Steve Sultanoff has been going to yard sales for over 30 years.
He says he began attending when he got divorced. I ended up with an empty house because my wife had everything in the house.
He bounced back from the divorce and is still a fan of yard sales, even going to them when he is on vacation and once making a pilgrimage to the World's largest garage sale. He says he has made some great purchases.
Many of the purchases he's made have been practical. Sultanoff bought 1,000 greeting cards from a representative. Most of the time, they didn't have envelopes. I received a free box of greeting-card envelopes at another sale. The cards are still being used. I have saved a lot of money on greeting cards over the years.
My sister didn't inherit the contents of the house. Key items were missing from the garage sale she was setting up. I don't know if I should take legal action.
"Yard sales, also known as tag sales or garage sales, are a great way to de-cluttering your home and give useful items a second life," says Mike Kelleher, stuff expert on "Legacy List" with Matt Paxton.
There is a science to successful garage sales. He says that it requires some thought and planning.
Next Avenue surveyed its experts and came up with 10 tips for preparing for a garage sale.
It's important that everything is in good working order. Good quality cookware such as Le Creuset are popular. Vintage movie posters are one of the hot yard sale items. These are the types of items you can't get at Target. TGT is +0.51%.
Sultanoff says to go to a few garage sales before buying your own. He says that that will give you an idea of what items to sell.
Check with your city or town for any yard sale rules. Sultanoff said that some cities might charge for a license.
It is ideal to have a house that is easy to get to. It's important that there'smple parking. People don't want to be stuck in another car and not be able to leave.
If you have to sell a lot, you might consider a multi- event. More items could make more shoppers come.
People who can't attend a physical sale can still purchase items with the help of social media.
People choose to have yard sales in order to make money and get rid of things they no longer use. Determining your primary motivation is important before the sale.
It's a good idea to focus on making a certain amount of money and not worry about how much you make on each piece. Setting the goal as being able to use the garage to park your car is a good one.
Emma Gordon has been running successful yard sales for a long time. She doesn't price items based on sentiment. I ask my friends how much they would pay for an item, then set the price based on their responses.
Sultanoff cautions as well. He says that you shouldn't expect to get top dollar for your items or that you will make back what you spent. Most buyers want big deals, even if you sell the occasional high priced item. They may not move if they don't know how to price their items.
If you can't bring yourself to lower the price, you can sell the item at a consigner's store.
The sale should be promoted one week before. You should start advertising on Sunday or Monday if your sale is on a Saturday. People will get confused if you do it before that.
Kelleher suggests using social media and old-fashioned signs to advertise.
He suggests using a poster board with obscenely big lettering to make it easier for people to read it. It won't be worth it for them to look at what's said if they can't read it.
It could be simple with an arrow pointing toward the yard. Let people know if the event is wet or dry. Mention the fact that it is a multi-dwelling sale.
It's a good idea to set up in the morning of the sale. Friends or neighbors should be enlisted to help with the setup.
It's easier for people to walk through the aisles. Don't make the tables too crowded with stuff. You don't want to make it hard for buyers to navigate.
Kelleher suggests putting things together. He suggests setting up small rooms in your house. Group together kitchen stuff, yard tools, bedding and towels, clothing, and other items in order to convince buyers that these items will work in their lives.
It's a good idea to put expensive items closer to where you can see them. There are people who attend tag sales. A van pulled up and stole a baby crib.
You can see how to value the things you inherit.
All items should be marked with their price. It can be hard to understand if you set it up as $5 and things move around.
All things with a blue sticker are $5, red stickers are $10, and so on, and they can be displayed with a master key.
Sultanoff suggests that at least a few items be displayed. Buyers will be encouraged by this.
If you are willing to give away items at no cost, a table is a good idea. People like free stuff.
It's easier for buyers to pay. Change can be given with small bills. If using Zelle, display the handle to make it easy for buyers to find it when they need it.
You need to be willing to make compromises. The people love to negotiate. They go to a tag sale to do that.
A yard sale is a good time to buy and sell items, but not at the same time. You want to set a goal before that. If you remind yourself that getting rid of it will allow you to put your car in the garage, you will be more willing to take 25% or 50% off the price.
Know how much you can charge. Sultanoff says to not sell it for a low price if you don't want to.
Some buyers will arrive before the start time, and some will arrive after the end time. Don't hover, greet people when they show up. Buyers don't have to wait long if you have enough assistance at the sale.
Don't be upset if buyers offer you less than your price. When you put the item up for sale, you should have said goodbye to it. If the person is being aggressive or rude, it's a good idea to get rid of them. Say, 'No, I can't sell' and move on.
There are three expert tips for successful yard sales.
The last tip is for customers. It is easier to accept less money from a person who is polite. I have sold items to people for less than I wanted to because they were nice and I liked them.
Randi is a writer who specializes in a wide range of topics including parenting, pop culture, and life after 50. She lives in New Jersey with her family. She can be found on randimazzella.com.
NextAvenue.org gave permission for this article to be used.
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