Tips for a successful yard sale?

[s1mplehumar]

I would say make sure the stuff that you can see from the street is really visible. As in, put the larger items toward the curb. I often do drive-bys on garage sales and won't stop because the thing I can see is a table full of crap.

I agree 100%, though I stop at almost every yard sale I find regardless of external appearance. Just last week a guy had a pair of 36" Toshiba CRTs sticking out front and center at his garage sale. I locked up my breaks and parallel parked my car faster than you can say lickity split. Long story short, I ended up bagging a pristine 20" Acer LCD monitor (manufacturers date Mar. 2009), a Dell tower w/ XP Pro, and a small box of hand-carved Russian Christmas ornaments for 50 clams.

So yeah, think of a yard sale like fishing, Dave. He who has the flashiest lure and technique wins.

[noiseredux]

I stop at almost every yard sale I find regardless of external appearance.

same. I've found amazing stuff at sales that look horrid. An old man selling a garage full of rusty tools scored me a boxed Coleco for $10 a few weeks ago! Imagine if I hadn't stopped because of appearance.

[s1mplehumar]

I stop at almost every yard sale I find regardless of external appearance.

same. I've found amazing stuff at sales that look horrid. An old man selling a garage full of rusty tools scored me a boxed Coleco for $10 a few weeks ago! Imagine if I hadn't stopped because of appearance.

Truth. And always inquire, even if you find yourself in a sea of pink girl clothes strown about the yard. If fact, probably 40% of my best finds are from asking. e.g., "Hello, how are you this morning? You have a beautiful spot here, love the yard, landscaping, etc.... Do you by chance have old video games, systems, computer stuff, parts, old stereo equipment, speakers, turntables, LPs, tools etc.? Do you know of anyone parting with old games, systems, etc.?"

[noiseredux]

yup, asking always works. I've often found like one NES game and then said "do you have any other games" only to have them say "yeah a few more in the basement" or something.

[s1mplehumar]

Also, lots of $1 bills help me alot when making offers. The price tag might read "$20 for everything in box" and I counter with a maybe half that amount in $1 bills all fanned out. I carry so many $1 bills in my front pocket it looks like a semi, and I think you know why I don't divide them equally amongst my front pockets

[Stark]

I stop at almost every yard sale I find regardless of external appearance.

same. I've found amazing stuff at sales that look horrid. An old man selling a garage full of rusty tools scored me a boxed Coleco for $10 a few weeks ago! Imagine if I hadn't stopped because of appearance.

Truth. And always inquire, even if you find yourself in a sea of pink girl clothes strown about the yard. If fact, probably 40% of my best finds are from asking. e.g., "Hello, how are you this morning? You have a beautiful spot here, love the yard, landscaping, etc.... Do you by chance have old video games, systems, computer stuff, parts, old stereo equipment, speakers, turntables, LPs, tools etc.? Do you know of anyone parting with old games, systems, etc.?"

Yep, I just don't have time a lot these days to go through crappy sales though. I would say that these responses are more for how to properly go garage sale-ing and not how to best hold a garage sale though.