I’ve been calling 2019 the year of the “purge”. If we have stuff that hasn’t been used in a year or more it needs to go. This excludes holiday things. However, if I haven’t used the pieces in the last two years some holiday décor may be out the door too. But for now, I’m concentrating on “the stuff”. The stuff that sits in boxes. The stuff that fills the closets (neatly but it is still stuff), cupboards, and all the amazing stuff leftover from my Katherines Corner Shop. I’ve donated a lot of stuff! A lot! But this stuff, this stuff is worth selling. I’ll also have a pop-up shop, where I will sell inventory from the Katherines Corner Shop. My silver and gold blog post HERE is still available. On Saturday, I’m having a yard sale aka an all-around Sell Your Stuff sale!
I’m sharing how I’m preparing to sell our stuff at a yard sale on Saturday, with hope and a whole lot of prayer there will be no stuff left after it’s over. Hubby says, don’t have high expectations, but I can’t help myself.
I love going to yard sales but haven’t been in several years. Why? We have so much stuff already (wink). I haven’t had a yard sale in about 14 years, but I do have some tips for selling your stuff and hopefully having a successful yard sale. I’ll share the results of my Saturday Sell Your Stuff sale next week.
Preparing to Sell Your Stuff
Pricing-
2 Days or more before you sell your stuff, gather colorful stickers (easy to find prices are essential), labels, tags, and a marking pen for pricing.
Gather all your stuff and put it into piles, baskets (I used totes and laundry baskets) etc. with like things together. Linens in one pile, books, toys, clothing in another, etc.
Start Pricing. It’s a yard sale, so your shoppers are looking for a great deal. I think the best way to gauge what your stuff should sell for is, to consider what you would pay for it if you found it at a yard sale. $5 for those gorgeous suede boots, score! Full disclosure- I asked my daughters opinion on some pricing, she’s a yard sale bloodhound (wink). That’s the price you want. Put a price on everything! Items without prices may go unpurchased, some people don’t want to ask how much. Don’t put sticky labels on soft goods or books they may leave a residue when your buyer removes them.
Setup-
2 Days Before you sell your stuff-
Have shelves, racks, tables, chairs ready to be placed. You need everything displayed well so your buyers will linger and see it all. Try and avoid putting things on the ground. If you must, put your items on the ground use a clean tarp, sheet or blanket and make sure you keep things upright. If you don’t have or can’t borrow enough tables, be creative, drag your patio table out, turn crates and boxes over, places wood atop to buckets. You can create plenty of surfaces to display all your wonderful stuff. Put any breakables on stable tables to avoid breakage by overzealous buyers or unattended little hands. Remember the bags.
If you have plastic bags ready to be recycled or boxes that people can use to carry their treasures in that is great too.
1 Day Before you sell your stuff-
You’ll need change, and lots of it. So, a trip to the bank is needed. Experience had me short of change and having to search through purses and piggy banks for my first few buyers, they all had large bills! Although I can’t tell you “exactly” how much change you will need. 2 twenty-dollar bills, 3 ten-dollar bills, 20 one-dollar bills, 2 rolls of quarters ($20), and two rolls of nickels ($4) should work. Keep your cash in a pouch, not in an open cash box, but with you. Do you have a fanny pack (they are back in fashion and a lot fancier than their predecessors), or apron with deep pockets? Perfect.
I read somewhere that some banks will give you a reusable cash envelope when you get your change. I’ll ask when I pick up the change. Throughout your sale bring your earnings into your house. Just keep what you need to make change with you.
Make sell you stuff signs– if you don’t have poster board or yard sale signs already, a trip to the dollar store is needed. Keep your investment low, check with your city about where and how to place your signs. Make sure you have a sign outside your home, so people know you are having a sale and not just cleaning out your garage. Hang your signs an hour before your sale. Why? Some people will remove them and replace them with their own signs if you put them up the day before.
Advertise- your local classified most likely has a free section for yard sales, use social media and word of mouth too. Tell your neighbors! Ask people to share your sale with their contacts. Include some teasers like antiques, furniture, electronics that you have available in your sale.
Sell Your Stuff Day-
2 hours before you start your yard sale, set up your stuff! It’s well organized in your boxes, baskets and totes, so it should go quickly. Our stuff sale starts at 7:30 am on Saturday. People will be there at 7!
Greet everyone who shows up. After they have been looking a bit, consider asking if they’re looking for something in particular. Don’t hover!
End of the Sale–
Here’s hoping everything sold and there’s nothing left and all you need to do is count your money (wink). If that’s not the case. You’ll need to consider what to do with your remaining stuff. Keep it for another sale. Sell in the classifieds, online etc. or donate. Whatever you decide, you still sold some stuff so consider it a success.
Do you have any tips for selling your stuff at yard sales?
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I would add to put into your ads ‘no early sales’ to discourage people from showing up a dawn. Yes, they did that once to me! I put everything inside the garage ready to go, and open the door on time. I can always move larger items out to the lawn once the sale is open. I also post a large sign that says “No Checks, No Bills Larger than $20 please”. Often if given a $20 for a small sale, I’ll ask if they have anything smaller. People often just don’t think about that. Nowadays, I am more likely to shop at thrift stores, and we live too far out to have a garage sale.
Hi Carole, great tips, thank you. I did include the no bills larger than 20’s in the ad. But did not mention early birds. I’m all ready to sell, I just need to open the door at 7:30. Hugs!
Great tips, Katherine! I am long over due for a yard sale! Maybe this summer is the summer for purging for me, too! I hope your sale goes well!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Hi Shelbee, I’m really hoping this one will be the one that helps me clear the chaos, LOL. hugs!
Such great tips. I haven’t had a yard sale in several years. When my kids were small, they loved doing that. They also loved going to yard sales with me! I would get to the sales early and got so many great deals on outdoor playsets, etc. It was so fun! Like you, I quit going because I had enough stuff! But, I would like some patio furniture, so I think I will start making the yard sale rounds again!
I always enjoyed yard sales too. FIngers crossed you find just the right patio furniture. Hugs!
It’s been years since we had one, but even with a seven am opening, people arrived there at six.
Early birds ( wink). It has been 14 years since I had one and forgot how much work it is. Fingers crossed this one on Saturday will be a winner Hugs!
What great yard sale tips and perfect timing as I think I definitely may have some stuff I would like to purge at a yard sale! So, thanks and hoping you are having a great week so far xoxo <3
Please let me know how your sale goes. It is so much work and I do hope it is a great success xox