Yard Sale Dos and Don’ts.
We had a big yard sale over the weekend, and I have to tell you, I was dreading it! We had quite the big pile of stuff growing in the basement, and the thought of hauling it all out to put on display seemed overwhelming. But you know what?! We did it, and we had great yard sale success! We made about $550 and the biggest item sold was an old dresser for $30. Plus we donated 2 big truck loads of stuff to good will, and I feel so much lighter! If you too might be thinking of having a yard sale sometime soon, here are some things that I think can really help guarantee success.
1- Offer Different Payment Options – We got the Square credit card reader right before our big sale and it was so great! People were thrilled that we had “the square” credit card swiper. It makes it so convenient for those who prefer to pay with a debit or credit card. We were also prepared with cash to give change if needed, but the square was a bonus.
2- Hang Up All Clothing – We had a bunch of clothing that was “like new” that I had been storing for years. My local dry cleaner gave me a bunch of hangers for free. I also called my local Old Navy and they gladly gave me a big bag of small pant hangers. Here’s a tip: Use backyard toys like swing sets, trampolines to hang items. We have a kid’s jungle gym: the Geo Dome Climber in our backyard that worked perfectly for hanging a bunch of items. When we first set up, we had the clothes hanging on our big shade tent and the weight of the clothes caused the tent to break (dangit). I sure wish we would have thought to use our backyard jungle gym first, to save the tent, oh well…maybe you can learn from our mistake. If you have two ladders and a big wooden stick, that would work great too for hanging clothes. People are more likely to look through clothing that’s hanging then digging through a big box.
3- Be Welcoming and Conversational – Be sure to greet people right when they get out of their cars. People are more likely to stay longer and purchase items if they feel welcome, plus they drove all the way over to your house. Find out right away what they might be looking for and lead them right to it if you have something similar. If they have kids with them and you have kid items hold things up and draw their attention to things in a friendly way.
4- Plan Your Yard Sale For Two Days. We ran our sale on a Friday afternoon from 4-8pm and again on Saturday from 8-12. I had a few people tell me that they loved that it started on a Friday. Some people are just not morning people (raising my hand), and they might prefer to come in the afternoon rather than the morning. If you are going to go to the efforts of a big yard sale and pull everything out and set up, you might as well give it more time for people to go through it. One of the benefits to the seller of selling on two days is that it gave us a second chance to rearrange things for better visibility the next day, like grouping like items together.
5-Advertise Online Like Crazy – I used our local KSL classifieds which I found to be the best way to get in front of the right kind of people looking for yard sales. I posted on KSL multiple times (at least 5 times). I also used my Instagram and Facebook page to get the word out too, but the majority of people who came said they saw the ad on KSL classifieds. We also had a few signs and we could have done better with the signage, but for the most part online advertising was the best way.
6- Find Help/ Get a Babysitter – Thankfully, our kids spent the night at my parent’s house the night we started our sale. In addition to needing to get the work done…I’ll admit there may have been a few items that I snuck into the sale while the kids were gone that I knew would have been in debate (like that toy I just couldn’t handle any longer)…a Mom’s gotta do what a Mom’s gotta do. Plus, yard sales are a ton of work, and with people coming and going, you really need to be completely available for a few straight hours. If your yard sale is a neighborhood or street sale, and your kids are home, you might end up buying all your neighbors old toys (this just happened to my sister). So if you can get help with the kids, do it!
7- Borrow Tables – Get as many things as possible up off the ground. We borrowed a few tables from neighbors, and not only was it a great way to organize like items together, but people are more likely to go through things if they’re easy to find.
8- Donate! – You know the saying “Less is More” …After you have yard sale, there are never truer words, than “less is more”. It’s crazy the amount of things that accumulate at your house over the years. The last thing I wanted to do with all the items we didn’t sell after two days, is move it back into my house to store again. We ended up hauling two big truck loads of items to our local good will (Deseret Industries “D.I.”), and I have to tell you, it felt great to have it gone. Clothes that we were never going to wear again, toys that my kids don’t play with and the list goes on. Even though we have a big unfinished basement with the ability to store it all, there is something so freeing about having less stuff.
