Quality items, not junk.

Baby clothes and items are always good sellers if in good condition.

Sports equipment. Around here, hunting equipment.

Nice antiques.

I'm sure others will have suggestions too.

Good luck to your daughter!

It's really hard to say what sells. It always seemed to be something different that was 'hot' when I had yard sales. The best thing is to offer a large variety of clean items in good condition, organized well. That attracts buyers. People want stuff CHEAP at yard sales so if you don't want to cart stuff back, price it to move.

It's hit or miss at what sells. But I could give you suggestions on what NOT to bring.... Books, Shoes (except kid's in good shape), Old/Broken Computer or Electronics Stuff (especially if people can't plug in to check if it works).

Oh, if she is selling around a Holiday... New stuff related or for that can sell well.

I know not all agree, but I prefer the items are marked and expect them to go down a bit. I usually won't even ask if items aren't marked because I may not want to talk, just want to know. So, if she has a table and wants $20, I'd mark at $25 to give her a little room to come down. Lower items, I'd set closer to what you want, but throw in an extra one if they buy a certain amount. People will want to barter, and remember to lower prices closer to the end... some people come down to 50% off the last hour if they really want to get rid of their stuff.

I agree that it's really difficult to say what will sell. Never seems to be the same things twice, in my experience. But the one thing that ALWAYS sells around here? is books. Jewelry goes well, too. So as you can see, different places, different times, different trends.

I've done both--priced stuff when I had the time, and didn't price stuff when I didn't get around to it. Again, that seemed to make little difference to the amount we sold. Most people will ask for a price, and if stuff isn't priced, it's far easier to drop the price as the day goes on.

Good luck to her--hope whatever you take sells well. Are you allowed to also sell food items? Muffins, rice krispie treats, cookies almost always sell at those sorts of things.

but I prefer the items are marked
I agree. If a vendor doesn't have anything marked, I usually just move on by pretty quickly.

items are marked and expect them to go down a bit.
I am less apt to ask for a 'better' price on little inexpensive items...ie $1 or less. Either I want it or I don't.

Good luck!

Oh I always buy cheap good newer books.
No Readers Digest condensed books, no encyclopedias, no worn stuffed furniture.
I like it better when things are priced too. Lets me know if I really want to stand in line for it.

Books always sell well here-especially kids/teen books. Small kitchen gadgets sell well too. Are there younger kids in your house. I used to sell McD toys for 25�-kids loved them! My experience has been clothes sell best if all the same price. People seem to buy more when they are in bins as opposed to on hangers-weird. I guess they like digging for treasures. I had a yard sale 2 weeks ago and on a whim decided to include items from our school PTA that we sell after school on Fridays. I made them $59 on soda, candy, and a few cookies! Be sure to include an ad with pics on craigslist!!

Yes, I forgot to add - I prefer items that are priced.

Would it work ok if everything was marked except say clothes, and they just had a sign stating $2 each? I don't have a lot of clothes, just a couple of bags from her closet, name brand and good condition, just stuff she didn't like once she got home with it. I have quite a few kitchen things, so they might go good. How about things like vases, ceramic flower pots, home interior what knots, do they go good? I'm not sure if food can be sold, they first sale is scheduled to be held in the gym of the high school, with about 25 different boths being set up. That is why I don't want to take the stuff that won't sell quickly.

Thanks for all the suggestions, anything else you think of will be appreciated!

Depends on what I'm looking for, but I read the ads to see what catches my attention. I, too, look for books - but I will not pay $1 for a paperback so be reasonable. I agree -no RD condensed books. Good stories in many, but they don't sell. Enclcopedias, also good information, but too "dated" in todays techie world.

Kitchen items (small appliances in good working condition, whisks, spatualas, measuring cups, baking pans, etc), yard tools (shovels, weedeaters, etc). If possible, set up near an electrical outlet so people can test to be sure things are working. I've purchased curling irons, too. Clothes must be reasonably priced and in good condition. Larger sizes are next-to-impossible to find in my area so those are a "draw".

I personally don't purchase baked goods. Used to, but when looking at furniture in a house, I saw the condition of the kitchen. I know you can't bake without making some mess, but it turned me off. Unfairly, perhaps, but I just can't buy baked items at yard sales.

Good luck! I hope each one makes good money.

