answer any questions they have. Be attentive. But don't stand over them and tell them every detail of the item "That was great-aunt Ida's favorite soap dish. She's gone now so it's time we sell it."
If people want to know about an item... they'll ask.
I've personally walked away from an item I liked because the seller was a pain in the ass (and I've seen others do it too.)
Tip 12 - Give yourself plenty of time to set up in the morning.
The night before you can put out tables and racks. This will give you a good idea where you want everything. It sounds silly but make a map of the yard and the table layout. Have a kitchen section, a book section, a kids/toy section, a knick-knack section and so on.
You should already have all the items priced but now is a good time to make sure the prices are still attached. Assign each person an area to take ownership of and set up. They can also watch this area during the day.
Tip 13 - Dealing with Earlybirds.
Earlybirds are a common site at yard sales. You say 9am, they show up at 8:30 as you are setting up. Most earlybirds are really sharks who are looking for big ticket items first. It's up to you if you want to turn them away.
Benefits - They might be willing to pay more for a specialty item. A sale is a sale.
Risks - Others may see EB's there and be offended and just pass by. They could use up your change early. You may be still setting up and not able to keep an eye on them.
I stand my ground and don't let them in my yard sales. If they really like an item they see from a distance... they'll be back. And then I know to jack up the price.
Tip 14 - Drop your prices.
At the end of the day with only an hour left... Take any reasonable offer. Would you rather have the cash or haul the junk you haven't used in 5 years back to the attic?
If possible go to your closest signs and cover up the yard sale portion of the sign with "50% off!!" to grab people's attention. Post it on Craigslist an hour before you knock down the prices.
Other folks end with bag sales - all you can stuff into a bag for $XX.
If you plan a two day yard sale (Saturday into Sunday), make Sunday "Half Off Day!"
Tip 15- Take down your signs when you are done. All of them.
Simple but many folks don't do this. Map where you put your signs so you can take them down when you are done.
Tip 16 - Relax and enjoy the day.
It seems like a lot of work, but if done right, you can have an easy, stress-free day where you get rid of some junk you no longer need, make some people happy with junk they really want, and hopefully make some money.
There are entire sites dedicated to throwing yard sales. This is only a quick overview of what I feel are the most important steps. There is no 'perfect way' to do it. If you have any tips, please feel free to list them below.