9- Background Music – this might sound silly, but I really think it helps break the silence. Imagine going to your favorite store and having it be completely quiet, don’t you think it would be weird? The music just adds a level of welcome.
*Things we didn’t do, wish we would have done and or could have done better:
1- We didn’t price anything. I’ve heard that it’s good to add price tags to everything to guarantee more money. This might be a great way to increase your ultimate earnings, but there’s a few reasons why we didn’t do it: #1 it’s too time consuming and #2 most people will talk you down on items anyway, so the end price will never be what you are asking.
2- Offer ice cold drinks, candy or food- If it’s hot out, and people are out shopping, they might love an ice cold water or soda while they look around, plus it’s an easy way to make more money. Diet Sodas are great too if you’re worried about spills, because they evaporate with no stickiness.
3- Free Stuff – If at the end of your sale you know you’ll be donating everything anyway…call, text and or email friends, family and neighbors – and tell them they can have anything they want. Also list it online under “free stuff” so you don’t have to haul it off yourself. I let Avery’s friends go through stuff and they were thrilled. I only wish I would have reached out to more family and neighbors. I’d much rather have something go to someone I know than a stranger.
So that’s it for now. I’m sure more will come to me after I lay in bed, you know how it goes. One of the benefits of a yard sale is how physically active you are during it. According to my Fit Bit (which I’m loving!), I walked about 15k steps on both Friday and Saturday going up and down stairs. So if you are on the fence about it, view it as a big workout. 😉
I’d love to know, have you had a yard sale recently? and if so, do you have tips to add to the list that were helpful?
Brenna @ Life After Laundry says
Such great tips. I love yard sales and can’t wait to have our first one.
kami says
Thanks Brenna! Good luck with yours!
thelittledabbler says
When I go to yard sales and the seller greets me and then turns in to the pushy salesman, I usually turn to my husband and ask, “See anything you want?” which is code for “Let’s go.” I’m usually looking for something obvious and specific, and I never liked the salesman tactic. Yard sales are supposed to be fun, not pushy.
Linda says
Amen! My brother and I like to go to sales together. There’s nothing that will get us out faster than a pushy salesman. We will give each other “that look”, and we are gone. When I have garage sales, I always greet the customer and tell them if they have any questions, just ask. Then I leave them alone to their shopping.
Melanie says
I love the debit/credit card idea. I have never seen that option at any sale I have been too! Awesome. Agree with hanging up the clothes, so much easier than getting down and getting dirty to rummage.
Always, always price! I have been doing this for years and if I walk in and there are no prices, I will walk out. I do not want to ask the price of every single item I am interested in. Not only that, prices help me keep a running total on my purchase so I don’t go over budget. Haggling goes hand in hand with yard sales but if the price is fair, I won’t need to haggle – only the ones who don’t realize it’s a garage sale and want to charge near retail will I haggle down. Clear pricing is a must!
Other tips:
-arrange furniture etc. like they are being placed in a real house. You can make a sale faster if they get an idea what it would look like in their home. Side table with a vase on top etc. next to a sofa being sold…that kind of thing.
-take the time to clean items up. So many items I see could be sold instantly if the owner would have just took the time to wash it up. Clean up those shoes, toys, etc.
-advertise on Craigslist and local Facebook Swap n Shop groups. Also take care to make your signs look attractive and eye catching.
-have lots of change on hand
-put big items closer to the street to draw customers in
-organize well, have items on tables. Lots of people cant bend over or squat down to look at items on the ground
Love yard sales! It’s eco-friendly and so much fun!
