Yard Sale Prep: Pricing, Set-up and Display!

Here are my 5 tips for setting up your yard sale:

Tip #1 - Make your large things visible from the road.

Tip #2 - Get as much stuff out and visible as possible.

Tip #3 - Group like items together.

Tip #4 - Hang clothes up. As many as possible.

Tip #5 - Price everything! (this is a pet peeve of mine! I hate to keep having to ask "How much is this?")

See more about these tips and pictures from last year's yard sale here.

See my guidelines for pricing here.

Yard Sale Prep - Good signs!

I usually make my own signs. But last year I purchased some already made that were very well made and already on stakes. First time I had ever seen yard sale signs you could buy like that. They worked well.

But making them works well too.

Whatever you do, it's important for all your signs to look the same. Then people can follow the trail. I hate to be hunting a yard sale and following green signs and all of a sudden a yellow sign says "Turn Here". Well, is that the yard sale I'm looking for, or not? I don't know because the signs aren't consistent.

And don't forget to put in your newspaper ad to "follow yellow signs" or whatever.

So, what do you do for yard sale signs?

Yard Sale Prep - Newspaper Ads

I am participating in a yard sale this weekend (instead of having my own this year). I lucked in on being a part of a community sale in a public place where all I have to do is show up with my stuff. :) I needed that kind of luck this year.

But last year I had my own (very successful) yard sale from start to finish by myself. There's a lot of thought and planning that goes into have a successful yard sale. I thought I'd dust of my posts from last summer to help you plan your yard sale this year (and make some extra $$!)

The first thing you need to consider is putting an ad in your local newspaper. I promise you will get TWICE as much traffic if you do. It's a small expense towards a big profit.

Here are my tips for your newspaper ad:

• List date, times and neighborhood or street name in first line - get's their attention!
• Tell them what color your signs are so they can follow them - all your signs should be the same color/size so they are easy to follow
• Give GOOD directions if you are off the main road.
• List your big ticket items - If you have BABY items, TOOLS or LAWN EQUIPMENT, or LARGE FURNITURE pieces for sell, these are things you WANT to be sure to list in your ad. People will come out for these items!

See an example of the ad I used last year here.

Saturday's Saving Tip - Have a yard sale!

It's that time of year again for yard sales! I love yard sales! I love having them and I love going to them!

I am having a yard sale this weekend. Well, I am participating in one. All I have to do is show up with my stuff which is a good option for me this year. Less time and planning involved than trying to have one here.

I thought I'd resurrect my post from last year on How to Have a Good Yard Sale for you to read in case you wanted to have one too! It's a great way to clear clutter and make some extra $$$!

Yard Sales are a great way to clear out some clutter and generate some extra cash. The best yard sale I've ever had was last year and I made over $250! I'm geared up this year to have another one! I came from a family of "yard sellers". I'm pretty sure I've been through 25+ yard sales my whole life including the 6 I've done since moving out on my own.

Here is what I've learned:

• List your yard sale in your local paper and give GOOD directions!

• Make GOOD signs that look alike. I use hot pink posterboard. (You can find hot pink, electric yellow, neon green and fluorescent orange posterboard in the arts and crafts or school supply sections of most retailers.) Whatever you pick, make each sign the SAME color. That helps people looking for your yard sale to find you when they know what signs to follow.

• Make your signs BIG with thick BLACK lettering. List in your ad what color your signs are so people can spot them and follow them.

• Price EVERYTHING. Nothing is more annoying than having to ask how much everything is. Be reasonable with your prices. Remember, people who frequent yard sales are looking for a bargain. They are more likely to buy more when the prices are good. To me, it's about getting rid of the stuff FIRST and what I make off of it second.

• The more you can spread your sale items out, the better. I hate yard sales where someone has 5 or six big boxes and you have to dig through them. Hang clothes up on a portable clothes rack, along a fence or makeshift clothesline. Set up tables to lay out smaller items so people don't have to bend over to look through everything. Short on tables? Use your boxes! Flip them over and lay stuff on top. This is great for shoes or purses.

