Yard Sale Prepping

Last week, our neighbors approached us about participating in a Multi-Family Yard Sale. Personally, I love going to yard sales. One man's (or woman's) junk literally is my treasure. Sometimes I get so excited I get stars in my eyes which are then quickly brought back to Earth by my husband going, "Um, precisely what are you planning to do with THAT?". Honestly, with some of the junk  stuff I bring home, I can't blame him. However, thankfully he is always patient and supportive of my creative processes. But none the less hosting a yard sale - not quite my thing. However, in the light that I really would like to raise some spending cash for various projects around the house I immediately scolded myself for discounting this opportunity. Now, don't get my wrong. I know I'm not about to gain thousands of dollars from a simple yard sale; however, with careful planning I believe I could gross enough for a can of paint and some accessories. Besides, what is better than earning money from free stuff laying around the house!

A few tips I've learned from past experiences and current research:
1. Selecting: Some people view a yard sale as an opportunity to rid themselves of old junk. This is true to an extent; however no one wants your dirty, pit stained t-shirts. Reserve those for rags. Begin compiling your items together in one spot well in advance. Depending on the amount of items you intend to sell, you should begin doing this 2-4 weeks prior to the sale. Inspect your items for minor repairs and touch ups. If you can spend 15 minutes replacing a few screws, it will most likely be well worth your efforts versus selling a broken table.

2. Pricing: Your items should be priced both reasonably and accordingly. No one wants to pay $50 for the same card table they can buy at Wal-Mart for $40. Consider current market values and the amount of wear and tear and remove your emotional value from the item. Suddenly, when it comes to parting with that cat figurine Aunt Idna gave you in the 4th grade that has been sitting in a box for 10 years, we become emotionally attached and think it's worth $20 [Hint: it's not]. If you can't let go emotionally, you may want to set it aside until you can or ask another person's perspective.
If you are unsure in general, check out Ebay and Craigslist for similar items. Most importantly, check what of those listed are actually selling. This should give you a good starting price point and what people are actually willing to pay. Keep in mind that people will most likely haggle so be prepared to get a little less than you marked it. However, be receptive to haggling! You can either lose $2 on the item and it's out of your house or it can continue to sit on your shelf gaining you nothing (in the business world, we refer to this as opportunity cost).

3. Labeling: Ensure your prices are large, clearly printed, and in plain view (not on the bottom). This will eliminate shoppers continuously asking you, "How much is this?" in addition to reducing the number of times an item is picked up (and in turn could potentially be broken). For larger ticket items, consider $Price$ OBO (or best offer). This will show buyers that you are willing to negotiate to move the item out of your inventory.

4. Advertising: Be sure to actually notify the public you are having a sale. Odds are you will attract more people. Consider posting an add in the newspaper, online marketplace like Craigslist or through social media like Facebook. If you are posting around your area, be sure your signs are legible, spelled correctly, waterproof, and free standing. (Nail, staples, etc. stuck in poles are actually safety hazards for electrical and telephone line operators).

5. Staging: Put your stuff out neatly so it can be easily seen by all. Nothing is worse than a cluttered table full of so much stuff you can't even figure out what is what. If you have one big ticket item (say a piece of furniture) make it your highlight and do not clutter it with other stuff. If you have unusual pieces, try to put something with it to better explain its purpose (ie: a multi-slotted mail organizer), but be sure whatever you put with it, you are willing to sell with it. It's just human nature to want it all I guess. Keep your sentimental value away from the item (ie: do not put a picture of your grandchildren in the picture frame). Allow the buyer to be able to see the item's purpose without blockading their own creativity.

6. Banking: Have enough $1 and $5 bills along with loose coins. Nothing is worse for a buyer than having to scramble to come up with change because the seller is "out of ones". Seriously, this has happened to me more times than I care to share. As a buyer, I've already made the effort of driving here, showing up, wandering around, looking, thinking, considering, deciding, dear Lord do not make paying for it difficult too. Enough said.

7. Goal Setting: Be realistic. If your table consists of clothing, paperback books, a few pieces of jewelry and a basket, most likely you will not make millions of dollars (however, if you do please message me your secret please and thank you!). Once your items are compiled make a list of what you plan to sell and the prices you intend to mark them. This will show you your maximum potential. It is also a good idea to keep this list with you during the sale and highlight it as items are sold. You can keep track of what you sell (and in turn how much you are making) without constantly counting your earnings in front of buyers ::TACKY!::

To summarize, I am not an expert but in true form I always think I'm right. I hope so of this information is helpful to you in your pursuit for the title of Yard Sale Queen. After ours, I'll post some pictures and calculations of our sale. Feedback is always welcome. I just cannot commit I will always listen.