don't start later than 8 am or you'll miss the serious shoppers. they hit first but they are picky. be ready for visitors at 7, either peeking through your garage doors or hitting you up as you set up. they are looking for furniture, collectibles, jewelry...stuff that you might not know could bring big money. they might even hit you the day before, especially if they have a phone number.
make signs...big, simple, bold...but have one defining thing on it that people can visually follow, like a neon pink square on a white sign or something. that way you don't have to include your address but just do it hansel gretel style...make a couple of extras and check halfway through your day to see if someone's removed any. hit each big street closest to your neighborhood and work backwards. make sure you don't stake someone's yard unless you ask permission first.
price to MOVE not make money on. think about what you want to pack BACK up after the sale,whether it's to keep or to goodwill...is it worth another $.50 or $1 on this item to have to deal with it again? make it so cheap that people can't turn it down, because hell, it's just a quarter. be ready to accept half of your sticker price, too...it ain't junkin' 'less you haggled for it.
traffic typically slows around two (around here.) be ready to be bored...and have a sign made that says "everything 1/2 off" or "FREE" to put up at the end of the sale...some vultures wait till the end so they can cash in on your desperation to move the shit.
and give stuff away. a woman has a couple of things you think she'll buy, and she's hesitating over this one knick-knack...just walk over and tell her to take it, or give it to her at the end. makes them happy, makes kids happy(toys or knick knacks!), makes you happy.
bag stuff...if you don't have an even number of coasters but two sets of unevens, throw them all in a ziploc and mark it a $1. bag similar stuff to move it all and get a little more money out of it. put cute stuff together in a bag or basket and move it. got a ton of happy meal toys? put 'em all in a bag and $1. or have a free box and throw them in. put all those plastic store hangers in a free box...they ALWAYS go. got a bunch of mismatched socks? bag em, $1 'em, and sticker it to say "great for puppets" or "golf club scratch preventers." if it's an awkward item, give someone a reason to buy it.
and have plugs ready for testing. they'll want to know that vcr works or the speakers work. have it easy to test. and bring all your plastic shopping bags down for bags for people, or use the boxes sitting in the garage for someone.
and invite people over for bloody marys and cards/games. you'll need something to do while you're bored. if you're like me, prepping for down, boring time means you'll never get it.
and finally, you and janice each find something you KNOW will go and you KNOW won't go. makes it fun..."c'mon, janice, you KNOW your half-used shampoo is NOT going to sell." "shalimar, i know you love your jock strap, but i just don't see anyone getting used to that smell, even if it's just $1!!" makes it fun to watch.
little bit of furniture.
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