• Profit from the summer weather. Have a cooler with can sodas and bottled water. Sell for 50c each. If you have a stockpile of sodas and waters just use those. If you want, keep track of what you make from selling drinks separate and you can put that money back in your grocery budget.

• Have a rain plan. I always list "rain or shine" in the ad because I have a garage. Two years ago it rained on my yard sale day and I still made $120!

• Go in with a friend or neighbor who wants to sell stuff. Have a yard sale together.

• Have PLENTY of CHANGE. I start out with at least $30 in ones, $30 in fives, $10 in quarters, and $5 each in dimes or nickels.

• Offer a bargain. I always have a 10c box for all those things that don't feel like it's worth my time to price. T-shirts, belts, athletic shorts, tank tops, makeup bags, change purses, kitchen utensils, koozies, pot holders and socks are all things I've put in a 10c box before. I throw it all in boxes and put a sign on the boxes. (This is where I break my "spread everything out" rule. But I do make sure to group like items together.) Last year, I had a lady spend $2 on things from the 10c boxes. I always put magazines and books out as 25c each or 3 for 50c.

• Be prepared for haggling. Yes, you will put 50c on a pair of shorts and yes, some lady will ask you if you'll take 25c. Give it some thought ahead of time about what you'll waver on and what's firm. Anything under $1 I will usually take what they offer me. Large items I usually price a little more so I can haggle. For example, one year we sold a pushmower. We wanted $60 out of. I priced it $75 so I could negotiate down. We ended up selling it for $65! Some people feel like they get a better bargain if they get you to come down on the price. If I had price the lawnmower $60 that guy would've still asked me to take $10 off. But I wouldn't have because I wanted $60 out of it so I probably would've lost the sale. But don't price too high or people won't even ask. I couldn't have priced that lawnmower for $100. People would've just walked away.
  

• Push your merchandise! When customers arrive, greet them and ask if they are looking for anything in particular. If someone is looking through your collection of rock band t-shirts from the 80s that you've priced $1 each, tell them if they are interested in them they can have them for 75c each or buy 2 get 1 free. Tell the guy thumbing through the box of car magazine that he can have the whole box for $2. Be friendly. Chat. Point out some of your larger items. "Could I interest you in an area rug today?" You want to sell, they want to buy. Work with it!

• Remember to arrange for pick up of what is left if necessarily. I call the Hannah Home (a local mission center that runs several thrift stores) to come pick up around 3pm on yard sale day. I always have my yard sales from 6-2. (Yes, I like early birds.) I put in my newspaper ad and on my largest sign out on the highwaye that everything is half price after noon. I've done this for 3 years and have GREAT success from it. People who see that come by after 12 for that reason. I've had morning shoppers to come back after lunch to get more deals. Usually after 12 your flow of customers will slow down. Now that I do the half price after noon I'm still getting a steady stream of customers!

Did I forget any yard sale tips? Leave me a comment below!

Happy selling!

I love yard sales!

I am so glad it's spring because it's prime yard sale season and well, I love yard sales!

I stopped at a couple today.  Didn't get much but it was beautiful day to be out!

I got Bug two pairs of overalls - one long, one short - 6 (good!) books and a large train toy that isn't in the picture because it is in my child's bed because he wouldn't part with it to take a nap.  LOL!


I paid $6 for it all.

28 Ways to Save on Anything - Yard Sale Finds

Join me everyday in February as I share ways to save money on just about anything you need, want, use!

I think Yard Sales get a bad rap.  I LOVE yard sales!  The possibilities of what you can find is limitless!  And you can find what you need for a good price!

