Okay, so far the weather looks like it will cooperate this coming weekend. I have a ton of kids clothes and some other stuff to sell. I have to have a yard sale versus a garage sale because my husband has too much "stuff" in the garage. I made the listing to be from 1 :30 to 4 saturday and 9-4 Sunday, though if someone comes while setting up, I won't stop em. My kids are doing a walk fundraiser in the morning Sat and I have to pick them up after which is at 12:30. My older kids will be helping me with the yard sale. Now, I need some tips so I do not go crazy. I have tables and know how I will setup and price, but since it is a yard sale, I have to put everything away Saturday evening. Cannot leave it outside since we have a chain link and don't want to wake up Sunday to find it all gone. I do not want to lose my mind with rushing to put things away and then put out again etc. Plus, I will still have to get regular things like laundry done over the weekend so we have clothes for school and work. If I didn't need the money now, I would just list things bundled online. So, how can I keep my sanity? I know you guys have great ideas out there, give me some.
Oh, and I wil be going through things tonight and tomorrow--and Friday-to put things on hangers and separate to kind of get a head up on the clothes. I want to make sure outfits are put together. I figure I will get more money for complete sets.
Just to add, I have also thought about waiting till next weekend (more time to get ready) but wonder if it would be too late in the year. So if there was a sale near you listing tons of kids clothes from newborn and up, would you go if near the end of October? Near me, sales taper off but don't really end until after Halloween. You get scattering here and there.
I am really starting to think next weekend would be much better. I don't expect to be able to retire or anything like that (though would be pretty cool, wouldn't it) and most stuff will be priced a $1-$3--also a free box. In my area they rreally don't mind looking in neat bins. But there are some great ideas here. Thanks
i told my husband about what everyone has said about a late sale. he figured it would be fine but i have my doubts. he now agrees--next weekend would be better. where i live, lots of families go to look for clothes and look at other stuff while there, I have had sales before but always had furniture and lots of household stuff to sell--and always in june or july. we will see what happens
I just put stuff of blankets and drag the blankets back inside, then reset it up the next day on the tables.
I thought all garage/yard sales were in the morning? I'm not sure you'll get many takers on a Saturday afternoon. Just make sure you price your baby/kids clothes well. People don't pay more than 50 cents a piece at garage sales (I've seen that written on here millions of times) unless it's a really good brand name. If you can only do it this weekend, I'd do just Sunday.
a yard sale at 130 in the afternoon? Sorry - but around here - people are closing up shop...our yard/garage sales typically start at 0700 to 0730.
We rarely have garage sales on Sunday - although you might get a lot of church traffic if you live near a church.
How to keep your sanity? good question. I don't know how I would handle back-to-back yard sales. Personally? I would donate all that didn't sell on Saturday and be done with it - that would help me keep my sanity.
If you need the $$$ - as in cash in hand? I would change my time for the garage sale on Saturday - so you can get the most people in the door and the most things sold.
Don't expect clothes to sell for more than $5 each - even if they are NAME BRAND - sorry - just doesn't happen. Maybe jackets etc, but even in our area...I could put out a Ralph Lauren Cashmere mens coat and people would still offer me $20 for it....people are looking for CHEAP.
Good luck!!
I would choose a different weekend that you can be out there bright an early with your stuff to sell. Avid garage sale seekers come first thing in the a.m. and it tapers off around noon. You may just want to do Sunday in that case. And you'll have people knocking on your door before 9 a.m. for sure. We had a big garage sale a few weekends ago and people started driving by at 6 a.m. Good luck!
People will show up 2 hours before the start time, no matter what you put on your signs and in your ads. If you're picking kids up at 12:30, there's no way you can start at 1:30. You need to have someone there to watch the stuff because people will be arriving at noon, and they will be mad at you for starting so late! They also will have gone to many other sales that morning and made their purchases.
Just do it on Sunday, and put 9-12, and be ready at 7 AM because that's when the early birds come, even if you say "no early birds."
I'd wait until the following week, frankly. That will give you more time to organize.
I would definitely wait till next weekend. AND I would definitely NOT start in the afternoon. People are out and about at other sales - probably don't have the ad with them and have no idea you're not open till in the afternoon. As for the prices - unless they're really nice, I would never have paid $3.00 for anything. Sorry, but they're only in the outfits for a few minutes (at least that's how it feels) and I never spent much on baby clothes. I bought a couple beautiful two-piece outfits at higher prices for my daughter - but that was an exception.
