Finding Bargains at Yard Sales

The signs of the season are here: "Yard Sale, Garage Sale, Moving Sale, Estate Sale." It's time to clear out the old and the unwanted and, for some of us, a time to find new treasures. <br /> <br /> Television programs that show people picking up pots or paintings for a few dollars and selling them for hundreds or thousands can bring out the spirit of adventure in a lot of us. Especially for these folks, the weekend treasure hunt season is on!<br /> <br /> But, it's also easy to end up with an empty pocket and an empty gas tank, along with a trunk filled with items you don't need and didn't really want. A little advance planning can help avoid impulse shopping and endless driving in circles. <br /> Check the newspaper classified section for garage sale locations. In large urban areas they will be listed by sections of the city. Circle those with special items of interest and note the times and dates of operation. The next step: decide on a route. Plan a course that takes you to the most locations with the least mileage. Use a street guide or a computer guide to get from one location to the next with the fewest wrong turns. Neighborhood and housing development sales usually will give you by far the most sales per mile.<br /> <br /> Come up with some idea about what you're looking for. <br /> ~Keep a list of items with sizes and colors. <br /> ~Keep a tape measure and a small magnifying glass handy. <br /> ~Bring a screwdriver, in case you buy something that needs to be dismantled to load and haul. <br /> ~Invest in an antique and collectible guide, and bring it along so you can check the value of items. <br /> ~If you're yard shopping with someone else, bring along a good book so you can keep yourself occupied should your partner become engrossed in a "find" while you wait to move on to new territory. <br /> <br /> So what happens after you obtain lots of treasurers that you can't use? You stage your own sale! It can be a lot of work, but you can unload some of your clutter and make some money for future garage sale shopping.<br /> <br /> Think about the ads that drew your eye. That's the type of advertising you want to use. Provide directions to your sale. Include times, dates, address, and list some items for sale or reasons for customers to seek you out. <br /> <br /> Street signs are a real help. Write the letters large and use contrasting colors. Black on white or black on yellow are easier to read than other combinations, such as black on brown cardboard or pastels on white. Use few words. Drivers don't have time to safely read a list of items, addresses, dates and times. A simple sign that says "Yard Sale" in big letters and an arrow pointing to the direction usually is enough. Put signs at each of the corners on the way to the location. Important: take down the signs after the sale. In some cities, you can be fined if signs are left up too long.<br /> <br /> If your sale involves multiple owners, you'll need some way to track individual sales. The easiest is to mark items with stickers that include the price and the owner's initials. When a sale is made, peel off the sticker and put it in a logbook along with the price the item sold for. You also can use a different colored sticker for each person. Then calculate individual totals at the end of the sale.<br /> <br /> If your sale is inside your home, place a table for sales collection by the door. This should prevent items from leaving without being purchased. Keep a sharp eye on items displayed in the yard. Keep plenty of change, and decide if you will accept checks. Cash is always good. Will a time come during the day when items will be half off? Decide how you are going to "deal" with people. Part of the fun in garage sales is in the bargaining on prices.<br /> <br /> Before your sale, it's a good idea to go to a few others to see how items are priced. Remember that the key word is "sale." You won't get the original value out of your items. You can, however, get a lot of things out of your house and get some reimbursement for them. Some items, such as used clothing, are hard to sell. You'll get far less than your investment. Paperback books will sell for only 25 cents to 50 cents each. If you price your items too high, you'll be packing them up and putting them back in your house.<br /> <br /> Weather can be a concern. On hot summer days, shoppers will look around longer if you can provide shade or cover. You might need to keep tarps ready for a sudden shower. Or, if items are on tables, they can be carried into a garage or under shelter. If the sale is inside, you might want to invest in carpet runners to protect rugs and floors. Indoors or out, both you and your buyers, also will appreciate comfortable chairs and some shade after a period of time.<br /> <br /> Most sales are held on Saturdays and Sundays. Customers, however, seem to come out in greater numbers on Fridays and Saturdays. Sales that start by 8 a.m. get more customers while they still have money to spend. During summer, it's also cooler at that time of day. <br /> <br /> Enterprising youth can take advantage of tired and hungry shoppers by offering cold drinks and snacks for sale. They can have the experience of counting out change and keeping records.<br /> <br /> One last tip --- arrange for some help at the sale. You will need a break now and then and some time to eat lunch. It's more fun to have several friends, family members or neighbors work together. And, in a worse case scenario, you can at least swap your stuff!<br /> <br /> Source: Colorado State University Extension, Arapahoe County<br /> <br /> <I>Debbie Wilburn is County Agent/Family and Consumer Science Agent with Hall County Cooperative Extension (770)535-8290.</I>

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