Jenni says
TOTALLY agree with you 100% I’ve had several garage sales over the years and I wouldn’t dream of not pricing items! The only things that go un priced is a box of free stuff that I always have. There’s always stuff laying around that I don’t want but really couldn’t put a fair price on so it goes in the free box. I always get compliments on how well organized my sales are, especially the kids clothes section. I hang up everything that would normally be hung up and I separate them on different racks according to what they are…formal dresses together, Halloween costumes together, coats, etc. On the tables go the shirts and pants and pj’s, sorted by size and gender (boys and girls get separate tables). If I am looking for size 10 boys clothes I don’t want to rummage through a ton of baby girl clothes!! lol I DO like the idea of background music though and will be doing that this Aug. when I have my big sale….it does eliminate the akward silence!
Teresa W says
I love going to garage sales, but I HATE it when nothing is priced! It is so frustrating to have to ask continuously how much items are. I have just left before when I realized that there were no price tags. Whether people in your area are in the practice of trying to negotiate prices or not, please put prices on your items! Yes, it is time consuming, but it makes the shopping experience so much better; especially for people like me that are not usually looking for a specific item.
Linda says
I agree with all of your comments. The debit/credit card idea is great, and I would be sure to put it in all of my ads that it is available. I always wash the clothes, press them if needed, sort them and then put the size and price on them. I try to hang up everything that can be hung. Signs, labels, prices, and organization are the keys to making a profit at your sale. I would love to come to one of your sales!
Stephanie says
If and when I ever get around to having a garage sale, I will probably not price all my stuff. I would, however, put up a sign that tells how much shirts, pants etc. are unless priced specifically. I don’t mind when clothes aren’t priced (as long as there’s a general sign telling prices) but I can’t stand when household & bigger items aren’t priced.
Stefanie Gott-Dinsmore says
Yep, I would have left your sale without buying anything with the no price tags marked. Not worth my time.
Linda says
Q: did you have any issues with Square? I have one for craft fairs, but never thought of using it for garage sales. We are having one in a few weeks
Also, I don’t usually buy when things aren’t marked at a garage sale. I’m not a haggler….but might ask a price if it’s something I really, REALLY want. 🙂
kami says
Hi Linda!
Nope, the square worked great!
M. Carr says
How do I find out information on the square???
Linda Wendeborn says
Go to http://www.squareup.com
Amy Baccus says
Bright, legible signs everywhere. There is nothing more frustrating than following signs into a neighborhood and missing a turn because the signs are written on small pieces of brown cardboard. Make sure signs are put up securely. Lately I’ve run into a few where a sign has fallen down (in the middle of the maze) and I was lost trying to either find the sale, or find my way out.
thelittledabbler says
The last time we had a yard sale, someone actually stole our signs! We were missing one of the crucial ones that let people know to turn down our dead-end street. No wonder we had so few people come!! It made me super mad!
Suzanne B says
The best thing I do is I put out flyers to my neighborhood months in advance inviting them to have their garage sale on the same day. The way our houses are set it is like a two block full circle radius. I pick the day and pay for the advert in the paper, place all the signs that are large and sturdy. I only do a single day sale because with so many houses joining in we get a full crowd of a constant flow of people that lasts for a good 5 hours before it even starts to slow down. We are on the edge of town so with so many households joining in it makes people believe it is worth the drive to come. I have had a single yard sale before and it was a dismal failure but with a huge neighborhood sale we all sell so much more than we thought we could. All of us did so well at the one I organized 3 weeks ago. It’s the only way to go for my area. It is extra effort on my part but it ends up to be worth it. I will only do multi-family yard sales from now on.
