I am having a yard sale May 20th. I have tables already, and a couple clothes racks (I have a TON of clothes, mens, ladies, kids).
I also have books, dishes, stereos, some furniture, a tv, a microwave, toaster oven, tons of beauty products ( i got a box of 30 hair dyes for $5 a whle back, would $3 each be okay to ask?)...
I am okay with pricing items, but would like some tips on how to make to most out of my yard sale. I only want to do it for one day, because I'm pregnant. I am only trying to make enough $ to get some things for the babys room, and I am thinking I am going to donate all the yard sale leftovers to a local womens shelter.
What can I do to make the yard sale awesome? I live a block off a major highway in "cottage country" in Ontario Canada, so I can post highway signs... but we dont have a local paper, so how can I advertise? Should I also sell bottled water, anything like that?
I have asked several neighbors to join in the sale, so it might be a street sale...
2007-05-02 03:58:55 · 11 answers · asked by melaniecampbell 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
We had a sale this time last year. Our sale went well overall -- we cleared a few hundred bucks -- though some particulars gave pain.
Definitely go to bed early the night before, because you'll likely have earlybirds to bug you next morning; it's part of the culture. Earlybirds (even your friends) think it's okay to take unfair advantage of the good people who wait for your posted start time. Would they show up an hour early for a friends' party? They also get in the road of your setup. So plan for them (I wish I'd borrowed a yellow Do Not Cross ribbon from the cops).
You can get a sign template and to-do lists online. Look at
Save some of your signs to put up just the day before the sale, because people will take down some you put up earlier. Try to put half your signs so high on poles that no one can easily take 'em down.
Some things may sell unexpectedly well, like plants (it's May, after all) and music (CDs, tapes and vinyl). So take time earlier to pot plants and select music you don't want.
But other (dated) stuff won't sell well, like old photo and computer gear. You can unload such stuff on Freecycle.
To price things, start by listing your main sale items. You can learn reasonable prices from eBay's "completed sales." Or take your list to Value Village or the Sally Ann. Pricing is time-consuming; you'll probably need at least a full day to do just that.
Make and put out some collective tags: "25 cents" on, say, a bin of posters, or "All items $2" on at least one table. Also tag any actual tables you want sold, or there's no way for buyers to know they're for sale. (You can borrow tables from neighbours; we needed eight and could've used at least one more.)
Keep tarps handy to put over electronic gear and books, etc. Two days before, tie two tarps together, then attach one end above your garage and roll up the other end: that way it'll be ready to pull out over everything. If needed, you can pull out that free end with your car. Or you can put on long ropes to tie onto trees.
Here was my personal to-do list for the actual sale day:
- take ibuprofen to dull the pain of moving tables and boxes
- turn on answering machine
- park car far enough away to not be in buyers' way
- put out tables
- tape signs to tables
- display indoor items (my spouse called it "girl stuff") on one side, outdoor items ("guy stuff") on the other
- prop artwork against hedges and bushes
- plug in extension cord
- put big sign out, with balloons
- two hours after you start, cross out old prices and drop them by 1/3
- after two more hours, drop starting prices to 2/3
I'd say yes about having water or whatever to sell. In fact, it's smart to ask a neighbour or kid to bake up dozens and dozens of cookies (we used already-made English Bay cookie dough). They'll make a surprising amount of money.
Though your sale will go okay, it probably won't pay you minimum wage. But good luck with it anyway. It's not just about the money: you'll also unclutter your life and have fun too!
2007-05-02 04:59:00 · answer #1 · answered by will_o_the_west 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The main thing to do is be sure you have ample signs. Don't put a lot of info on the signs. People cannot read all that while driving by. Make your sign unique by using flourescent poster board and cut it into the shape of a hand with a pointed finger in the direction of your sale. Make the sign double sided so it can be seen from both sides and do this to direct people to your sale, as if you didn't have an address on the sign, which you should, of course, have. Only put "GARAGE SALE" on your sign with the DAY of the week, the hours AND your address. That way, people can easily and quickly see the important details without having to stop their car and read the sign, which most people won't do. Also, be sure to have it on the day when most sales are occurring in your area. Most areas have a certain day that is best for garage sales and it's not always on Saturdays. It MIGHT be, but not always. Just be sure to have it on the busy day for garage sales and you'll catch all the traffic from the other sales and won't have to pay for an ad like most of the others did.
