A few suggestions for people who decide to decide to have yard or garage sales:

First of all, you need to get people there. Put up lenty of signs, best if printed in large letters on stiff cardboard or plywood. I see a lot of people writing something so small, that you actually need to get out of your vehicle and walk up to it to even be able to read it. And if you thumbtack a piece of paper to a utility pole, put something behind it, so it doesn't curl up and make it impossible to read it. So many homes around here are very rural, and listing something vague and expecting people to find it, just doesn't work very well. People will come to your sale if you can help them find it.

When you place your ad, don't just list your big ticket items. Pay a few extra dollars to list more of what you have for sale. A lot of people look for antiques, furniture to refinish, toys or collectible items, etc.

Place your ad here as well! This forum is growing steadily, and it doesn't cost you a thing to post it here. A lot of people read this forum, ask Wray's Hitching Post how many customers they have had there that heard about their place on this forum. I did.

Put prices on the items themselves, and list if they work or not. People will be more apt to buy something if they know about it.

Ask yourself, do I want to sell this stuff, or put it back in storage? I was at a sale last month, where some gentleman was selling a skilsaw, and it was for ten dollars more than a brand-new one I had bought the week before. He had a lot of people at his sale, but everyone was walking away empty handed. People go to garage sales looking for a bargain, so give them one.
If you want more than a reasonable garage sale price, offer it on ebay or swap shop. I have had over 20 sales in my lifetime, and I usually sell everything. What do I do with the leftovers? I donate them to the Salvation army. But they don't want junk either, so make sure you give them things like good clothes, etc., and that is also a tax deductible donation.

Most of the people here in Mena sell their things for a bargain, which makes garage-saling here a fun and productive weekend outing. And you will make some extra money if you price your items right, and make sure buyers can at least find you!

Yes, thats true! People tell us all the time that they saw our ads here on the forum. Our little resale shop is doing very well! The forum is good advertising and best of all its free! I appreciate all the guys (and gals) that started this forum and they maintain it well. As for yard sale tips I agree with all that too. :thumb: You must be organized, have things priced because people don't like to ask, make sure its neat and clean, advertise well, good signs (take them down when sale is over!!) and open early! Here I come! :D

Yard sales can be very productive and I have had several. When you finish with your yard sale do you leave everything in your yard, where it stays until it rains on it and then hopefully the wind blows it away? I think not! You put it all up. Well have the same respect for your neighbors and take your signs down! :thumb:

:banghead: It is ILLEGAL to post signs on UTILITY POLES! :downer:

Its even worse to leave them up! :rant:

i've been to a couple sales in town last week, and some of the prices were too high. :downer:

If you feel that the prices are too high, then try bargaining. :)
If they won't bargain....it's time to leave. :smoke:

:agree:

Great tips, Scotto.

Esp. about pricing right. I talk to friends all the time who tell me they have stuff they could yard sale, that they'll never use, but some of it is "too good" to sell for next to nothing.

What's the point of storing stuff forever if you're not going to use it...or sell it? :scratch:

Marsye, thanks for bringing up about taking down the signs. I can't count the number of times I've turned down a street with a Yard Sale sign on the corner, only to find an empty yard, nobody home, and the neighbors saying "Oh, that was LAST WEEK!" :D

Besides, it sure does clutter up the landscape, esp. after those signs get rained on, torn up by wind, etc.

In Missouri, you have to go get a permitt to have a yard sale..That way, they have your name and address and you get a fine if you do not take your sign down..I think that would be a great idea for Mena..It looks tacky to have old,faded yard sale signs up in our town...

:newlmao:

That's what I wonder about. Some of these people have such a huge number of items prices way too high, I can't imagine storing all of that stuff.

People go looking for bargains, not to spend about what the items would cost new. If you have antiques or collectibles, sell them on ebay. Then you should get what you want for them.

If you want too much for it, plan on keeping it.

Okay. Here's something else I wonder about.

How about those people who have the never-ending yard sales.....and they leave everything out in the RAIN all the time? :D

Why would I wanna buy a t-shirt that was already "previously worn".....but now it also is wet and has mold growing on it? :scratch:

according to what I've been told by a city council member, posting signs up on utility poles for yard sales is illegal in the city limits

:newlmao:

Yup, there's a couple people who have sales going almost every weekend. You'd think they'd need a business license or something instead of doing business under the disguise of a "yard sale?" :scratch:

And people should be fined for not taking down their old signs! Drives me nuts!!! Take them down when the sale is over!!! :rant:

Just noticed that this thread was started a year ago yesterday. Wow, time flies.

Yep and still relevant