For example, I just got FIVE brand new board games (Trivial Pursuit, Apples to Apples, Candy Land, Chronicles of Narnia and CSI: Miami The Board Game) for $1 EACH!  The cards inside the Apples to Apples game were still in the shrink wrapped plastic.  The other games looked like they couldn't have been played more than a couple times!  I put the Candy Land game up for Bug's birthday.  And we played Trivial Pursuit last night with Hub's family!

Yard sales are also great for baby clothes and gear!

So, really, you should check out yard sales and see what YOU can find!   Here are some tips:

So just how did I do at the yard sale? And what am I spending the money on?

Grand total from last Saturday's yard sale:

 $282.45!

How are we spending it?

$16 of it was from selling some of my scrapbook supplies so it goes in my pocket!

$5 was from selling drinks (canned sodas and bottled water).  I sold 9 drinks and gave away 2.  Since I only pay $4 per 12pk of sodas, I made a profit off selling drinks.  This $5 went right back into the grocery budget.

So that leaves us with $261.  I put 10% in the offering plate last Sunday, put a little extra on our credit card payment this month, my husband order him some new contact lenses, I bought a new phone yesterday (needed because my son broke some of the buttons off mine!) and started a "fun day" fund so if the little one and I want to go out for ice cream or go to the zoo (we have a membership so all it costs us at the zoo is the price to ride the train!) or have some other frugal fun, I have a stash of money.  I've committed to adding $5 to the "fun day fund" every week. 

What little is left will just go into our "bank account cushion" - money that's there but I try not to spend.

Yard Sale Prep - How to price

We all love our stuff.  We know what we paid for our stuff.  But the people at our yard sale don't care what we paid.  They know what they are willing to pay and that's it.

I can't stand a yard sale snob.  $5 on a pair of jeans?  Forget it!  $2 is the max I'll pay. 

I read an article in a magazine (sometimes I wonder who writes these things) that said you shouldn't price anything under 50c.  If it's not worth 50c it shouldn't be in a yard sale.  Are you kidding me?  That person (yard sale snob) obviously has never seen how much I make at a yard sale off of a 10 or 25 cent box. 

Obviously, yard sales in different parts of the country are going to be different.  But here in the South, we are serious about some yard sales.  The best ones start at 6am and the serious shoppers are there at 5:45.  Don't put in your ad or on your signs "No Early Birds".  I hate that!  If they want to get there before 6, that's fine with me.  I may still be putting stuff out, they might have to dig through a box, but they know that.  In the south, if you advertise your sale as not starting until 8:00 you've missed out on 20-25% of your clientele!

But anyway, I'm getting off-topic.  I said all that to say, that down here, people are looking for a deal and you have to decide, do I want to price things to make myself feel good or do I want to get rid of some stuff?

If you're like me, you want to get rid of stuff!  Here is how I price some of the more common yard sale items:

Shirts - Junior's/Ladies: 25c
Sweaters - Mens or Womens: 75c
Pants - Ladies: 50c-$1
Pants - Mens dress or slacks: $1-2
Jeans - Mens or Womens: $1-$2
Polo Style Mens Shirts: 50c
Men's Dress shirts: 75c
Jackets: $1
Shoes: 50c  (shoes don't usually sell well, so price them cheap!)
Purses: 50c-$1

Large infant items:
Bassinet: $10
Stroller: $8-$10
Umbrella stroller: $3
Bouncy Seat: $3-$5

Baby clothes (Be very selective. Don't try to sell overly stained articles!):
Onesies: 10-25c
Shirts: 25c
Knit Pants: 10-25c
Jeans: 25-50c
Sleepers: 50c
Two-piece outfits or dresses: $1


Picture Frames - 4x6, 5x7, 8x10: 25-75c
Decorative Pillar Candles: 50c
Candle holders and Vases: 25-50c
Large Framed Decorative pictures: - $3 (for around 11x14 size) to $10 (for mantle sized)

Curtains and Tablecloths, Shower Curtains: $1-$5(for more elaborate curtain sets)
Sheet sets: $3-$5 depending on size
Individual sheets: 50c-$1
Bath/Beach Towels: 50c
Washcloths: 10-25c/ea or bundle together for a deal (4/50c)

