If you, or a real estate client of yours, are in need of a yard sale to reduce some of that clutter, here are some of my tried and true tips to make your sale a successful one.
First, some advice on writing your ad:
Place an ad in your local paper. You can also advertise on Craig's List.
Highlight items of interest. (collections, furniture, antiques, appliances, tools, jewelry, baby items and toys, books, records...)
Multi-Family sales or "first time" sales will draw more people. Try to get neighbors to participate...the more families on a street included in the sale, the better.
The phrase "years of accumulation" will attract buyers.
If you plan to have your sale rain or shine...make sure you state that in the ad or list a rain date.
I suggest listing a start time, with no end time. That way you can end when you want to.
If you advertise for a start of 8 am, you could have people there as early as 6:00. If you don't want anyone there before the start time, make sure you state in your ad: No Early Birds. But, understand, some people will still show up early.
I suggest not putting the number of your house in the ad, only the Street name. That way the dealers can't show up the day before and the early birds can't find you. Make sure the house is clearly identified when you do open.
Important Things To Remember:
Get change (ones, fives, and coins) the day before.
Have lots of bags and also old newspaper for wrapping glassware.
It is best to have tables, but plywood over some trash cans or boxes work well. Do what you can to have breakable items up off the ground.
The best case scenario is to set up in the garage, the day before. Have everything in place and prices marked. Have big items by the door, ready to move into the driveway. When you are ready to open for business all you have to do is open the doors, move the big stuff into the driveway, and set out the sign.
Have big, easy-to-read-from-a-distance signs at both ends of the road. Make sure signs are weather resistant. I usually paint on a piece of wood using bright colors. Arrows showing direction are very helpful at intersections.
Always remove your signs when your sale is over.
If you don't want people driving up your driveway, or on your lawn, you need to block the entrance to the driveway.
Clearly mark anything that is not for sale.
Be prepared to bargain. Many people will offer you less than the prices marked.
Have a "FREE" box or area and add to it throughout the sale. It is a guaranteed way of getting rid of stuff.
The better the presentation, the more valuable the items for sale will appear. (organizing stuff into sections...clothing, housewares, holiday, toys, tools, books, etc. is helpful)
Don't keep candles or record albums in direct sun, they melt and warp.
It is best to have items individually marked with a price. Don't group items by price (everything on this table is $1) because the stuff gets moved all around and it gets too hard to keep track of what originated where.
If you have several people working the sale, then only one person should be cashier. People claim to have paid someone else if more than one person is collecting the money.
It is really sad to say, but people steal. Keep small pocketable items in zip lock bags.
If you have a lot of electrical items, have an extension cord available so people can see that they do actually work.
At the end of the sale place leftover items by the street with a big "free" sign and go out to eat. It could all be gone by the time you return home.
Having a yard sale is a lot of work, but it is also a lot of fun. Make it a festive atmosphere with music and balloons. Have fun with people and enjoy the experience.
It is amazing how much money you can make with a bunch of stuff you no longer need or want!
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Kentlands, in Gathersburg Maryland, had a community yard sale this morning. It was a large event. A real estate agent could have received a lot of exposure at a very low cost by sponsoring this event.
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Roy: Community yard sales are awesome. I love it when you have one-stop shopping! Thanks for commenting.
Wow, Sharon, this is a very detailed list with lots of excellent tips. I'm always especially careful on the years our neighborhood does the annual garage sale and we're not participating. I learned the hard way not to leave the garage door up any longer than it takes to get the car quickly in or out or you start hearing, "Hey, you selling that lawn mower?" Would you like to come to my place and hold a garage sale for me? I don't think mine have ever been half as fun as you make it sound like it could be. Although doing it with a friend always ups the fun factor a good bit.
Mary: We have had so much fun over the years at our yard sales. You have to make it fun or you will go crazy with all the work. It is so much work. All that hauling stuff, cleaning and organizing and pricing. You practically give it away...paid $50, asked $5, offered $2. It can make you nuts! But, it feels so good to get it all out of the house! I wish I could help you, I guarantee you would have a good time!
Sharon!
Love your yard sale tips! I had a yard sale today and did VERY well!!!!! Our whole trip to Storyland next weekend is paid for plus extra money left over YIPPIE! We didn't have music, but Zain entertained most of our customers :) Love reading your Blog!!!!
Kylah: That's awesome! It's a great feeling, isn't it! I'm so glad you are enjoying the blog, I really appreciate you commenting. Thanks so much! Have a wonderful time at Storyland...I loved taking my kids there. Won't be long and I could be taking the grandbabies...
I was supposed to have one this weekend - but I put it off again. These are fabulous tips and I will surely keep them in mind for when I finally do get all of my stuff sorted to sell it. Thanks!
Sheila: I can't believe what I'm reading...I never would have believed you would procrastinate about anything! lol I know... you are so busy with all your speaking engagements and creative marketing plans, it got pushed to the bottom of the to-do list, right?
Great post- I am in MAJOR need of a garage sale myself as I have the only two Grandchildren in my family which means we inherit a lot of stuff. I do my best to avoid bringing new things into the house as I have come to hate "stuff". I am planning a garage sale in 2 weeks and love the concept of free stuff. Freecycle.org is also a great alternative or your local charity as many will arrange pickups.
Christine & Jennifer: With the right planning and organization, your yard sale experience will be less stressful. Good luck with it, I hope you do really well!
Hi Sharon, I haven't had a yard sale in years but will keep this bookmarked! Thanks again for the great tips.
Cynthia: You are so welcome! You must be due for one!
Sharon, I HATE garage sales (probably because I'm incapable of bargaining) and we need one badly. Thanks for all of the great information. I have bookmarked your blog post so that I can reference it WHEN we do. Our real estate association, agents and affiliates have a MONSTER RUMMAGE sale every fall and we raise over $20,000 every year in two days. Maybe I will do a blog about it.
Ginger: Raising that much money in two days is pretty impressive. I think you should do a blog about it and include some pictures.
I put up a series of four signs to attract buyers from either direction. They're "Burma-Shave style":
"I Buy Too Much:
"I'll Never Learn"
"Good News for You"
"Now Turn!" (with arrow)
and
"I Don't Want It"
"But You Might"
"Super Yard Sale"
"Turn Right"
These always get attention and buyers often tell me they wouldn't have stopped but for the signs.
Wendy: Very clever! I love this idea! Thanks for sharing!
I didn't think garage sale did well any more considering we now have ebay and craig's list. Most people will put their items on craig's list, but you said you did well so what do I know? Not much apparently. Thanks for the info.
Carmela: Yard sales are doing just fine, as good as ever. At least in my neck of the woods! I come home with some great deal every weekend. I may even be having one in the Fall.
I think yard sales are still viable, despite Craigslist. People know they'll get better prices, on-the-spot bargaining and immediate delivery from a yard sale. They also get to browse for things they didn't knwo they wanted.
Wendy: I love it! I agree, you find things you didn't know you were looking for. Such great prices!