My Story: Money In Your Closet by CS Tips on having a more profitable, less stressful sale
Do: 1. Have it when it's warm but not hot. 2. Price everything, or group items and price them. Stickers on the front of pictures/paintings will ruin them and tags stuck through shirts make holes. Hook the tag on a seam or place the sticker inside the piece of clothing. 3. Make large easy-to-read signs and place them so customers can easily find your sale. Place them wherever there might be confusion about which way to go. 4. Get friends, family and neighbors to participate. You increase your chance of customers by having multi or neighborhood sales. 5. Keep it organized and be sure to display your items neatly (nothing dirty or gross). 6. Keep everything you can off the ground. Use two ladders with a pole hung between them to display clothes or use your clothes line. A ladder can also display plants or other items. A covered box will also work. 7. Make sure your signs have the date(s) and times displayed, along with arrows pointing the way at major crossroads. 8. Get the customer to stop by displaying some larger or more interesting items up front. Most people won't stop for boxed items or when all they see are clothes and/or small items. 9. Start on time and have some one there to help watch your items. Thieves will steal anywhere from anyone. I had new watches and other things stolen when early birds came. They also work in pairs or groups to distract you so they can steal your money box/container or items all day long, through out the sale. Keep your money on you with zipper facing inward so they can't easily open it while asking you something. Avoid large bills. 10. Remove all your signs immediately after your sale is complete or within one day. 11. Sort and prepare your items more than one day before the sale. My mother sold a lot of costume jewelry at a greater price because she sorted, cleaned and displayed each piece individually. She got co-op or flea market prices because of her extra work (at least $200 - $300 more). 12. Advertise every where. Newspapers, flyers, bulletin boards at grocery and other businesses, even at work. 13. Have something to keep you occupied between customers. Never read or talk on the phone when you get customers. 14. Make sure every one selling is authorized to negotiate any item offered for sale. It's a real turn-off when a customer hears "That's Mary's, you will have to wait until she gets back, I can't lower the price." 15. Crafts and gifts sell at yard sales but be prepared for much lower profits. People going to yard sales won't pay the same price they would at a craft fair or in a store. 16. Antiques, collectibles and paintings should not be sold unless you know how much they are worth, or don't care how much you get for the item. I sold an antique dish once for $2 that was worth over $40. 17. Make sure your homeowners/renters insurance covers accidents. Also display signs that you are not responsible for accidents or injuries occurring on your property. The signs should be used as back up only, as I am not sure how legal they are. Don't: 1. Broken or damaged items are a great turn off for yard salers. If you must sell these items, let the customer know. I once sold a chess set with one piece missing. Yes, I got less money but I had repeat customers at my next sale because they trusted me to be honest. 2. Never glue, staple or nail signs to poles or trees. This would damage them and pose potential hazards to people and animals. Remove all signs and tape when your sale is complete. 3. NEVER let any one use your bathroom. Besides the potential of being robbed, there are some real pigs (filthy people) out there. No matter who they request the bathroom for (even a child), refuse, or you might be very sorry. 4. Never let anyone try on clothing in your home either (same reasons as 3). Instead provide a tape measure (make sure they return it) and/or put the actual size on the item. 5. Never give them your home telephone number; instead, get their number for any reason. Thieves will call to see if you are home. 6. Accept no checks or payment other than cash. Tell them to return with the cash. I wouldn't recommend holding the item for more than 20 minutes (if that long) too many potential problems could occur. 7. Film, videotapes, and other similar items melt when exposed to heat (or sunlight). Items wrapped in plastic will sweat when exposed to sunlight. Glass can start a fire if it reflects light onto something flammable. Cold weather also ruins some items. Be careful how and what you offer for sale. 8. If you want to keep the item, don't put it in your sale. In other words, price your items to sell, and be willing to negotiate. Use these points for a safer, less stressful and profitable sale. I have done yard sales off and on for years using the above tips and made money while getting rid of my clutter. I recommend www.yardsalequeen.com as one good 'free' resource. The author currently lives in Nevada and is writing a book about frugality. ___________________ Source: The Dollar Stretcher Tuesday, March 19, Volume 7, Number 11 To SUBSCRIBE send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Journey from clutter List Website http://journeyfromclutter.com Members Only Page http://journeyfromclutter.com/MembersOnly/MembersArea.htm Unsubscribe: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word 'unsubscribe' in the 'Subject:' field to be removed from the main list. To Unsubscribe from the Digest version of the list send the unsubscribe message to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
