I have been committed to living on less (mostly ’cause there was always a lot of “less!”) for many years, but I also have looked at saving money as my way of contributing to our household when I was a stay-at-home mom only.
(Only? Good grief. Have you seen my job description? Teacher, cook, maid, chauffeur, nurse, coach, therapist and the list goes on!)
However, one of the ways I contributed financially was to hold an annual yard sale. This also helped me get a handle on all the “stuff” that inevitably made its way into our home.
Where to Hold the Sale
If you’re a renter, this might be a little trickier for you. Always get permission from your management company, if necessary, and ask other renters to join you. Group sales attract more buyers and will help you be successful.
If possible, host the sale outside but make arrangements for inclement weather. Can you bring it into the clubhouse if necessary, or can you allow people into your apartment? Ask these questions before you move on to the next step!
Decide What to Keep
Sometimes it’s hard to purge, so here are some questions to ask yourself about what to keep and what to get rid of.
- Do you have room for it?
- Does it serve a purpose (functional or sentimental)?
- Does it work?
- Do you need it?
Labelling and Pricing
There are two schools of thought about labelling and pricing your yard sale merchandise. One is just to take everything outside and not worry about pricing. The upside is that it doesn’t require much preparation beforehand, but the downside is you are constantly on call to price your items during the event. That gives greater opportunity for customers to haggle over prices.
If you have time, go ahead and mark prices using removable stickers! As a dedicated yard saler, I can tell you it is incredibly frustrating to buy something and not be able to remove the sticker. It’s even worse if it damages the item!
Make your prices reasonable, with a little wiggle room for negotiation. A good rule of thumb for pricing is 10% of the retail price. That may sound like a pittance, but yard salers often know the base price and expect to get a bargain. Don’t be afraid to hold out, though, if you don’t get the price you want. You can always try selling it on Craigslist or donating it to a charity.
Setting Up
If your property has tables, you can ask permission to borrow some, or try to locate some tables on your own. Banquet tables are an ideal size, and you can even rent them if necessary. Rolling racks can be used to hang clothing; otherwise fold them on the tables.
If you have electronics to sell, make sure you have an extension cord for prospective buyers. If it doesn’t work, mark it as such, but don’t expect to make much money on those items.
Have a
free box to help entertain children while their parents are shopping. Everyone loves free stuff, and you get to rid your home of a few more items!
Promote Your Sale
In the age of smartphones, there are several apps that will help you spread the word about your sale. I personally use
Yard Sale Treasure Map, but other apps include
Garage Sales by Map – Free, Garage Sale Tracker and
Yard Sale Mapper. Also list your sale on Craigslist and take out an ad in the local paper.
De-clutter, tidy up your space and put some extra cash in your wallet with these helpful tips for
apartment-friendly yard sales!
Good luck!