Good luck!
2007-05-05 09:08:13 · answer #2 · answered by Stella Meredith 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you don't have a local newspaper, you can advertise in local gas stations (just ask before you start taping paper up in their window), or at a nearby Walmart (that bulletin board at the entry), perhaps even at the post office. Whatever newspaper most people get in your town, you should put an ad in there anyway if it's not too expensive. Put up signs at the corners of your street a few days ahead of time, with big readable words ("Rummage sale Sun May 20" is all you need to say) and an arrow pointing in the direction. Street sales are an excellent way to entice more people to come, so you should go to all your neighbors and ask them to join you, and then advertise that your rummage sale is actually a street sale. If it's hot out, you can try selling bottled water (kept cold in a cooler). It's been done, but don't expect to sell tons of bottles. Also, try to make a good presentation in front of your house, with all your items visible from the road, so it looks like you have a really big rummage sale with lots of interesting stuff to sell. Don't hide everything in your garage (unless it's raining). If you get a lot of traffic on your road, this is especially important, and extra people will stop by even if they didn't see your advertisements.
2007-05-02 04:15:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
CLEAN everything possible. All the dishes/kitchen stuff should be run thru the dishwasher. Wipe off every piece of furniture, use stain removers, etc. Wash and wipe off all toys (dishwasher is great!) Use a hair-dryer to blow dust out of silk flowers, wicker, etc. Dust, grime and fingermarks are all total turn-offs.
Run clothing thru the dryer to fluff and reduce stale odors. Hang things with a tag showing the size, grouping sizes together when possible. Don't bother stacking folded clothing (except baby things) on tables, and especially on a blanket on the ground... NOBODY looks at clothing or shoes on the ground. Pitch anything stained or personalized -- except sports equipment.
Display your 'big ticket' items up front. Furniture, exercise equipment, etc. all need to be seen from the street.
Run an extension cord out to the table where any electronics are displayed so items can be checked. Have a basket of working batteries for toys/radios -- but remove them unless you are charging for them!
DO NOT let anyone into your home to try things on. If you have that many clothes, you might hang a screen/curtain in a corner of the garage and provide a full-length mirror.
Have a 'Free to good home' bin or basket of odd things you'd have priced a nickel (like cookie tins, wicker baskets, etc.). I like to make a kid basket with the sign saying 'Free, if your Mom says it's OK'. The adults always smile, and it keeps the kids from going 'But, it's FREE!' It lets the kids 'get' something without stressing the parents.
2007-05-02 06:07:46 · answer #4 · answered by Sue 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
People who go to garage/yard sales are looking for bargains. 30% of new price is average. Since you are only going for a one day sale, price items so they sell. Books usually go for $.50 to a dollar. You apparently do not plan to keep the leftovers so get what you can out of them. Place easy to read signs at corners with sale days and hours. Commend you for donating the leftovers to a good cause.
2007-05-02 04:18:35 · answer #5 · answered by sensible_man 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Have the garage sale starting on Friday. That's the day early
birds get the best deal. Saturday is a good day also for all the
slower ones. Close on sunday, because then all the "riff-raff "
who come, expect you sell it for a dine, or they say, your will
throw it in garbage anyway and i will get it anyway. All you
don't sell. Give to a charity and write it off on your taxes and
that way you win both ways.
2007-05-02 04:24:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Be willing to negotiate! Make sure that you have plenty of change on hand. Have items clean and set them up so that everything can be seen easily. Make sure that the writing on your signs can be read easily from a distance and don't forget to take them down after the sale. I would suggest beginning early on a Saturday, and yes, you should expect early birds.
2007-05-02 06:04:11 · answer #7 · answered by noonecanne 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I love to go to garage sales and one thing I always do is see how it looks from the car..If it looks junky I won't stop. Set you items up neatly so people don't have to dig through them and put up some balloons on your mailbox or lightpost so people can see it! Good luck...If you have kids let them set up a lemonade/coffee stand I know I will always buy from the kids even if I don't want any drink!
2007-05-02 04:38:46 · answer #8 · answered by melissaw219 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
go too www.craigslist.com then on the right hand side you will see countrys and states .go there and pick yours. then a listing will pop up for your area .then go too garage sales and and you can post for free good luck! happy saleing lol
2007-05-02 05:56:45 · answer #9 · answered by starglowshady 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2007-05-02 23:51:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