topic Re: Yard Sales in Community Chat

Yard Sales

RickieBoo — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 21:15:47 GMT

I'm having a yard sale next Sat. Do you like yard sales? What do you like or dislike about them? Any tips how I can make mine really good? Thanks

Re: Yard Sales

kittymomNC — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 22:01:39 GMT

I love yard sales...the only problem I have is that too many people advertise them as HUGE YARD SALE and then have nothing but kids' clothes and a couple of other things, or they advertise as NEIGHBORHOOD YARD SALE and then a few people in a neighborhood have one small table with a few things on it...that type of thing. Most people in my area advertise now on Craigs List (I liked it better when it was in the newspaper - everything listed by zip code and I could easily map out my route!)

One thing I would suggest is to make sure you have a price on everything--it takes time, but it makes it much easier because you don't have a constant parade of people asking how much you want for something and you have to think about it while others are waiting. If it's priced, you can immediately tell them how much you'll come down...be sure to price everything at least slightly higher than what you want, because people want to get a "bargain".

Also, if you can arrange "like" things together, such as kitchen items on one table, decorative items on another, etc., I think it helps people move through a little quicker. Some people are looking for specific things and that way they don't spend a lot of time there and take up parking space.

The one thing that can make it easier for you is to realize that people want LOW prices at a yard sale. So if you have some really good things and you don't want to let them go for yard sale prices, you could try Craigs List or section off an area that you label as Tag Sale Items with a sign saying the price is what it is on those particular items- no haggling. I had some good success with that at one of mine - a lady who has a thrift store bought about 10 things, no haggling over the price, then took them to her store and I saw them there later with much higher prices. I didn't care, I got what I wanted for them.

One more thing - advertise it as starting an hour later than you want people there, because they will show up at least an hour early if not more. Good luck, and have fun!

Re: Yard Sales

hckynut — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 23:17:34 GMT

Do you like yard sales?

Not when they were in my neighborhood. Now that we live in a rural area I really don't care. What few neighbors we have to this point have not had a yard sale that I know about.

Re: Yard Sales

AnikaBrodie — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 02:11:05 GMT

Yard sales are a popular event in our town. There are always several yard sales every weekend through late spring and summer.

Advertise your yard sale starting at 8:00 (example) and be prepared. People will come at 7:00. Price all items and don't overprice. If you have $5.00 on item, many people will ask if you'll take $2.00 or $3.00 for it. Consider doing that. In the event of rain move the sale into your garage. Or better yet set it up in the garage to start with.

Re: Yard Sales

GCR18 — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 02:18:22 GMT

My neighbor had a very successful yard sale last summer. She basically had a household worth of stuff. She put shelves and tables in her garage and put everything so you could see it. All like things were put together. The rest was put in the driveway. Everything was clean, ironed, marked reasonably. Besides her and her husband, she had three neighbors helping. Anybody that needed help was helped quickly. She had lots of change, newspaper and bags.

It started at 8am and at noon, she dropped the prices by 75%. When it ended at 4pm, she had two small boxes for goodwill. She advertised in the paper and put signs on the main road.

Re: Yard Sales

10grands — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 03:35:05 GMT

Have everything priced - and priced reasonably. Have signs printed large enough for people to actually read, Large, Black writing. Good Luck - it is tons of work.

Re: Yard Sales

qualitygal — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 17:32:27 GMT

On 7/13/2014 kittymomNC said:
I love yard sales...the only problem I have is that too many people advertise them as HUGE YARD SALE and then have nothing but kids' clothes and a couple of other things, or they advertise as NEIGHBORHOOD YARD SALE and then a few people in a neighborhood have one small table with a few things on it...that type of thing. Most people in my area advertise now on Craigs List (I liked it better when it was in the newspaper - everything listed by zip code and I could easily map out my route!)

One thing I would suggest is to make sure you have a price on everything--it takes time, but it makes it much easier because you don't have a constant parade of people asking how much you want for something and you have to think about it while others are waiting. If it's priced, you can immediately tell them how much you'll come down...be sure to price everything at least slightly higher than what you want, because people want to get a "bargain".

Also, if you can arrange "like" things together, such as kitchen items on one table, decorative items on another, etc., I think it helps people move through a little quicker. Some people are looking for specific things and that way they don't spend a lot of time there and take up parking space.

The one thing that can make it easier for you is to realize that people want LOW prices at a yard sale. So if you have some really good things and you don't want to let them go for yard sale prices, you could try Craigs List or section off an area that you label as Tag Sale Items with a sign saying the price is what it is on those particular items- no haggling. I had some good success with that at one of mine - a lady who has a thrift store bought about 10 things, no haggling over the price, then took them to her store and I saw them there later with much higher prices. I didn't care, I got what I wanted for them.

One more thing - advertise it as starting an hour later than you want people there, because they will show up at least an hour early if not more. Good luck, and have fun!

