How to Maximize Your Fall Yard Sale Profits

Maximizing the earning potential of your yard sale can result in earning more than expected. So, on your next yard sale follow a few helpful tips to make as much as possible.

Anyone having a yard sale does so for two reasons: to make money and to get rid of a few items no longer needed. Even when cleaning your home, yard or garage of a few unwanted, no longer needed, items your goal is to make as much as possible. Today, yard sales are more of a small business than they were in the past. Some yard sale shoppers have their own business grown and successful from items they purchase from other yard sales.

Weather permitting, every weekend interested garage sale shoppers will find at least one hundred yard sale announcements in their local paper. Driving around you discover hundreds of other yard sales posted that never made the paper. With the economy as it has been for the last decade, people are making weekly yard sales a business.

The one yard sale I had in the past resulted in earning a whopping $75 from two items. I sold an old bike and a gorgeous blue turquoise Urn. Both were picked up within minutes after being placed out. Before the sun arose completely, the two items were purchased and back in the house I went for the remainder of the day completely satisfied with the sale. The items had been sitting in my garage for years.

That was over five years ago. Since that time, I have acquired a number of household items I need to get rid of. In addition to the household items, I have designer clothing worn and some not worn, children toys and other household goods to sell. Prior to retirement, i was asked regularly by employees to hold a yard sale. They wanted to buy some of my clothing, shoes, purses, suits and jewelry.

This weekend, I plan to get rid of some furniture, a waterfall, several pedestal stands, two and three piece pant and skirt suits and also children clothing. Most of the clothing was worn only once and quite a few items were never worn. During my working years, I had a habit of picking up items of clothing during lunch. If the items did not work, I sometimes failed to return the and get a refund. Those items are still in my closet.

If the items I will place out sell for the amounts asked, which is basically almost 90% less than the original prices, I should earn at least $1000 on my next yard sale.

Remember Garage Sale Shoppers Are Looking For Great Finds At Minimal Cost

Even the person with very unique, high quality items must realize that a garage sale shopper is looking for the lowest price for good items. Even a designer suit will not be purchased at a garage sale for designer or even close out prices. Make sure your price is one you can be happy with and that will attract the garage sale shopper or keep it in your closet.

Display Prices That Are Hard To Resist

If you display a table you purchased for $100 with the desire to get $100 dollars for it at a yard sale, you might as well put it back in the house. Most garage sale shoppers are looking for items $50 or less. Even an asking price of $50 must be on something that the garage sale shopper will fall for quickly and feel they just can not live without. A garage sale shopper may have only $50. The desire is to spend the $50 on a group of items. You might have a better chance getting your price by offering the item at a consignment shop.

Organize Items

Place your items out for sale in a well organized manner. A major find might be looked over if hidden under or around other items. Garage sale browsers are looking over your ware quickly. Their intent is to pick up a few items or look over the items quickly then head to the next home or sale. If you do not have prices displayed or items well organized some of your shoppers will look, become uninterested and get right back in their car.

Even a garage sale should be handled like a professional business. Make sure the items for sale are clean, well organized with prices easily seen and not too cluttered. With a few days of advance planning, having everything ready at 5 am for the early bird shoppers, you might find your entire inventory gone within minutes. Or, you might just have everything left with no takers.