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Hey, hey, we're the Plotmonkeys. We're friends, plotting partners, friends, mothers, friends ... well you get the gist. Welcome to our blogging site where you'll find our views on anything and everything depending on which one of us is blogging and what kind of mood we're in. We can't tell you whether we'll be talking about our families, our writing, how much weight we gained after eating that entire container of Ben and Jerry's or how ticked we are about people who have twelve items in the ten items or less checkout lane. So hope you'll come back every day to see what's happening in the jungle including giveaways! 
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Good luck on the sale.
I stopped going to sales some time ago when mom couldn’t due to health reasons. It just didn’t feel right without her.
Now when I was a kid we had a moving sale. Two weeks in a roll for three days of each week. Didn’t do all that well the first two days of week one until my mom’s friend came by to help.
Our garage was backed up to a local diner. Now mom’s friend knew over half the town it seemed and most of them came to that diner. If she saw someone about to go in, she’d give a shout at them, take them by the hand and lead them to a table and tell them they needed to buy something. Sure enough they’d buy something.
By the end of that third day in week one, mom had over five hundred dollars because of her friend’s help. Mom offered her half and she wouldn’t take it. Just asked for enough to buy a few things from the grocery store and that was it.
So I say get a popular, loud mouth friend and sell, sell, sell. LOL!
The more help you have the better your experience. I have had lots of them and they are a lot of work but satisfying in the end. If someone haggles on a price let them because that means you are getting rid of it. Oh and keep it cheap. If I go to a garage sale and the prices are too high I walk without looking any farther.
PRICE MATTERS
Good luck on your sale
Thanks, Patsy. I’m going to spend some time looking up a few items on Craig’s List/Ebay, to see how to price them. Everything else will be cheap.
But you know what gets me? When you have something priced at .25 and someone offers you .10. Really? It’s a quarter! (Know what I mean?)
I would never haggle on something that cheap. LOL I wouldn’t come down on that either.
I haven’t done one in years but I would have to agree that price matters. Customers want to get a good deal without paying a lot for it. Keep your prices low and be prepared to haggle. Cooler weather is coming so I’m seeing signs on busy street corners starting to go up on telephone phone poles.
Good luck! :batteeyes:
It’s always good to do the garage sale with a friend, so someone can go get food or drinks & so you can take a bathroom break if you need it. Also, if you are selling books or CD’s, put them in boxes with a price marked on the box ($1 each or something like that) instead of stickers on each item. If you are selling clothes, put them on hangers on a rod & also try to do a price point for the whole rod or portions of the rod. Use a clip hanger with a paper for the price (like t-shirts $1 each). Not sure, but you may be better off selling big ticket items on ebay (you can say for local pickup only if you don’t want to deal with shipping) or Craigs list. People are usually cheap at garage sales. However, if you do want to sell it at the garage sale, you can advertise the sale on Craigs list & specify that item or items. Sometimes people will come (usually early) just for that item. Also, as the day goes on, you may want to reduce prices to get rid of stuff. Good luck!
I haven’t done a garage sale in years, but had good luck the last time I did one. Now I live in an apt, so it’s just easier to donate and get the stuff out of my house. My plan for Friday is actually to get rid of stuff, so Goodwill dropoff will love me on Friday afternoon.
Good luck!
When advertising… tell what you’ve got or not… like ‘ no children’s clothing or toys’ and if doing clothing – give sizes… Borrow tables and keep stuff off the ground..
I agree with Cates about the tables & also clothing. I once specified in an add that I had size 4t boys clothes & a lady came & bought all of it, plus Halloween costumes & toys.
If you have furniture say so in the ad. That tends to go first. Ask neighbors or friends if they have things they want to get rid of too but everything has to be priced to sell and all clothing should be clean and folded or hung neatly.
Hi everyone,
I haven’t had a yard sale in years, but when we did it was amazing. You mentioned it might be a couple of neighbors, so make sure you mention that in your ads. You will draw larger crowds when they know it will be several yard sales in one trip. Place ads online, in loacal papers, and make a few posters and place them around town. Prices have to be super cheap, hang clothes so you have more table space. Oh and color coordinate your price tags, so if someone walks with one of your items into your neighbor’s yard, they know who to pay. Good luck and have fun!