As for storing the stuff overnight - can you use the garage just for storage? That's what I would do.
AND by all means....PLEASE have everything priced!! Whether it's a sign to cover a whole table or each thing individually - drives me nuts when I'm at a sale and nothing is priced and I have to keep asking!!! It also drives me nuts at sales when the owner tells different prices to different people because the stuff isn't marked! I usually just walk away from those types of sales.
And keep an eye on your money! I had a sale a couple years ago - my Daddy was the "cashier" and somehow someone managed to steal about $35.00. He was so broken up about it. The only thing we could figure was when he turned his back for just a minute someone must have grabbed it. He was so upset:(
Good luck!!!
It may be different in your area, but in ours if you're not going to start until 1:30, then don't bother, prime time on a Sat is between 9:00 and noon.
Also, what are you planning on selling other than kids clothes? If it's 80% kids clothes then don't bother. A yard sale that targets one specific customer doesn't do too well.
The more organized you are, the more money you'll make. Clothing should be sorted by size. Put your outfits and more expensive items on hangers. Other items like t-shirts and sleepers just put in a bin and label accordingly, like "sleepers size newborn to 24 months $.50 each. This will make clean up much easier.
Make sure you have lots of change available. It always seems like the first customer of the day spends $1 and gives you a $20 bill.
Good luck.
I refuse to do garage/yard sales but our neighborhood sponsors 2 a year, one in spring and one in fall which is coming up in the nexr weekend or 2.
Around here, they start bright and early and most people are done by noon. The people who come through after noon are the ones mostly wanting something for nothing because they know you've been at in all morning and ready to cut prices.
Don't expect much return for your investment on your clothes. The last time I attempted a yard sale, I had $50 Abercrombie jeans NEW with TAGS still on and I was offered $5. It was at this time, I closed up shop and donated everything to the womens shelter because it is not worth my time or frustration and the plus side was I end up with a tax deduction.
Another reason I refuse is because there are sso many strangers coming through the neighborhood and I don't want them casing out my house. Of course, no one would be allowed inside but they can get a good gist just from milling around.
I've had and gone to yard sales. The biggest things I can think of are from a buyers point of view, please put a price on everything so we know what it costs and if someone argues they knew where to start from. Next thing I have found so annoying is that some people are pushy about selling things right down to handing me shoes or something and saying how wonderful they will look even though they aren't my size. And do not start telling people how much it cost before and how much you love the thing, that makes me think now why on earth is it being sold in the first place? So, that is it and have fun with it!
I appreciate when bins of clothes are labled with Sex and size. I know they mixed up pretty easy but at least it's a place to start.
If you don't have enough rubber maid tubs, do you have time to run to the store and see if they can give you some boxes I was thinking the liquor store but bigger boxes would be better.
Price everything thing the same, Like most clothes 50 cents, outfits a $1
Sweetie, I know you said you wanted to make money but it doesn't sound like you have much time or support for doing this. Try not to go to overboard. If you can just put out 4 bins on Sat and then if you have time put out more on Sunday.
You are probably going to have people in your face while you are setting up because it's so late in the day.
Don't forget to have some small bills and change ( a fanny pack or carpenters apron might be a good idea.)
we have a "once upon a child " I usually get about 50 cents an item of clothing from them and it's less of a hassel and i get my money with in an hour or two of drop off. just thought Iwould suggest that.
It may be different where you are, but here garage sales start between 8 and 9:00am on Saturdays, and only stragglers come past noon. If you are already set up, it might be worth staying open all afternoon, but there wouldn't be a point to setting up anytime after noon. Also, Sundays are pretty slow here, and nobody goes out until after noon on Sundays (nothing opens until noon on Sundays here, except church). People do have sales Friday evenings from 4 to 8:00pm, and can be pretty busy. For ease of setting up and packing up you can just label boxes of clothes by size and mark them "$1 each item", then you just have to throw the baxes back into the house over night. Could you arrange for for a ride for your kids, have another friend who will be at the walk drop them off at home?
I only do yard sales for one day. Most of it is so picked over by the next day it's not worth the money to go through it. Can your husband do the kids pick up and you have the rummage all day Saturday? That would bring you the most money and the best crowds.
Have about 50 dollars on hand in 1 dollar bills to make change. Everyone paid in 20's at my sale and I was out of change in 1 hour and I had started with 40 in ones.
Most people will not dig in bins for clothes. The love them on hangers but will definitely look through if they are folded and organized on tables.
