I would like to have a garage sell sometime soon because I have a ton of baby stuff that I need to get rid of that is taking up space in my attic. My daughter is 3 and I have not gotten rid of anything since the day she was born. My son is 4 months and I have reused somethings with him but he has mostly all new things. So now I have double everything. I have never had a garage sell before and just wanted to get some advice. Any advice would be appreciated especially on when is the best time to have one.
Good luck with your garage sell, try to have it on the first weekend of the month, that way alot of people have their monthly checks to spend and depending on you and how you want to work it, i've been to ones that have baby clothes priced seperate or if you're really just wanting as much gone as possible you could offer say $2-3 dollars per how much that can get in say a plastic bag like you'd get from Wal-Mart. Feel free to holler if you have any questions.
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Jana
the first of the month is great. i had baby clothes also and i had mine on the june 8th and i sold out i only had 2 sacks left i took them to the salvation army.if you set the time for 7:00 they well show up at 6:00 about 1:00 i started marking stuff down i would rather sell it for quater than get nothing. have someone help you,they need to take money and you help the people or vise versa. i had my mom,neice and nephew. good luck i wont have another!!!! i took off a week for vacation and it took all it to get ready for one day. use sunscreen!! have fun!
I know when I am looking for clothes for my kids, I am more likely to go to the sale that tells me what sizes for what gender. If it has the sizes, but doesn't tell me if boy or girl, I may not take the time to go, it might be a waste of gas. Also, make sure that your clothes are either hung in a manner where people can look easily or stacked by size. You will probably have to restack as the day goes by. I usually would hang the really good clothing, priced a little higher, and fold and stack the others that may have a small stain or two on them. Be sure to price accordingly, and high enough because you know that you will be dickered with, so if you want $1 for something, you might mark $1.50. Just be sure things are very organized, they will sell WAY better than if you just dump them all on a table or in a box.
Also, be sure to have a large amount of change for purchases, especially if you are having the first of the month garage sale, because they will all come with their $20 bills, and you will need change for that. We usually get at least $200 in change, that way we don't run out!! You hate to lose a sale because you can't give them change!
You might attend a few sales before having yours, just to check the going rates in your area for clothes, etc. Good luck to you - I don't know which I love more, going to a good sale or having one. You always meet some really nice people!
Best time for garage sells are Friday afternoon and early Saturday mornings and early Sunday mornings. Most papers will advertise yard sales for a reasonable price. Make sure you have pleanty of boxes on corners saying yard sale (if your housing area permits it) then make sure you collect all of them after your sale is over. Have someone there with you at all times. People will steal or try and get you to come down on a price have your limits.
Hope this helps.
Theresa
You'll want to check with the city to see if you need to get a permit. I've done a few sales with my mom and sis and always had to have a permit. They range from $1-$10 depending on where you live. And we actually did have someone come around just to chck for permits.(You get fined and have to shut down if you get caught w/o one) You will also want to advertise in the paper, we have a paper in town that will advertise garage sales for free. And state that you are selling baby clothes/gear in the ad-people always come out for that! You may wait until September or late August when it may be cooler in the mornings (but you never know around here!) I know I prefer to go when its not sooo very hot. You may check with a neighbor or friend with kids and see if she would like to sell some stuff too, that way you have someone to help-you don't want to do it by yourself! And like some have said price a bit high because people will offer you less than what is marked.
You might try selling them on Craigslist. You would probably make more than if you had a garage sale and it's less of a hassle. Just a suggestion.
Courtney,
My best friend is having a baby girl in November. This is her first and all of my baby girls stuff is in storage spread across 3 states. Can you give me a list of items you have and maybe we can meet and let her go through your stuff. I know she would really appreciate it. My number is 228-323-4428. Thanks,
Sheila
I have had many yard sales, garage sales, rummage sales, etc...and also shopped many, here's my take on them.