Always priced I will rarely bother stopping if I do not see prices on the items, you have to wait just to find out what the price is and that is wasting your time and theirs.

picture frames in good condition, plus size clothes labeled as such, good clean shoes and purses, if anyone is crafty and can make beaded jewelry necklaces and bracelets they sell very well and you can easily make a profit on them.
Same with small silk flower arrangements or door wreaths, easy to make use inexpensive flowers and sell for a profit.
I have gone to good will and salvation army etc and picked up lots of silk flowers used in other arrangements for dirt cheap then re use them in new ones, they can be cleaned up easily and they look new. I hang them in the shower and spray them with the handheld for a good bath.

We have a huge yard sale here every year for our Garden Club, we all take some of our plants from our gardens plant them in cheap plastic pots and sell them, WE sell out of everything in no time at all. People mark it on their calendars to come every year, it is always the weekend after Easter. We also all make some baked goods to sell also, when you are out garage sale hunting you get hungry! We put one or 2 cookies in each ziplock and sell them for a dollar or so depending on the size. We also had an ice chest of drink boxes for the kids for a few cents.
If you are the only one with an ice chest of ice cold drinks of various kinds and water bottles you will be making money!

You have to have a permit to sell baked goods here. You can sell prepackaged items like soft drinks, chips, candy without a permit.

I have had good luck with selling kids clothes. Boys jeans and name brand clothes have done well. I high grade what I sell and only put out the best stuff. No one wants ratty, holy stuff even cheap. I have also sold shoes, but only stuff that is in good condition or brand new.

I've seen books sell well. They have to be in good condition and not outdated.

Put a tablecloth on your table. Make sure everything is clean and doesn't smell funny.

It is ok to make a sign for things like clothes and books if everything is priced the same.

Some big furniture sells well. Be reasonable about the prices or price it cheap.

If something is total junk, do not bring it. It cheapens the look of everything else.

Although a lot of people may buy books, the reason I suggested not doing it was because of the haul to and from and also the fact that they won't usually sell for that much. Usually hard backs are around .25 cents and paperbacks a dime or so. So, although you may be able to sell some, the payoff may not be worth the haul.

Newer purses can sell well as someone else mentioned. And, yeah be sure all the stuff looks and is clean. Nothing will make me pass someone more than gross old dirty stuff.

How about VHS movies? I know they don't sell in stores anymore, but a friend has offered her a box full as a donation. If so, what kind of price would they go for? I'm thinking they are mostly Disney cartoon movies and in fairly good shape/original packaging. I appreciate the help you all are offering, keep it coming.

I would price everything in increments of $.25. I wouldn't bother with nickles and dimes.

I am having a rummage sale fundraiser coming up. I have about 100 vhs tapes and 300-500 books in good condition that were donated. I am going to check with a local thrift store to see what their prices and sell mine cheaper. I'm thinking $.25-.50 for the VHS tapes, $.25 for children's books, $.50 for paperback novels, and $1 for hardcover. Those prices may change as I get more input.

Around here, the going rate is paperbacks 25�, hard covers $1, VHS Tapes .50-1.00$.

Anything will sell if the price is right and the right buyer comes along. You could sell new cars for $100 each but if the buyers aren't right, you won't sell them. Or you could have what you think is garbage and someone might need it for parts or know something about it you don't.

Things need to be priced, however $2 ea is fine - it's priced. Pricing must be clear and obvious. Things should be organized. Put "guy stuff" separate from "gal stuff", kitchen stuff together, etc. Be ready to be offered lowball offers all the time. Again, you could price a new car at $100 and someone will offer you $10.

If you don't want to cart back, price to sell and 1/2 way through, cut prices. 3/4 way through, say offers on anything. Stuff you're thinking won't sell - put a free sign on it. You cut down on the hauling back that way but won't eliminate it.

I think many people have switched over to DVD's and Netflix and such for viewing. Many don't even have VCR's anymore... Although, like anything, some people may still-- so you could take a few of the more popular ones. They may sell for 25 cents or so. Popular DVD's are usually $1. But, if you have the room and don't mind hauling it, you mind as well take it... just don't use up valuable space for too much of it if you can use it for other stuff.

(Here's a tip: If you find people are wanting to donate too much of anything to you, it probably is not going to bring in too much)

Oh, if you have any current wall hangings/art, that may sell well. Sometimes people even buy for the frames if nothing else.... but not little picture frames (those won't sell well).

Thanks again for the suggestions! Heading home for the weekend and to look through the basement, I might even find treasures I forgot we had. Keep the thoughts coming, I really do appreciate them, and I will follow up on anything unusual I might come across. Have a good weekend!

