Are you considering taking all that old junk out of the basement or attic and selling it to buyers on your front lawn or out of your garage?
Here are only some (emphasis on “some”) of my tips for making the most of your yard sale.
When people are hosting a yard sale, they realize quickly that not only can the stuff become overwhelming, but the actual sale can be a big chore, too. Remember, whenever you are inviting people to your home for any reason, you must do some preparatory work for the crowd.
Before you serve the first shopper, be sure you know what you are willing to part with. More important, know what the items that you are selling are worth. I mean current retail value on today’s market, including online selling platforms. That doesn’t mean just check one online selling platform with listings from people who may know as much as you do about the market. Don’t think that a list price is a value either. That is a crucial part of the situation. Investigate the value of your stuff on the entire market. Remember, don’t sell yourself or your stuff short.
Get help! Get your friends and family to help you with brains and brawn. Make sure you have helpers on hand. Give these helpers specific jobs during the sale. A helper needs to be sure no one goes inside your house, no matter what. Medical emergencies are the only exception. Another helper needs to be responsible for the cash box. Someone else needs to be available to answer buyers’ questions. The most important job for a helper is watching the buyers. Why do you need to watch the buyers? Because people at yard sales are often tempted to just walk away with stuff. Be sure that people aren’t just helping themselves. You’ll need help moving objects, particularly furniture and heavy boxes, before, during and after the sale. In today’s world of yard sale videographers, decide if your yard sale is a source for filming.
Decide whether to charge a Peek Early Fee. This is a popular yard sale option that can make the yard sale host extra money. If someone wants you to start your yard sale early, charge for it. Sleep is valuable.
Don’t sell in bulk. Try to avoid selling your stuff at your yard sale in bulk for one low price. Sure, you’ll get rid of a ton of items that way but you’ll lose your shirt that way, too. If you put a bunch of random stuff in a box and just put an arbitrary price on the box, it will save you time sorting through items but often valuable items appear in those boxes. So, don’t be lazy. Review all the items, get appraisals for the items you don’t have values of and price them individually.
What not to sell. There are some items that shouldn’t be sold at a yard sale. Ever. Furniture, jewelry and art are big-ticket items and typically don’t command what they are worth when sold at a yard sale. So, don’t sell these types of items at a yard sale. Artwork regularly brings a big return on investment and will increase in value over time, so don’t decide to sell that portrait painting or landscape lithograph at the yard sale. Jewelry, both fine pieces with gemstones, pearls and precious metals should never be sold at a yard sale as you’ll lose design value and monetary value if you sell them in this environment. And, costume jewelry is the single most overlooked valuable sold at yard sales. Don’t put grandma’s faux jewelry out at the yard sale as these pieces sell much better at online platforms like eBay, Poshmark, Etsy, etc. You’ll be shocked at how much people are making online by selling old jewelry.
Don’t listen to others when pricing items.There are many people who like to act as if they know the market for art, antiques, and collectibles. Well-meaning friends, neighbors and Facebook friends or groups are notorious for pricing your stuff too low. If you want to know the real value for something, check with me for an appraisal.
I review photos of old objects via my website, so you’ll know the value of your stuff before you tag it and place it on the lawn. Follow my tips if you want to make money at your yard sale.
Dr. Lori Verderame is an award-winning media personality and Ph.D. Antiques Appraiser. Dr. Lori appears on Netflix’s “King of Collectibles” and History channel’s “Pawn Stars do America” and “The Curse of Oak Island.” Her stage show, “Dr. Lori’s Antiques Appraisal Comedy Tour,” is presented nationwide to live audiences. Visit www.DrLoriV.com or watch videos at www.YouTube.com/drloriv for treasure hunting, vintage shopping, and appraisal tips.
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