Okay gang, six years ago when Jim an I downsized from 3000 square feet to 1500 I had a rummage sale. It was pretty profitable since I had a lot of furniture and home decor. Now, for whatever reason (midlife crisis, stress, you pick) I have this growing urge to de-clutter my house. I could give all to Goodwill, but it seems like kind of a waste when I have so many things other than clothes.
So, has anyone had a rummage sale that wasn't more bother than its worth? What sells? What doesn't? Should I bother? I know they are a LOT of work.
I know people who do this all the time and do well. I've never had any luck at it. I do know that clothes are the hardest things to sell and do not do well (unless they are baby clothes or children's clothes). If you have the time and a great location, go for it. It is a fun way to meet other people.
I just had a yard sale this spring (I want to downsize too) and made almost $1,000...it is definitely worth it!!!!!! Knick knacks sell as well as kitchen items. Hubby put some "man stuff" and tools out that sold really well. I agree with Teresa that clothes are hard to sell unless they are baby or children's clothes. If you wanted to get rid of some clothes, I would just have them fill up a sack as much as they could get in it for $1.00 or so...that would get rid of a lot of them. I would just put out all that I could. You never know what people are looking for......we had a lot of trinket stuff in $1.00 and $2.00 each boxes....people love rummaging through boxes looking for deals :thumb: Halloween decorations/Fall decorations and Christmas items may go well this time of year also.
I've not had any luck with having garage sales. BUT I do make regular donations to the Thrift STore. At the end of the year I get a tax deduction. (a list is easy enough to keep and I think the Salvation Army has a list of prices on their website) AND I deduct the milage to get there. So, 10 trips or so, and you can easily get $500.00 off yer taxes. Just get one recipet and staple your year's list(s) to it.
I simply hang a shopping bag on a door handle and when I come across something in a drawer or closet I haven't worn or used, into the bag it goes. I jot down the contents on a sheet of paper before I head to the shop.
One man's trash, you know. ANd for me beats humping all that stuff out on the lawn for one day and devoting the whole day and hoping it doesn't rain, etc.
There is also "Freecycle." Check Yahoo for a the posting thread in your neighborhood. I posted a garden shed the first year we moved in. (there were two on the property) and didn't a dude come within a week with a flat bed and haul that turkey outta my yard? FOR FREE! I didn't have to dismantle, chop or throw it away.
I LOVE garage sales! I love having them and going to them! I'm actually getting ready to have another one in a couple of weeks. I've found that around here, ANYTHING sells! You just never know until you slap a price sticker on it and set it out! I even set out a 10 cent box of old makeup, lotions and stuff like that.
When I have sales, I always do a few extra things that I wish more people would do at the sales I go to:
1. Make the item look nice - clean it up, press it - whatever - just make it presentable.
2. Provide a full length mirror if possible so people can check see how clothes will look on them.
3. Provide a power strip or electrical outlet so people can test any electronics
4. Arrange things nicely on tables or racks. I NEVER stop a sales where stuff is just sitting on the ground.
5. Place like items together - holiday stuff, kitchen items, mens clothes, womens clothes, etc.
6. Straighten up. Some people don't like to dig through piles of stuff (well I don't anyway!). After each customer leaves, take a second to straighten up your tables - even move things around for better placement.
7. After so many hours (or just about when you're ready to close your sale), mark everything 1/2 off or do "fill a bag". Give the customer a plastic bag and tell them $1 for however much they can stuff in the bag. You cannot imagine the stuff people will snag just because it's an extra good deal!
I've always wanted a consignment store or something because I absolutely love having garage sales. I like to see what I can sell before donating it to Goodwill! Good luck!
I hear you on de-clutter mode.... I am there now !!!! The last garage sale I had was about 6 yrs ago and with the set up, full day that you have to be out there, with the doggies whining and barking....then getting rid of the stuff that didn't sell..... to me, it just wasn't worth it.
Do you have Salvation Army? They will come pick up all kinds of big stuff, and of course, leave you a tax receipt. I just accumulate that stuff and give them a call. Smaller stuff, I keep in a closet for the big plastic bags that appear on my door for donations. Last week, I gave the SPCA a half a dozen sets of curtains, a lamp and a dust buster!
Some people are great at it - I am one who would rather spend my time doing something else !!!! Let us know what you do !!!!
Thanks for all the info gang! Some things I didn't consider - the dogs, for one. Also the time, I guess I don't feel like spending that much time on a rummage sale, tops I could maybe make a couple hundred bucks - unless I sell furniture. I guess I will have to survey my goods and see if its going to be worth it. I have no clue on where to find prices for things......but I know who to ask!
Thanks again, I'll let you know.
Hey - sounds like you should hire Jenny to hold it for you - she has THE PLAN !!!!!
I have had more than one successful garage sale in the past. I lived in town and the rest of my family lived out in the country. We would load up all of our junk and all of their junk and have a great time in our garage. The guys stayed in the backyard with the children and the B-B-Q and the women would work the sale. We found that the good stuff sold better and at a higher price if there was plenty of junk to look throuth. I would call it the seed stock for the sale. It was a box of stuff that we would take out of the attic for every sale. My mom would laugh because there was this one shirt from the early 70s that my dad wore and it never sold but every sale people would take it out and look at it and laugh. Every one who picked it up would end up buying what ever clothes they had in their hand. I am a people watcher and it was a blast watching the reaction to the clothes. I found out it works that same way with other stuff. We had a set of dishes that was in terrible shape and should have been thrown away but every year we would put it out and people would buy the dishes under it on the table or the stuff next to it on the table. The junk stuff makes the other stuff look great. You want the people to think that they found the treasure so if you have some really bad stuff scattered in it seems to make the people want the good stuff more. Have fun with the sale and enjoy the people that come and keep the prices cheap you'll get rid of more junk.