I usually combine with a few friends so we can share the work load. You really have to watch people. It is sad to say but you will have stealing. We usually have one person take the money and the others will walk around and help the shoppers. The money person can either keep the stickers on separate lists or just write down prices of your items then give you the sales amount after. It is not worth fighting with friends about money so you must decide if you really trust the person and will take their word and leave it at that. Also, one can't price their stuff very different than the others, it is confusing if some jeans are $1.00 and other are .25 cents and others are $2.00. We also each chip in for the ad each time we combine a sale, some of my friends pay for the add when it is at their house so they can choose how big it is or how detailed.
If you really just want to get rid of everything price it low and post signs that say your prices such as Tee shirts .50 cents, Jeans $1.00. I have found when I go to sales that I get frustrated when prices are too high and I am not one to say can I get this item cheaper, I just leave, no matter how cute the clothes are. I am not going to pay high prices for clothes at a garage sale. If you have items that you want more for, take them to a local consignment shop. You have no stress, no strangers in your yard, no heat exhaustion, etc....
In my town we can have a sale at any particular address once every 6 months. So if we rotate from friend to friends house we can have several a year. Of course you have to move your stuff every couple of weeks and go over and set up and basically stay there all day each day. We do ours the first weekend of the month, Thurs. 4pm-7pm, Fri 4pm-7pm, Sat 7am-noon or 1pm.
My town also has sign regulations. They must be within so many inches of the ground and no higher, not on poles, posts, etc...they can only be stuck into the ground. If they are found to be abandoned you can get fined. Your address is usually on them so they can easily find you.
Put your address and open and closing times on each sign in large letters, 2-3 inches tall and bold. People driving by won't have much time and might not turn around just to read small print. Bright colors work well too.
Run an add in your local paper, take the time to list your categories, IE: toddler girls summer clothes sizes 18 mo. to 2T, boys winter clothes sz. 0-6 mo.s, girls fancy dresses size 2T, etc...people want to know if your clothes are worth their time. You might add something like most clothes under $1.00 or a general pricing range such as clothes priced from .25 cents to $5.00.
When I drive up to a sale and see everything on the ground I can tell you, unless I have an ad that advertises something I am looking for specifically I won't bother stopping. I don't want to spend a half hour with my bottom sticking up in the air going through clothes. I rarely look at clothing messily stacked up on table tops either, if the table tops are organized and easy to distinguish by gender and size I will take the time. I really like hanging clothes but I realize that many can't do that. Pin sets together!!! It is frustrating to find a cute top and the seller says "Oh that is a set, lets find the bottom" and it is nowhere to be found.
I spend less that $100 a year on clothes for each of the kids and shop at garage sales and consignment stores and clearance racks for the next years season. Like right now at Wal-Mart, they have clearance racks with clothes $1.00. I am estimating what size K and J will be wearing next Summer a buying up the clothes. The consignment store has everything marked 70% off and is taking winter clothes now. I bought a dress that is a fancy "Princess" dress for K for $2.00. She can wear it for Easter Sunday next year. The hanging clothes are in the back of my closet and the folded clothes are stored in under the bed totes with tight fitting lids. Every bed in the house has at least one under it. I keep Summer and Winter clothes seperate and only put out the current seasons clothes but they are still handy for those weird weeks between hot and cold weather.
So to sum it up:
Check with your local City Office for guidelines.
Put up easy to read signs and be sure to remove them when the sale is over.
Decide who you want to have your sale with and how you will tell whose items are whose and who will control the money. Price your items the same.
Run a good add.
Have clothes organized in an orderly, neat manner no matter how you decide to have them out. Keep sets pinned together!
Be aware of how sales are going on at local stores and don't price your items higher that they are at the stores. Just because they cost you XXX they may be on sale for XXX now.
Hi Courtney,
When I go to garage sales, and when I've had mine, the following things have always been helpful and a success. Put a price on all things! I hate having to ask for prices without knowing a range. Like priced items can go in a box or on a table...such as "everyting in this box $.50". If you clean up everything, especially the large dollar items, you'll get more money for them. SMILE...you want to attract people. Acknowledge people when they arrive with a hi or a nod. Be willing to negotiate on the prices. Have change available.
Good luck on your garage sale...and have fun with it!
