STORM2K

me and the wife are going to have one next Saturday(if weather lets us)We have to much stuff and we also need a car so what money we make its going towards the car.How much money did you make in a two day sale???

We've had several over the years. We've made anything from under $10.00 to over $500.00 depending on what we had to sell.

had one and I don't believe it did much.

Had my first yard sale last year and made just over $800, thanks mostly to the gazillion books I had to sell. One nurse alone bought $150 worth!

We had one many years ago(during the hot summer ) and didn't make much...

Just a word to the wise, be CAREFUL.........as if we don't have ENOUGH to worry about, there are people who will "case the joint" looking for items of interest....and will RETURN when your not home and bingo! True story......I've interviewed quite a few criminals who've openly admitted that they "case the area" under the auspice of "just looking".....and when they find items of interest, they will wait in the wings, waiting for you to leave home and then.............

Dennis

we've had a couple and made over 1000 at each one.

I've never had one, but I do sell most of my junk on ebay rather than throw it away. It's amazing what people will buy.

we sell the good stuff on ebay and the rest of it at yard sales.

alicia-w wrote:we sell the good stuff on ebay and the rest of it at yard sales.

You'd be surprised at what peopel will pay even for the bad stuff.

I post completely honest descriptions of the item and its condition and take a picture of each item, and people still blow me away with what they're willing to pay for my junk.

i mean like clothes and household items, stuff like that. things you dont want to pay a mover to put in a box and that you'd rather buy new at the other end.

i've sold TONS of needlework kits for lots more than i paid for them. one kit i bought for $5 and a gal in south florida paid 87. i even called her and asked if it was a typo, but no, she just really wanted it.

i've sold several old musical instruments too.

It all depends upon what you're selling, the weather and alittle luck. I'd say about $100 on average for the ones that I've had. I've never had any really big items to sell.

this year, we donated the good clothes to the hurricane efforts, housewares too. there's a place on base where folks could go to get things like household items, etc. for free.

I had a couple of Anne Rice items that I sold on Ebay and donated the money to the Red Cross.

Our last yard sale will be this summer. Our downsizing effort before we move back out west. We dont need the den and living room furniture. and we dont need two dining room tables. and two tvs is probably MORE than enough.

what the kid doesnt take with him when he graduates will go too.

We had one not long ago in the fall. I made about 100 bucks, but it was mostley childrens clothes going for .25-1.00. One thing is even if you don't make a killing, they are lots of fun. Enjoy.

I had one a few years ago before we moved here......I made about 70 bucks.

It is nice to be able to sell your old stuff instead of giving it away.....and the extra money helps! All that didnt sell though I gave to good will.

My mother and I usually have one together every couple of years; what I mostly have to sell is outgrown kids clothes, and I price everything at 25 cents just because I want to get rid of it, so I never make a whole lot of money, but I gain a whole lot of space! Saves me the trouble of going through and pricing each piece - the time involved in doing that isn't worth it. I would love to just donate it all, but the last time I tried the two or three places I called said they didn't need any more kids clothes (I was kind of shocked that they would turn down donations, but I suppose that is what they mostly get is kids clothes).

Kim

My folks and I have had a few yard sales over recent years...sometimes a combined one with my sister and brother-in-law. I forget how much we raked in though.

Eric

We've had two yard sales and frankly it wasn't worth the energy it took. A lot of work for a little money. Also, beware of people stealing at the garage sale. I saw several people take things without paying but I let it go. I figure if they needed the corning ware dish that bad they could have it. Also, beware of groups that come together (make sure the doors to the house are locked at all times). I have vowed never ever ever to have another yard sale as long as I live.

You've been given good advice from many. As Dennis pointed out, be careful.

I've had two garage/yard sales. Both were street wide events (but not all neighbors participate). First one netted us $80 but a neighbor made $700. Turned out she saved every single good outfit her teenage son had worn, from babyhood on. She had Christmas and Easter outfits, all together on a coathanger, down to the tie. People snapped these up b/c little boy suits I guess never go out of style. She had baby furniture too. Me? I had given away or taken these items to consignment shops years before. But she hung onto it all. Why, I don't know. She bragged about her sale for months too. We took our $80 and went out to dinner with it (something this family rarely does). So that was our treat.

What I've discovered is this:

1. Presenting your items in an attractive way is more lucrative. Putting clothes in a cardboard box isn't as appealing as carefully hanging or folding clothing on racks or tables is. Just don't expect to sell an oversized shirt with shoulder pads from the 80s, along with leggings. A vintage shirt with peace signs might be cool though. Picture what a teenager would want these days.

2. Setting your prices just right. Ask yourself what you'd pay for this item at a yard sale. Be prepared to slash your prices half way thru or the last hour. Shoppers love that! Have a red marker to mark them all down or put up a big sign - half off, prices drastically reduced, you get my meaning.

3. If cold, offer hot coffee, hot chocolate and/or donuts/doughnut holes/cookies/mini muffins. For a price. I got rid of old hot drink xmas cups once, in May. People didn't care! It was very cold, low 40s and they loved walking around with a hot drink, house to house. My neighbors even came up for a cup!

4. Expect shoppers there for very specific items that will quickly circle your sale, asking: antiques, china, sewing machine, toys, children's clothing, etc. I swear I'd have customers in my garage a minute, tops - they'd walk in so fast, ask if I had a specific item, I'd barely get a no out and they'd be gone. They were on a mission. So group your items accordingly.

5. Have change ready and wear a waist pouch. Don't put it on the table unless you have help that will not leave the sale. As Dennis said, people do case sales like this, and work in teams. One will distract you asking questions, the other will grab the money. But not if it's in your waist pouch.

My best sale at one were old Elementary school fiction books. Some with that Newberry book seal. An older lady came thru and saw them. Called her daugther, who was a brand new First Grade teacher. I charged 5 for a $1 and really could asked for 2 for a $1, this lady would have bought them. But as my kids said - mom they went to a First Grade teacher, so we looked at that sale as a donation. The lady bought over $5 worth. At least 25 books.

Overall, I'm past the yard sale craze. It's much easier to donate them to Goodwill. I just never made much money. But it's kinda fun, if you want to just try it.