She's right on the mark on this all and I concur.

Re: Yard Sales

NanaS — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 23:37:25 GMT

LOVE LOVE LOVE yard sales, garage sales and Estate Sales. HOWEVER ! I do NOT like

to see items for sale thrown all over the ground or laying on the driveway helter skelter.

Please put prices on each item and have them arranged on tables !!!!!!!!!

Re: Yard Sales

colliemom4 — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 23:42:50 GMT

On 7/13/2014 10grands said:
Have everything priced - and priced reasonably. Have signs printed large enough for people to actually read, Large, Black writing. Good Luck - it is tons of work.

It's definitely a lot of work! I used to have them a lot but haven't had one in years. It's a good way to make some extra cash if you're motivated which I am not lol.

Re: Yard Sales

issiestorm — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 00:25:11 GMT

I like going to them. I absolutely hate having them myself.

I concur pretty much with what's already been suggested. I would emphasize that you price everything pretty reasonably. And I'd also suggest that you have someone available who can help you look out to make sure people don't walk off with things without paying for them. That happens too, unfortunately. Good luck.

Re: Yard Sales

kittymomNC — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 00:48:12 GMT

I had one other suggestion I forgot to mention. Make some signs out of bright colored poster board - they can be simple, just the date and the address and maybe an arrow. You can staple them to telephone poles at major intersections around your neighborhood with the arrow pointing in the direction they should go. Make the lettering large enough so you can read it from a couple of car lengths away - I see so many that are too small and I can't even read them from my car when I'm right next to them. Put those up at least a day ahead of time. Some towns and cities have local ordinances against doing this, so you may want to check in advance. If you put them up (most people in my area do it even though we're not supposed to), you need to remember where you put them and take them down as soon as your yard sale is over. Our local officials don't usually get upset about it unless you leave them there and don't take them down, and IF they happen to see them! Not trying to get you to do anything unlawful! If you don't want to do that, you can get some cheap garden stakes at the home improvement store and staple the signs to those, and stick them in the ground. Putting up the signs can catch people who might not have intended to go to a yard sale but decide to check it out when they see the signs. Hope it's a big success!

Re: Yard Sales

conniekl — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 02:51:18 GMT

I like to see things outside . I know what I'm looking for - usually toys. If everything is in the garage, I just drive by. I think you should at least put a few things outside to get people interested so they will stop. Good luck!

Re: Yard Sales

RickieBoo — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 05:59:39 GMT

Thanks to all of you for your great suggestions. I'm going to use all of them this Sat. and I think it will be good thanks to your help!

Re: Yard Sales

MyBoyRusty — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 12:49:16 GMT

I hate yard sales I have a neighbor that's totally obsessed with them and if she can't go to them every single weekend to every one that's around town she gets mad and sulks for several days and another thing I have enough junk of my own without bringing other peoples things in.

Re: Yard Sales

kittymomNC — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 15:01:27 GMT

It all depends on what you allow yourself to bring home. I found a gorgeous antique oak dresser & mirror at a yard sale, and paid half what I would have had to pay at an antique store or flea market. And they even brought it to my house! It's one of my prized possessions.

Re: Yard Sales

qualitygal — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 16:04:32 GMT

There's a lot of work involved, but the $ and talking w/people is nice. It's fun to see what appeals to them.

On the poster board signs, besides colorful, bright colors, do a smiley face. Works every time.

Re: Yard Sales

mousiegirl — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 16:43:34 GMT

I knew someone who had them yearly, and would have coffee and something to eat. I doubt that I would serve refreshments if I ever have a sale.

Re: Yard Sales

game-on — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 17:17:46 GMT

I saw the best yard sale. A lady got little colored circles .... if an item was 25 cents it had a blue circle on it.... if it was $1 it had a red circle on it.... etc. It was so easy..... she had a poster which showed clearly what the prices were....

Enjoy your sale..... I know you will be tired, but I met so many people going to sales and having a couple.

Re: Yard Sales

Financialgrl — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 15:06:57 GMT

Hate having them, hate going to them. I donate all my good stuff to Goodwill or Salvation Army. I have enough issues keeping this place de-cluttered with my own junk so I figure I don't need someone else's as well. OTOH, if I had small children, I'd go look at baby clothes b/c kids grow out of things so fast.

Re: Yard Sales

sunala — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 05:24:51 GMT

If the weather is very hot, it's a nice touch to have a cooler with small bottles of water. It's a small price to pay to keep your customers happy, and hopefully sticking around a little longer. Keep a bin of some kind for the empties so you can recycle.

I don't like to bend down to look at stuff, so I really appreciate itemsthat are on tables. I've been to garage sales where many items were in cartons on the ground. Nope, not for me. I'm not going to kill my back to save a quarter!

Have fun with it, and good luck!