Begin your sale on a Thursday evening! We had a huge sale last August along with a neighbor and various others. We advertised that the sale was to begin from 4-7pm on a Thursday and then run Friday (all day) and Saturday morning. It was CRAZY on Thursday night -- picture the Black Friday shopping crowds with people gathering at the end of the driveway at 3:30 and chomping at the bit. It was the best thing we could have done and it was a feeding frenzy with people snapping things up since it was so crowded and there was a sense of urgency.

Men and women both showed up for the frenzy on Thursday evening. By Friday, it was mostly women and children and by Saturday, just looky-loo women. No-one's started their weekend yet, so Thursday evenings are great.

My advice to my MIL on how to price stuff: think of a good price for an item, then cut that price in half and that's what you go with. There's no sense in dragging bags of stuff to Goodwill after you've already spent ages setting up the sale. Just price it super low and get rid of it!

Good luck to your daughter and I hope she has a wonderful trip to Germany!

Yes, always price your items and make sure they are clean.

Adellas prices are right on with what I see for prices. I did get more for a set of Land Before Tom-I think 7 tapes sold as a set for $2. Be sure any of yout 'noce' items are listed on craigslist. with you locale and date! Everyone in the group should make their own posting. It will get noticed and get more people there!

I've had a number of patio sales that went well for me...the reason I say for "me" is that last year two friends brought things over to sell as well...I kept telling them to price low and it will go. By 11:00 am they had made just under $200 to my $700. If people see higher prices I believe it turns them off. Who cares what you paid for something...it's not worth that used.

I've always advertised having things for men too (tools,etc)...it keeps the the ladies browsing longer if hubby is busy :) Consider having a box with kiddy things that are either extremely cheap or sometimes free (1 per child if free). Kids are great cutomers! I have to agree with those that mentioned plants selling well, they do!

I'v put out barely used makeup items that flew off the table ..can you believe? Yet don't we all have things we've brought home, tried once never to use again? (it can be cleaned with wipes) And jewelry for sure. Bottles of water are a real money maker, especially on a hot day. If you're able, coffee in the morning.

One thing that I won't put in are sheet sets...even though I tied them with nice ribbon they ended up open and strewn over the table numerous times. Unless you plan on hanging them on a hanger so people can look don't bother.

Nice kitchen items (bowl sets, appliances, serving spoons) sell well. Donate cups and glasses that have no mates, for the most part they sit cluttering up a well thought out table.

Keep re-arranging your area, filling in empty spaces. You'll be able to show off something that might have been overlooked at first glance.

I always have music playing, usually instrumentals (no head banging)and love watching who starts tapping a toe. Signs into the home that say "family only". And always a sign at the entry that says "we love making a deal, just ask!"

And there will be those return customers...the ones that are 1st to the sale, run off to the next and realize yours was the best to begin with :-D

I have worked in the basement almost all day. I have found pots and pans, not sets but odd pieces, bedspreads, a couple of totes of crafts things, quite a few toys that were not played with much, some pictures that aren't real pretty, but the frames are good. I really haven't found anything that would be big money makers, but lots of smaller $ things. How about old albums, do people still look for those?

I have not found anything my husband is willing to part with, so not much that men would find interesting.

Question about the craft things, do I just price the entire tote as one price, kinda like a "pig in a poke", instead of having the stuff pulled out all over the place? I just really would like to get rid of it.

Thanks for all the input, I need all the help I can get.

I would put a price on the whole tote of craft things.

All of the above ideas are great. I won't shop at a yard sale if I have to ask the price on everything, so price things. If using masking tape to price, put on back of items or on the bottom. I hate buying something then trying to take the tape off leaving a sticky residue.

I LoVE garage sales! It's almost time for them to start in my area - I go every Saturday and try to hit about a dozen or more every time. Here's my hints:

1. No junk - broken toys, torn clothes, dirty furniture.
2. I will NOT stay at a sale where there are no prices marked. Simply won't do it - I will be gone in 30 seconds. My feeling is that if the seller doesn't care enough to mark a price, I don't care if they sell it.
3. I've never seen anyone buy a hardback book, while people will buy bagsful of paperbacks. Why in the world are hardbacks priced higher? No one wants them. (Rare exceptions are textbooks and kiddie books.)
4. NEVER spread items on the ground on a blanket. Not even toys. I won't bend over to look, plus I don't want to walk on the blanket to see the things in the middle.
5. Make your prices realistic. People who go to garage sales are looking for real bargains - not a half-price deal on a $60 pair of jeans you bought for your son that he didn't like.
6. If you are having your sale at your house and you have kids, SEND THEM TO GRANDMA's. Same thing for pets. Nuf said.