10 Tips for Yard-Sale Success
Editor’s note: the following article, written by Doug Pimple, was originally published in the April edition of the Baker Bark.
The 20th annual Baker Bargains Bonanza, a neighborhood-wide yard sale, is this Saturday, June 13!
With this event only days away, we thought it would be a good idea to suggest some “dos and don’ts” to refresh the seasoned yard-saler as well as provide an introduction for novice buyers and sellers. (Our thanks go out to Baker neighbor Gary Giem who has been successfully buying and selling at yard and estate sales for several years.)
Participating in the Baker Bargains Bonanza should be fun, but it can also be a good money making proposition. The following tips are presented to maximize profits and minimize chaos:
1. Make a plan. The last minute approach only leads to lost sales and frustration at moving a lot of “stuff” for nothing. Plan ahead. Start a week or so in advance. Move things into one area, perhaps a garage or even just one room on the main floor of your home—avoid multiple trips up and down stairs the day of the event. Get organized several days in advance so that you are not exhausted by opening time.
2. Open early. Being ready early is the name of the game. The buyers who come first are usually your best bet. Dealers usually come early because they are on a long trail each day and cover a lot of territory. The adage that “the early bird does get the worm” certainly applies, and it applies to buyers as well as sellers. Get up early and move your things out well in advance. Give yourself time to arrange your wares to best advantage. This can be tough, as there will be those who want to buy as you are moving things out. You have the choice to tell them to wait, or deal with them. It can be helpful to have some help during these early hours so that you can multitask without implosion. Also, it is wise to have a second set of eyes just to keep anyone from walking away with items while you are otherwise engaged.
3. Clean your items. Not polish and paint, but clean them off. Re¬move dust and spider webs. Be careful with antique items that you do not destroy value by over cleaning or using any harsh cleaners to make it look better.
4. Price items ahead of time. Make a master list as you price each item. Mark your list as they sell. Use tags or tape that will not de¬stroy the surface of the item. For example, don’t use duct tape on a cardboard game box. It will ruin it. Often people buy items for their collectable value and the packaging is very important.
5. Have at least thirty or forty dollars in change at the outset. Fives, ones and coins. It is best to have one place for buyers to pay. For obvious reasons, someone must always be with the money. There are those who come to sales to snatch the moneybox when busy sellers are looking the other way. If you are conducting your sale alone, wear an apron and keep the money on you.
6. Don’t argue with your customers. Don’t tell them how much you paid for an item. If you have an emotional attachment to something, don’t sell it; and don’t be insulted if a buyer does not share your love for your grandmother’s marble table. People disappear quickly when asked to pay cash for your memories. A yard sale is not an antique store sale—the pricing is different. Dealers, for example, often wait two, three years to sell items at their stores, during which time they pay rent on the space. That is the nature of that business. Yard sales are quick. It is quick money for not a whole lot of work.
7. If you are going to take a check, be sure to see some identification. Write down a driver license number on the check. Oddly, it is rare that people will try and float a bad check at a yard sale. If you have any qualms, tell the buyer that you will hold their items for them while they go to an ATM or bank for cash—no one should be insulted by that request. Remember: many professional estate sale companies will only accept cash.
8. Hold firm on your prices during the early hours, unless you know in your heart that you will take less. It is difficult to call anyone back once they have moved on. And remember, just because you love an item is no reason to hike up the price. Be reasonable. An item is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. You will know very early on if you have priced your items to sell. Otherwise, be prepared to haul it all back inside at closing time. Be prepared to bargain for your eventual bonanza. Everyone loves a bargain, but that does not mean you must give away your treasures.
9. Under no circumstances should you allow any buyers in your home. There are public rest rooms available on Broadway, so send them there. Of course, if you have a large item for sale like a piano in your living room you will need to provide access, but keep it simple and allow no wandering into other rooms. Also, if you do have things in your home for sale, you must have someone available to keep watch outside.
10. Don’t be fooled by someone in less than spiffy clothes. They can often have thousands of dollars in cash in their pocket and are willing to spend it.
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Tags: Baker Bargains