One of my favorite ways to make some quick cash is by having a yard sale to get rid of things we just don’t need anymore. We all want to be able to make more money at yard sales and there are some easy ways you can do just that.
It takes a little bit of prep and planning but you can make $100’s or even $1,000’s more at your next sale!
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I like to start planning for a yard sale a month or two before I am actually going to have it. This gives me plenty of time to go through boxes and items in the attic without getting overwhelmed and stressed.
Not only are yard sales and garage sales a great way to make some extra cash, but it is the perfect time to declutter! Too much clutter gives me anxiety so I try to hold a yard sale once a year to keep it to a minimum.
These are some of the tips and tricks I use to make more money at yard sales so that we can put that money toward our summer vacation.
Easy Ways to Make More Money at Yard Sales
Do your Research: You probably know how much you can get for newer clothes, toys, and other items but what about things that have been in your attic for years? Maybe you inherited something and you have no idea how much it is worth.
You may have some treasure in your house and not even know it! For things like art, vintage dishes, jewelry, and collectibles, it is always a good idea to do some research and maybe get an appraisal.
You don’t want to sell something for $5 when it is worth $500!
A great place to start is doing a search on Ebay. Use the “show only sold listings” to help you get an idea of what people have paid for things in the past.
For jewelry, look for a stamp on the inside of the ring or clasp of a necklace for a brand name or 18K gold.
If you have a piece of jewelry or art that you want an appraisal on, head to valuemystuff.com to get a professional appraisal starting at only $10.
Label with Price Stickers: I know that this is the worst part about having a yard sale, but it is so worth it so you can make more money at yard sales! Most people won’t stick around long if they don’t see prices on your items.
I like using stickers that are already labeled to make it quicker and I always try to label as I am going through things and getting my items together.
You can make it easy by having all books be a certain price, all movies are a certain price, etc. and just have a sign at those items with the price listed instead of doing them all individually.
You can expect to get around 10-20% of what you paid for an item to help you with your pricing.
A great way to get rid of old kid and baby clothes is to offer some plastic grocery bags and let people fill up the bag for a set price, like $10 per bag.
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Pick the Right Time and Place:
The spring and summer months are great times to hold a yard sale. People are more inclined to go out and shop in the warmer months.
Make sure to keep an eye on the weather a week ahead of your scheduled date to make sure it won’t rain. You may want to reschedule if it is.
Keep in mind your location. If you live in the middle of no where, you won’t be getting a lot of people coming out. Ask a friend or family member if they will let you have it at their house if they live in a high traffic area. Multiple family yard sales usually do the best!
Have Attractive Displays:
Most people aren’t going to take the time to rummage through boxes. You want to make your yard sale look appealing from the road so people will stop to shop.
Hang up clothes like coats, dresses, skirts, and dress shirts. Ask to borrow some folding tables so that you can display your items neatly and have everything organized.
For kid and baby clothes, have items sorted by size and hang up some of the nicer outfits for display. People tend to look more at these items when they are laid out or folded instead of having to look through a box.
Have some jewelry organizers or displays to hang your earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. You can always use a muffin tin to display them as well.
To make more money at yard sales, clean off any old sport equipment, toys, tools, etc. They won’t sell if they are dirty and dusty. You want to make things look as new as possible.
It’s also a good idea to keep some batteries on hand if people want to see if toys or electronics still work and are in good condition.
More Yard Sale Tips and Tricks
Signs and Promotion: To get the most people to your yard sale, it is important to promote it! Hang signs about two days before with the date and time clearly written.
It’s best to use neon colored signs to catch people’s eye and make sure everything is clearly written and use arrows to point the way. Hang signs wherever there is a turn directing people to the right house.
Also make note if it is a multi-family yard sale and if there are any special items you are selling, ex: Tons of sport equipment or Tons of baby items, to attract the right buyers.
The internet is your friend so use it! About a week before the sale, post it on any neighborhood websites that are close to you. Also post on any yard sale Facebook groups with the details of your sale.
Post again the day before and the morning of your sale to remind people.
Accept Credit and Debit Cards: This is a valuable tip to make more money at yard sales. Invest in one of the credit card readers, like Square, for your phone or tablet.
People only carry so much cash around. If they know that you accept credit or debit cards, they may be more likely to spend more money.
If you are going to do this, make sure you state that on your yard sale signs. People that are just driving by may pass if they don’t carry cash, but will stop if they know you take credit or debit cards.
Encourage Lingering: Make it so that people want to stay and shop around. I like putting out a box of free children’s books or toys that I was going to donate anyway to keep kids busy.
This gives parents more time to shop and look around if their kids are distracted.
Sometimes, I will go to a doughnut shop and get a couple dozen doughnuts to sell for $1 each with some fresh coffee. The smell of coffee usually keeps people around. They shop around while enjoying their doughnuts.
Make More Money off Expensive Items: Most people aren’t going to spend hundreds of dollars at a yard sale so if you have more expensive items, you may want to sell them elsewhere.
Use sites like Ebay or Amazon to sell some of your nicer things. I’ve been selling on Amazon for years and make about $50/hour as an Amazon FBA Seller.
You can also use sites like Facebook Marketplace or Threadup. You can also list items on TheRealReal if they are luxury items like handbags, shoes, and watches.
These are just a few yard sale tips that I hope you can use to make more money at yard sales. We all want to make a much as possible so that we can put it towards things that we will actually use.
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