Julie, if you have a lot of clothes, don’t price them individually unless they’re like formals or designer duds. I lay out a big blanket in the driveway (we have a large circle drive that is shaded) and literally dump all the clothes on it divided into kids, womens, and mens. I also sort of group sizes together. Yes, this is haphazard but trust me, it’s just going to get messed up more. Then I put up a sign with a big bag of plastic grocery store bags. All the clothes they can stuff in one of those bags is $5 (slashed to $2 in the afternoon when pickings are slimmer). I get rid of the major portion of clothes that way. Anything left over is wrapped up in the old blanket and hauled to the nearest thrift store (the one we donate to supports a battered women’s shelter.)
Price like things as groups. 3 for $1, 6 for $5. People think they’re getting bargains that way and are less likely to haggle. Also, you only have to make one sign rather than individually pricing things.
If you have electronics, have an extension cord available so people can plug them in and turn them on. Caveat–Everything sold is AS IS — no refunds! Put up a sign to that effect. If you don’t have a “dedicated cashier” keep the cash box with you at all times. As for change, a few tens, plenty of fives, and lots of dollars, plus a couple rolls each of quarters, dimes, and nickels. Try to price things so you don’t have to make change.
I’m all about making prep easy, making a little money, donating everything that’s left over, and clearing out junk to make space for new junk. :rotfl1:
Get the whole family involved, the more the easier it is. lots ofpeople stop and chat and then you get sidetracked easily. Also if you have any toys or games, those attract many. Plan a BBQ for those helping, it’s fun; and make your prices very low or you’ll get nothing. sold.
It has been years since I did a garage sale. I think my advice is pretty much like everyone else, keep it cheap, keep it easy. I don’t go to garage sales much but it is much easier to look at things on a table or clothes hanging. If you have large pieces, such as furniture, they can go on the ground. Most papers have a classified section for garage sales, that usually brings people out or putting signs some where that they can be easily read & seen. :thumbsup: Good luck! Let us know how it goes. It is an experience!!!! :D
Have it on a friday morning and Saturday morning. Why? I don’t know. When my moms group had a sale the mom whose house it was at said that’s what to do and when to do it (she’s been to a big garage sale, I guess). Also, if you have furniture, Craigslist them ahead of time. Why, I don’t know.
Do not place anything on the ground unless it is huge or belongs on the ground. My mother always complains about stuff on the ground because she and her “old lady” friends can’t get down on the ground to shop. Make sure everything is clearly priced. My mother hates, hates guess work. Many yard salers are “professionals”. They want to get in, shop and get out. Be prepared to wheel and deal. People want bargains and they will try to make deals. Advertise in the news paper. Many of the older people don’t know how to use the online listing sites. Have adequate change at the beginning because you will always have the one ding dong that wants to pay with a $20 bill for a $2 purchase! Have Fun!
This is great advice, everyone! I’m making a list. Thanks!!!
:whipbanana: :cheers: :bowdown: Get what ever the asking is but if it too low sayso/ Just remember this is FOUND MONEY and the things are out of your house. I love going to garage sale and do well. Whats left find a THRIFT SHOP and donate your left overs. Thats where I do well because the most of the time do not really know the value. I just got a Dolce & Gabbana bag for $8.00 and it is beautiful. So I hope this will help you from a season garage shopper.
MarciaB
Incredible! This blog looks exactly like my old one!
It’s on a entirely different topic but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Superb choice of colors!
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:santalights: :happychan:
:cooldance: My favorite is Garage Sales on any giving Saturday I am out for great finds. I have found a 1900′s hand painted planter, a caste iron bull dog, vintage heart rug beaters 60′s evening bags, and great things that I bring for consignment to a friend who is an antique dealer. The second great place is Thrift Shops. I have found a pewter tray, coffee pot, sugar and creamer, glass wine bottles, vintage pocketbooks like Dolce & Gabbana for $7.00. I have also found vintage buttons as I design button jewelry. All and all its the search and find that gives me the pleasure. You really get hooked and its the adventure of finding things of old.