I'm thinking of having a yard sale. I have a lot of stuff to get rid of, and I could just give it to Goodwill, but I really need money right now, so I thought maybe I'd try to sell it. Has anyone ever had a yard sale before? Were the profits worth the time and effort? Do I just set up a table in my front yard and put prices on stuff and then sit around for a couple of hours waiting for people to come buy my stuff, and put up a couple of signs advertising the time and place?
i would put up signs about a week in advance, and make sure you have a cash float, for making change!
I would not reccomend putting up signs in advance. Many neighborhoods will tear them down. Put up signs the night before, and start really early. We have yard sales any time we need fast cash and it is SO worth it. Last time, Bella made brownies and hot chocolate and sold them. She made $8 profit off a box of brownie mix. All in all, we made about $400 profit, but we sold some big things including a washer/dryer and a couch and a coffee table. Baby clothes go really fast. Even if you only make $75 dollars, that's $15/hr for doing almost nothing.
If you know of a really well traveled area I'd have it there (We did at my FIL's house since it's just off of a state road). Make your signs big and legible from a distance (fancy sings are harder to read usually, I'd just stick with black and white). If you have a few bucks to start with I'd put it in the paper, we got the most people from that, but if not people will still come so don't worry. Another placce to put signs are on the bulletin boards in some grocery stores/laundromats. You can list some of the things being sold and it's free advertisement. Some gas stations and stores will let you put up signs in their windows so ask. If you have any big things (couches, baby furniture, etc) list it in the ad. That'll draw people, even after they've been sold.
Clearly mark prices or have like a $1 table or something, If I don't know the price of something I usually won't buy it. Also price to sell (since you were planning on giving it away anyway, anything profit and you at least get rid of the stuff in the process), you usually won't get half of what you paid for something. You can use tables to display stuff or blankets on the ground, whatever you have.
The snacks idea is good, also drinks. Since it's warmer (I don't know if it is where you live though) if you buy a few packs of soda and keep them in a cooler you could sell them for like 50 cents a can, that makes a few bucks easily.
Beware of people coming when you're setting up, they take advantage of the fact you're busy and try to talk you down will you're distracted. Also shoplifters- you'd be surprised how many people would steal something that's really cheap..
Good luck and have fun. HIH.
my "subdivision" has a g sale every year, that i totally took advatage of.
i did the "this table a dollar" "this box two dollars"
i think i made about 100 bux and it was worth it. riley and i just played in the front yard the whole day, and made some money along the way.
i did get totally scammed. someone paid me with counterfit money, so beware and look closely at all bills over 20. i wasnt to upset though, they were seom old speaker that i really didnt want to move back into the house.
good luck
1. get lots of change, mostly quarters, fives and ones
2. big signs at any major intersection near your house
3. we make basically priced things in categories, (shoes, kids clothes, pants, dresses, books, etc).
4. be willing to go down in price, as someone said it's all profit and your getting rid of shit
I think you've received enough advice. I'd just like to wish you good luck! I'm having a garage sale next weekend. :)
Garage sales can be fun AND very profitable. My aunt is a hard core garage saler haha and she looks for sales adertised in the paper, so if you have the money to do that, along with putting up some signs..i think you should get some pretty good customers. Have fun!!
Yeah yard sales are sooooooo worth the time, and really it isnt too much work.. I think everyone gave all the good advice too.. I think finding a well traveled area is a good plan.. we did our last sale at my grandmas and I only made $20 and had tons of stuff left over because she lives further out from town, but whenever we do it at my house thats off a main rd I make around $100+ .. and baby clothes is like a goldmine. Right now when i go garage sale-ing thats what i look for in the description in the paper (found a garage sale sat that turned out to be a 10 cent sale and got myself 8 new maternity shirts, and about 20 outfits for the baby all brand name!! Along with an Avent warmer and some other goodies.. I couldnt believe it! sorry am still just too excited over my finds lol)..
anyways.. we dont have as good fo luck if we dont put an ad in the paper, but another good way is to find other friends/family members to add to the event so it can be a "multiple family sale" plus that way you can get everyone to chip in some of what they've earned for the newspaper ad (that ads are around $25 in olympia, and you get a whole sale package with signs, ballons, etc etc).. also make sure you don't need a permit, in some places you have to have a garage sale permit and here you can get them by calling on the phone for free.
And defiently watch out for scammers! We always have my sister watch Xander and have like me and my mom *at least* man the sale because when it gets hecktic, people might try to walk away with un paid merch., say they gave you more money then they did to scam you out of money, or in my town we have several couples that re-sell baby items on eBay/re-sale stores that try to frazzle you by just yelling out "Ill give you $$$ for this instead of $$$" and see if you answer and they might have a whole arm load of clothes they're trying to scam you out fo for cheap by saying you priced it lower then you actually have (make sense? i was sort of rambeling).. Also, make sure you actually price everything, or count out their merch instead of them just saying thanks and handing you a $5 or something, people try that alot too and they may be holding $15 worth of stuff instead.. another variation of the above scenario.. don't price your items too high, or too low... if you have nice looking brand name stuff.. dont hesitate with prices either though.. :)
and lastly! Get your sale going SOON! As the summer progresses more and more sales happen and you wont get as many vistors if you have 100 other garage sales going on in the area. GOOD LUCK!!
We'll be having one next month, I'm so excited about it lol