Why a Yard Sales Aren't Worth It

In theory a yard sale is a great idea. You get rid of unwanted items, you get cash you didn't have before. Easy, right? Yes, and no.

The best yard sales are the ones that get a lot of traffic and buyers. Countless how-tos are available for how to get both. And what's not to love about seeing the money roll in? Unfortunately it usually doesn't work that way.

The goal of cleaning out closets, basements, and attics of unused, unnecessary, and unwanted items is a great concept. And unfortunately, sometimes it takes a deadline to get any of that done. Goodwill is open year-round, but most of us won't take the time to dig through stuff unless the clock is ticking. So for this reason alone, yard sales wonderful. But let's look at the rest of it.

Time
Yard sales are a hugely time-consuming event. It's more than just the morning and afternoon of the yard sale itself. You have to take into account the time and mental energy that goes into pricing and labeling items, making and hanging signs and any other advertising efforts, and the actual set up and take down time. When all is said and done, you have likely dedicated double the amount of time of the yard sale. What else could you have been doing in that time? And if, as you hope it will be, it's a beautiful day for your yard sale, how else could you have been enjoying it?

Money
One man's trash is another man's treasure. So what is the right price for clothes, toys, dishware, or linens? If you are taking the time, effort, and energy to throw a yard sale, the idea is to make a decent amount of money to show for it. But if you price things too high, people won't consider it and you'll be stuck with the item. If money is the main yard sale motivator, try E-bay is a better venue.

Haggling
The typical yard saler is going to be looking for a deal. By nature yard sales are an automatic deal. Prices are slashed, and the quality may or may not reflect this. But many browsers will ask for will you take $X when you are asking for $Y. They may be willing to pay $Y, but you won't know this until you begin negotiating. For the timid or shy, the haggling process is nerve wracking. Not to mention the forced social interactions and feeling of strangers outside of your home.

Unless you live in a high-traffic area, and have a bevy of attractive items, odds are great your yard sale is not going to net a great profit. Even under the best of circumstances at the end of the day, a yard sale will have left over items and you will still have to dispose of them via donation or trash. So cut out the middle man, trek over to Goodwill with your goods for the tax receipt, and enjoy the day some other way.