Books: 25c-$1
Jigsaw Puzzles: 50c-$1


Use your judgment on other items.  Research how much it cost new.  Look and see what used versions are selling for on Ebay.  Go with about 1/3 of what it sells for new or 1/2 of what it's selling for used on Ebay.
Don't be offended if someone haggles with you on the price.  On the larger items, know what your bottom dollar is.  If you don't like someone's offer, kindly refuse or counter offer.  You want to sell stuff, the buyers want a deal...everyone wants what's best for them.  You have to decide if refusing their offer and being stuck packing that item back in the garage is really what's best for you.

One of my favorite things to do is to advertise almost everything half price after 12.  I reserve the right not to go half price on the larger items but clothes, toys, books, doo-dads and what-nots are half price because I want them gone!  This is something I've done in the last 4 sales I've done and it has worked really well.  The first one I just did it.  As people showed up, I told them I was running an afternoon special.  The last three times I've actually put it in my ad that things would be half price after 12.

I consider myself somewhat of a pro at having yard sales, since I was involved in my first yard sale (that I can remember) at the age of 4 and pretty much have had at least one every year of my life since.  :)

You can catch up on all my yard sale prep posts here.

Have a yard sale tip?  Feel free to share it in the comments!

Yard Sale Signs

I promised to tell you how the new yard sale signs did.  And they did great!  I'm really happy that I got them.  They saved me some time and they held up well.  None fell down.  (In fact, I haven't stopped to take down the one by the highway because it's such a hassle, and it's STILL there!  Hasn't fallen in a week!)

You can always search for garage sale signs on Amazon.  But I didn't find any exactly like the ones I had.  I got mine from Wal-Mart.

I bet you're dying to know how I did at my yard sale!  I'll tell you tomorrow!

Yard Sale Prep - Pricing, Set-up and Display

One very important key to a good yard sale is to make sure your stuff is priced and can be seen.  Not everyone likes to dig through boxes.  And even less people like having to ask "How much is this?  And how much is this?  And this?"

Tip #1 - Make your large things visible from the road.   Carseats, Bassinet, Exersaucer and large toys were arranged facing the road.


I also put tools and other manly things (bottom left corner) out where they could quickly be seen to catch the interest of the men.

Tip #2 - Get as much stuff out and visible as possible.   Here is just a portion of my tables.  I also turn boxes over upside down and us as extra tabletop space.

The less people have to dig and bend over, the more time they will spend looking.  And the more time they spend looking, the more they will buy!  :)

Tip #3 - Group like items together.   Someone who likes picture frames will be drawn to a display of picture frames.  If they are all together, they will be more likely to buy multiple ones.

 Tip #4 - Hang clothes up.  As many as possible.  They sell better when they can be seen.  I have two portable clothes racks that I use for the yard sale and I also use the portion of my fence that faces the driveway as hanging space too.

The "like items" rule applies here too.  Put baby clothes together, men's clothes together, ladies clothes together, etc.

Here's another shot.  Clothes are hanging up.  I used my sweater drying rack to display tablecloths and curtains.

I did have some clothes in a box only because I ran out of time and hanging space.

I also do a "10c box".  I label it "Everything 10c" and toss in T-shirts, belts, scarves, tank tops (and other things I don't feel like pricing ;] ).





Tip #5 - Price everything!  (this is a pet peeve of mine!)

I love labels like these - brightly colored with all the different prices included and a few blank ones.

YARD SALE DAY!

Today is my Yard Sale.

I'll try to pop in during the day and tell you how it's going.  But I'm hoping I'll be too busy to do that!  LOL!

Catch up on my yard sale prep posts here.