Petra says
1. Have prices on things. I hate having to ask for prices for everything. Remember this is a yard sale not a store.
2. If you have helpers have everyone wear the same colour so we know who to pay.
3. Keep yourself free, don’t chitchat with your neighbors about a pool party.
4. If you do have to have your kids, have a fresh lemonade stand and also sell freezes.
5. If you smoke, put out your cigarettes when you see people coming. As a non smoker I will not get out of the car.
6. If you have a radio your selling have a plug ready for me to test it.
7. If you place your advertisment give the date and intersection in the heading.
8. Put signs up with date on them and take them down after the sale.
Jennifer says
I have to agree with the others about the “pushy garage seller” I’m sure they think they are helping but it comes off as pushy. My husband and I yard sale alot. It’s what we do for fun. When you go to a sale and immediately have someone start asking what you’re looking for or trying to tell you what they have; it’s a turn off. Like the others my husband and I usually walk away. I think the majority of people aren’t looking for anything particular, they are just looking for a bargain. Definitely greet them and be friendly, let them know you’re here if they need anything. Also, it’s a little unnerving to have several family members sitting in chairs and watch your every move. Putting prices on items is also very important. I’ve been to some where I ask so much that I finally just say “forget it” Putting a sign listing the prices of clothes and small knick knaks is great, easier for the seller and the shopper. As others noted, large signs with LARGE directions. I can’t tell you the number of times we’ve given up because the sign is so small. I LOVE the credit card reader idea, we’ve been to one that had it and it made it so much easier. I also like your idea of everything out of the box. One other thing I’d like to mention, please, please take your signs down after the sale is over. It’s just tacky to leave them up after the sale. Thanks for your great post and hope I don’t sound picky, just giving a viewpoint from an avid yardsell customer. Blessings
Anna says
About pricing…yes. deffinitely price everything. we priced individual items and then had a sign over the clothing rack listing price of items by category- men’s shirts $1.00, kid’s shirts .50, etc. We also offered BOGO offers- onsies .25 each or 5 for $1.00. People love getting a deal like that! The other thing we did was hold our sale until 2:00 on a Saturday and at 12:00 we cut our prices. We didn’t make as much money off of things in those last 2 hours as we would have had they sold earlier, but we were able to make money during that time frame AND got rid of more items. And I totally agree on offering food! We had lemonade and cookies, and had a sign stating that at the end of our driveway. Kids would bring their parents down because they wanted a cookie and their parents looked around and shopped! My final suggestion- do things together with your neighbors! We had a multi family yardsale, advertised it as such, and then I put out signs indicating how many houses were down each road so people knew where to go.
John says
I totally agree on the pricing. We have had several sales in the 13 years we have lived in the neighborhood we’re in. So far all have been what we consider a success, always having a few items leftover for donating. We are in the process of putting together this years sale and I have decided instead of the BOGO offer per say on clothing, I will price clothing as $1 for sweaters, shirts, belts (dress or T-shirts).. $2 for Jeans, dress pants, shorts or shoes..Or, fill a plastic shopping bag for $5…whatever clothing items (or accessories) fit in the bag..it’s yours for $5. Of course the furniture, dishes, small appliances, etc will all be priced individually, but will group some items with the BOGO method. (buy a painting or mirror, get candle sticks free..etc) I have to admit, even being in Texas with heat, we have not thought of offering water, or something to drink. This time, we will stock up on drinks and cookies, so I appreciate that idea! Also, Friday’s have always been our best day. We never have understood exactly why, maybe some consider it like the “pre-garage sale” or that they are the first to shop before the Saturday rush. By Saturday noon, we mark down everything (especially larger items) to half price. Happy Selling / Shopping!
martha lepou says
I just had a question involving the square….how muchand do you need to have internet service to make it work. Also do you get charges for each time it is used?
kami says
Hi Martha! Yes, you do need an internet connection and yes it does charge you per swipe, but it’s very minimal, something like 0.02%, it was worth it for us.
Jenny says
I do a garage sale every year. it is my favorite thing to do all year and we usually average $700 each year. This year we earned close to $900. I never have much in the way of big stuff, children items tend to be a huge chunk of what I sell. But I have found a few tried and true tips that work every time:
-Price to sell. Especially clothes. People come to garage sales for a deal, you are not a store!
-Price everything! I mean everything. it takes a little time but it is worth it.
– Organize. Keep like things with each other. It makes it easier to find and is more appealing.
-Get it off the ground! Everything should be on a surface off the ground. I use folding tables, our kitchen table, coffee tables……get creative.
