Yard Sale Question

[letyourselfgo]

I would like to make some money, mostly for my planned trip to Europe next summer and get rid of most of my stuff at the same time, so I can start fresh in my new home.

I haven't participated in a yard sale since I was a teenager, and I'm kind of flying solo with it all.

A friend from church who lives a few houses down the street from my apartment complex has offered his yard to hold the sale. We live on a major East/West artery in an upper class part of town. So, people pass by constantly!

I have a fixed price list of what everything costs (almost everything is $1-$2) and will post copies of the list on all of the tables.

I did have an idea about holding a bake/soda/lemonade sale at the same time. Especially because the yard sales in this area don't do that....so it would be very unique.

A friend will be helping me.

So, my question is: If you've had a yard sale, please offer any tips that you may have that may help. If you shop at yard sales, please offer any advice on what you, as a customer would enjoy/have enjoyed at previous and future yard sales.

Also, anyone do a bake sale or sell sodas? I have the feeling that may make a crapload of money, just on its own.

Thanks

[doriswe]

My friend just had a yard sale and made a ton of money on ziploc bags of baked treats and bottles of water. Between baby stuff, some shelving stuff and the treats, she ended up making well over $1000!

[compassrose]

I would make sure I put up signs all over the neighborhood over a week in advance.

[prettyinpearls]

I would suggest you price everying individually, and VERY clearly. Yes, it's a giant PITA but you'd rather sell that item than have someone pass it up because they can't find a price and/or don't feel like searching for it on the list. Also, don't barter on prices the first day. There will be plenty of people willing to pay what's on the tag. Save the bartering for the second/last day of the sale when you're trying to get rid of everything.

Make sure you're set up VERY early and are ready to go. In my area, people will wait in the street for a garage sale to open, or they'll start looking early...especially if you have a lot of bigger/large ticket items that will go quickly.

Advertise, advertise, advertise!!

[letyourselfgo]

Thanks everyone.
This has expanded to a fundraiser on top of the original idea.

Some local businesses have offered merchandise and gift cards for a raffle benefitting Autism Speaks. It's listed in the events calendar for the local newspaper (online and in print) and on several websites.

I look forward to next weekend and seeing how successful everything turns out to be.

[blackkitty]

Start early and be prepared for early birds. Decide if you will take early birds or not too and if you won't put that on any signage. Have lots of change and a place to hold it like a fanny pack while not fashionable is definitely the preferred way to go. Don't leave the money unattended! I also had people steal from my yard sale before, not money but merchandise so make sure you have help. Especially early in the day. The rush will be in the first hour or two and then it will die down.