Win Q
In my experience with yard sales the best time is the first weekend of the month after everyone has received their monthly checks. Also it is a good idea not to price things too high as most people are looking for bargains. Baby items are a big seller so good luck.
A garage sale is fun BUT if you have a lot of very nice things your best way to sell them is on Googles or pay-pal. You take pictures of what you have & sell them on the web. Everyone is doing this & you get paid first & you ship the items in the mail or U_P_S. The prices will have the cost of the mail to send to anyone that wants to buy your childrens clothes or shoes everything. Try this & see if you want to do this. Most people look @ your prices $5 or less @ A garage sale then you have to clean up & give away, try the web first. Good luck.
With baby and toddler clothes I would just do it when it was convenient for you. Also, we take most of our clothes to consignment shops. They are great to work with and you get more money for your clothes. They also take baby gear like swings, car seats, etc.
Good luck!
Jane
To avoid the whole mess, take your items to a baby resale shop. They will go through and make you an offer on the items (cash or credit to shop in their store).
I donate any items that they won't accept to Infant Crisis. A wonderful organization in OKC for infant's in need.
Hi Courtney! Have you heard of Duds for Doodlebugs? It is a semi annual children's consignment sale and soooo worth the time! Having four little (yet rapidly growing) kiddos, I know how expensive new clothes can be AND how much room they take up in the home as the kids have outgrown them! Not to mention how difficult it can be to take care of little ones while attempting to have a yardsale! That's why I decided to consign with Duds! I have participated in Duds for two sales and have been VERY pleased with the outcome each time! You may visit their website @ www.dudsfordoodlebugs.com or contact myself for more info! Hope this helps you and good luck!
Hi Courtney,
I agree the first of the month is best and baby stuff goes fast. I know b/c I am expecting a baby girl in December and I have been searching garage sales for baby stuff and have found very little as they always tell me that their baby stuff sold fairly quickly.
I also live in Edmond, so if you do not mind telling me when you are having your sale, I will try and make it.
On the other hand garage sales are a lot of work and if you consider the time you spend you may be better off just selling your stuff to a thrift store. You'd have to sell it cheap... but you would not have the hassle of a sale. In fact, my aunt has a thrift store and she is here in Edmond all of the time visiting me so she would probably even pick the stuff up if you had it cheap enough for her to resale and make a profit. You can email me if you are interested in doing that as well.
Good Luck!
Kimber
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The garage sell theory in my area is start on Thursday and I mean early. The home daycares go out between 6 and 7 in the morning and try to get the best stuff first.
Myself I have started going to the Just Between Friends sale. It is a consignment sale and if you put stuff in you get early shopping time for you to find new stuff. I've been able to sell mine and get other stuff for my kids then resale it again. Google it and you will see on their website the details for your area.
Good luck on the garage sale, remember hanging things up helps and "bagging" little things together does good on getting a better price for all of something.
go to craigslist.com and put an ad on there. it is free to do so. you will need to make an free acct. with them. it is simple. good luck. cc
The easiest way to have a yard sale with a lot of baby clothes is get you some big boxes and Mark them like 25 cents or 50 cents and put the clothes in them. Trust me you will sale them like crazy. I did this and was sold out within about 2 hours.
Hi, I just recently had a garage sale to get rid of alot of baby stuff. I was told by neighbors that baby stuff sells fast. Well I did sell the big stuff quickly. Like the bassinet, bouncy seats, baby tubs. However the piles and piles of cloths that were boys ranging in size newborn to 9 mos. And girls ranging from 24 mos to 5 just sat. Most of them in perfect condition and some even with tags still on them. So needless to say I had to put all the clothes back in boxes and there they sit. I have come to the conclusion that there are alot of needy people out there and I am just going to donate them. Probobly to the Dream center in Tulsa. Actually my daughter is going to need school clothes in a couple weeks and money is tight right now, so I was thinking of even offering a trade. If I could get some outfits for her in exchange I would be tickled. The only advise I can offer is to advertise in the paper and make sure you advertise lots of babystuff. Good luck!