-NEVER toss your clothes in a box or in a pile to sell. Most people do not want to rifle around a pile of clothes. Hanging is good but I’ve never done that. I fold everything neatly and lay it out on the tables. I make sure everything is by size and gender and always slightly overlap each piece so it is easy to look through. Also pin together pairs: socks, pjs, etc.
-Be willing to bargain but don’t feel you have to give the item away. I have a rule that if someone starts to bully me to lower the price I just won’t. I don’t care how much I want to sell it. I stand my ground. But I’m more than willing to haggle for a fair price. I also don’t do much bargaining the first couple hours of the first day.
-Take the time to bag up small toys. I had a truck load of small toys this time around. Hotwheels, legos, etc. I bought cheap plastic bags and bagged it all up. IT ALL SOLD! Again, people don’t like to sort through boxes of stuff.
-Wipe down items. Dirty items are not that appealing. So just a quick dust or wipe down can make an nasty looking item look top dollar.
-Never underestimate what will sell. I have sold some odd stuff. Like carpet remnants. Who knew!
-advertise like crazy and offer a pre-sale to friends and family.
-2nd day put up a new advertisement the night before and the day of. Highlight what you have, take photos of the tables, show people there is a ton left for them to buy!
-Finally – keep things neat. Keep folding your clothes throughout the day. Keep rearranging your items. Condense tables, cover empty spots. Full, neat tables attract buyers and a show you have take pride in your items.
-and one more: 1/2 off day. Second day I always do half off almost everything. Since I started doing this a couple years ago I have doubled my second day earnings.
kami says
Thanks everyone for all your feedback! I definitely will price everything next time around. I loved all your great advice. Hopefully this post can help those looking to have one sometime soon.
steve says
These are all great tips. Love the square idea. I have so much stuff that it would take me two years to price it all. What I plan to do to ease the pain of pricing is organize tables by price. I will have $1 tables, $5 tables, etc. This is of course if I ever get my butt in gear. I also like the Friday afternoon and Saturday morning idea. Thanks everyone.
Erin says
I always price my stuff as I go. Price it and put it in a box for garage sale time. This saves so much time later. I have rolls, of the tape I use to price, in different locations around my house so I always have it handy.
Robin says
I live on a very visible corner, but still advertise on Craigslist (with pictures to create interest) and use lots and lots of signs. My one tip is to make signs all the same color so people will recognize and follow them all the way to your sale. Nothing more frustrating as a garage-sale shopper to see a sign on a major intersection and try to find a sale and you drive for blocks without any further signage. I use bright pink posterboard, and have matching pink arrows I place in between my address signs to direct shoppers.
My husband sets up two huge scaffolds. They are on locking wheels so I can set up in the garage and wheel it in and out of the garage as needed. They hold hanging clothes on two sides, plus they have a platform/shelf that I put shoes and other accessories on so people don’t have to shop from the ground as much.
I generally price everything, but may not do that this year. I have health limitations — pricing takes the most time out of everything in my opinion. However, I hate shopping sales that don’t have prices, so I might make a poster stating each category and the prices.
Where I live, Thursday is the new Friday. I have my sale Thursday and Friday from 8-4, and then Saturday from 8-12. Then I pull out anything I think is worth holding onto for next years’ sale and offer up everything else for FREE. I put a big EVERYTHING FREE sign, and do this from 2pm til 3ish. I advertise this as well. The first year I did this, people were coming with trucks and loading up whatever they could. I only had one trip to Good Will with whatever was left. It was fun to see people taking all my unsold items away.
As far as the hagglers go, the more they buy the more flexible I am with them. I had one lady ask me if I would take half off of everything. I said no, but let’s see what you end up with and we’ll take something off at the end. I had to run an errand while she shopped and told my friend to give her a deal on the purchase. The lady tried to tell my friend that I okayed half off. Luckily she knew better. People will try anything, even when you’re pricing things at $1-$2.
I love the idea of playing music. I also have a few fans blowing inside the garage to move the air around on those hot sticky days.