Yard Sale Prep - The Signs

I usually make my own signs.  I use recycled political campaign signs or real estate signs.  The have that thick plastic like board and sturdy bases for putting in the ground.  I cut my (hot pink!) posterboard smaller than the sign (about 1/2 all the way around).  Make my sign on posterboard and then tape all the edges down on the sign.  (This keeps the edges from curling if it rains or heavy dew).  I wish I had a picture of this to show you, but I don't.  I trashed all my signs after last year's sale because I had reused them so much.  My dad gave me some leftover signs he had when he was campaigning for a friend running for local political office.  I was going to use them this year, but then I found these at Wal-Mart:

It too me MUCH less time to make these than my other method!  And at less than $4 each, I thought they were a good value!

So there are my signs.  And in my yard sale ad in the newspaper, I said to look for "large yellow signs at every turn".   That's why it's important for all your signs to look the same.  Then people can follow the trail.  I hate to be hunting a yard sale and following green signs and all of a sudden a yellow sign says "Turn Here".  Well, is that the yard sale I'm looking for, or not?  I don't know because the signs aren't consistent.

I'll let you know how well these signs work.  They certainly aren't as flashy as my usual hot pink signs are, but I think they will work just as well!

Yard Sale Prep - The Newspaper Ad

If you are going to have a yard sale, you must put an ad in the local paper.  You will get TWICE as much traffic.  Especially if you are a little off the beaten path.

I am fortunate enough to live in an area that has a small town newspaper that charges one price for a yard sale ad regardless of length.  Here's the ad I'm running in this week's paper:  (with commentary in red italics.)

HUGE Garage Sale Margaret - July 10th - 6am-2pm (rain or shine)
MOST EVERYTHING 1/2 PRICE AFTER 12!  ----this has worked well for me in the past!

From Leeds/Moody - North on 411 toward Odenville.  Turn Left at ____ Rd
(redlight past _________).  Go 3 miles.  Right on _____
From Argo - Take Argo/Margaret Rd for 3 miles.  Turn Right on ____ Rd (County
Rd _ at _______________)  Turn Left on _____  ---- good directions

After the _____ turn it's 1 mile to house #___.  Look for large YELLOW
signs at all turns.  ----- well made, consistent (all the same) signs
Boy clothes 3m-18m, Stroller, Infant Items, Toys & Kid's Books, Bassinet, Bouncy Seat, Exersaucer.  NEW 24 inch bi-fold doors, Leaf Blower, TOOLS, Pre-WWI artifact. Men's Clothes (Polo shirts, jeans, dress shirts & pants).  Juniors sz 5-7 & Womens sz 6-8 clothes.  Household items, Curtains, Kitchenwares.  Queen size bedding.  Christmas items. TV, Stereo, Printer. Lots of NEW and GIFT items.  Scrapbooking Supplies!  <---- listing a good variety of items

 
If your paper charges by the line, clearly this would be too much.  Here's how I might do it if I were limited:

HUGE Garage Sale July 10th 6am-2pm
1/2 PRICE AFTER 12!
From Leeds/Moody - North on 411 - follow YELLOW sign at _____ Rd. 
From Argo - Take Argo/Margaret Rd for 3 miles. follow YELLOW sign at Cty _. 
Boy clothes 3m-18m, Stroller, Infant Items, Bassinet, Bouncy Seat, Exersaucer. Leaf Blower, TOOLS

I could even whittle it down a little more if necessary.

If you have BABY items, TOOLS or LAWN EQUIPMENT, or LARGE FURNITURE pieces for sell, these are things you WANT to be sure to list in your ad.  People will come out for these items!

Watch for more articles on yard sale prep as that's all I'm doing this week!  :)

Saturday's Saving Tips - How to have a good Yard Sale

Yard Sales are a great way to clear out some clutter and generate some extra cash. The best yard sale I've ever had was last year and I made over $250! I'm geared up this year to have another one! I came from a family of "yard sellers". I'm pretty sure I've been through 25+ yard sales my whole life including the 6 I've done since moving out on my own.

Here is what I've learned:

• List your yard sale in your local paper and give GOOD directions!

