Lessons Learned and Tips From a Yard Sale

by Megan Aubrey

This past weekend I hosted my first yard sale (if you don't count the one when I was in first grade that my parents had). I knew it wasn't a hard task - put stuff outside and sell it, I also wanted to do it right.

A few things I learned (click through for the full list on the blog):
-Price items
-Organize your items ahead of time
-Advertise online and with posters
-Don't stress about it!
-Run to yard sale until noon
-Most women will say "Now I have to get this past my husband"
-Don't bring anything back into the house (unless you are going to sell it on Craigslist

Read more on the blog with complete descriptions and funny anecdotes!

Start the sale early.

Keep the sale going until noon.

Keep organizing and getting things off the ground as items sell.

Make sure to set up a good display. If people can see the items they are more likely to buy them.

Organize by item.

Organize by theme (chickens and roosters).

lessons learned and tips from a yard sale, organizing

Friends make yard sales more fun and successful!

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1 question

Liz on Apr 11, 2016
Megan, those are great suggestions and I really love your driveway! We need one like that at our house. My question is why close the sale at noon? Lots of people who work love to sleep late on the weekend. So many times, I've driven by sales that closed at noon. After all the work of setting up for a sale, I like to keep it open at least until 3 or 4 p.m. and mark down the prices really low to get rid of everything. Then, I have the Goodwill truck scheduled to come by and pick up the things that don't sell. That way, I don't have to drag anything back into the garage. Thanks again!

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4 of 53 comments

Cindr Ella on Jan 28, 2015
I hate gs that don't have prices...turns me right off. I don't like to haggle much.! :)

5 Reply
- Megan Aubrey on Jan 28, 2015
  @Cindr Ella Good feedback! Thank you!
  
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Comet on Jan 28, 2015
I live out in the country and altho I personally don't mind driving out here for sales others might. Our town holds a large Town Wide sale so we just load our trailer up and park it in front of a friends house--they add their stuff and the whole thing is walkable. We take turns watching every thing and if some one wants to go shop at other sales they can. We have made far more money this way and in fact while looking thru our hosts "junk jewelry box" I found a 14K bracelet they didn't know they had-later sold nicely as none of them liked it. I like priced items but do not mind so much if I think the seller is going to be asking a reasonable price---and I find that then the seller will often bundle things for less than I would have paid. A local church holds several times a year sales. They once held a sale for a guy who wanted them to clear out his "Hoard" and not charge for each item--a "Free Will Offering". All of the proceeds were donated. They made SO MUCH more than at regular sales--and no one had to decide on the prices!--that they now do this at ALL of their sales! For "extra special" items like furniture they place it seperatly and do have prices and some one who sits with that stuff. They also entertain offers on these items--one guy GAVE my daughter a beautiful maple coffee table after he REFUSED to sell it to some one who was going to strip off the original finish and paint it; this was from a local legendary maker so he knew the value both in money and sentiment. In observing this I have noticed that MOST people will round UP and hand the workers a $10 or $20 or bigger bill and refuse any change--it is for the Church and it is a Church known for helping others. I also go to a twice a year sale at a different church and they have now gone to a "Bag Sale" format so no one has to haggle over the pricing--this speeds up the lines which used to take longer than the sale itself. They also have a donation area where you can make your own price on certain items and pay with your other "finds" at checkout. And they have lots of FREE boxes where I have found some really good items!

3 Reply
- Megan Aubrey on Jan 28, 2015
  @Comet Wow! Thank you for all your wonderful comments and thoughts! It sounds like you live in a really supportive and wonderful community that makes sales like these meaningful and enjoyable! So many great ideas to think about and use! Thank you!
  
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