• Make GOOD signs that look alike. I use hot pink posterboard. (You can find hot pink, electric yellow, neon green and fluorescent orange posterboard in the arts and crafts or school supply sections of most retailers.) Whatever you pick, make each sign the SAME color. That helps people looking for your yard sale to find you when they know what signs to follow.

• Make your signs BIG with thick BLACK lettering. List in your ad what color your signs are so people can spot them and follow them.

• Price EVERYTHING. Nothing is more annoying than having to ask how much everything is. Be reasonable with your prices. Remember, people who frequent yard sales are looking for a bargain. They are more likely to buy more when the prices are good. To me, it's about getting rid of the stuff FIRST and what I make off of it second.

• The more you can spread your sale items out, the better. I hate yard sales where someone has 5 or six big boxes and you have to dig through them. Hang clothes up on a portable clothes rack, along a fence or makeshift clothesline. Set up tables to lay out smaller items so people don't have to bend over to look through everything. Short on tables? Use your boxes! Flip them over and lay stuff on top. This is great for shoes or purses.

• Profit from the summer weather. Have a cooler with can sodas and bottled water. Sell for 50c each. If you have a stockpile of sodas and waters just use those. If you want, keep track of what you make from selling drinks separate and you can put that money back in your grocery budget.

• Have a rain plan. I always list "rain or shine" in the ad because I have a garage. Two years ago it rained on my yard sale day and I still made $120!

• Go in with a friend or neighbor who wants to sell stuff. Have a yard sale together.

• Have PLENTY of CHANGE. I start out with at least $30 in ones, $30 in fives, $10 in quarters, and $5 each in dimes or nickels.

• Offer a bargain. I always have a 10c box for all those things that don't feel like it's worth my time to price. T-shirts, belts, athletic shorts, tank tops, makeup bags, change purses, kitchen utensils, koozies, pot holders and socks are all things I've put in a 10c box before. I throw in boxes and put a sign on the box. (This is where I break my "spread everything out" rule. But I do make sure to group like items together.) Last year, I had a lady spend $2 on things from the 10c boxes. I always put magazines and books out as 25c each or 3 for 50c.

• Be prepared for haggling. Yes, you will put 50c on a pair of shorts and yes, some lady will ask you if you'll take 25c. Give it some thought ahead of time about what you'll waver on and what's firm. Anything under $1 I will usually take what they offer me. Large items I usually price a little more so I can haggle. For example, last year we sold a pushmower. We wanted $60 out of. I priced it $75 so I could negotiate down. We ended up selling it for $65! Some people feel like they get a better bargain if they get you to come down on the price. If I had price the lawnmower $60 that guy would've still asked me to take $10 off. But I wouldn't have because I wanted $60 out of it so I probably would've lost the sale. But don't price too high or people won't even ask.

• Push your merchandise! When customers arrive, greet them and ask if they are looking for anything in particular. If someone is looking through your collection of rock band t-shirts from the 80s that you've priced $1 each, tell them if they are interested in them they can have them for 75c each or buy 2 get 1 free. Tell the guy thumbing through the box of car magazine that he can have the whole box for $2. Be friendly. Chat. Point out some of your larger items. "Could I interest you in an area rug today?" You want to sell, they want to buy. Work with it!

• Remember to arrange for pick up of what is left if neccessary. I call the Hannah Home (a local mission center that runs several thrift stores) to come pick up around 3pm on yard sale day. I always have my yard sales from 6-2. (Yes, I like early birds.) I put in my newspaper ad and one my largest sign out on the highway) that everything is half price after noon. I've done this for 3 years and have GREAT success from it. People who see that come by after 12 for that reason. I've had morning shoppers to come back after lunch to get more deals. Usually after 12 your flow of customers will slow down. Now that I do the half price after noon I'm still getting a steady stream of customers!

Did I forget any yard sale tips? Leave me a comment below!

Happy selling!