6 Things NOT To Do When Having a Yard Sale

As most of you know, I love to go to yard sales on Fridays and Saturdays. I find all sorts of treasures; some I keep, most I sell on Ebay for a nice profit. Today, I just seemed to find a number of things while out that irritated me as a yard sale buyer. So, if you are thinking of having a yard sale, here are 6 things not to do:

1. Yard Sale Signs: Letters too small to read, not enough signs, or not taking the signs down after the yard sale is done. Don't say "Huge" yard sale when you have only a few items - people aren't going to stop just because it says huge; they will stop for a sign that says, Yard (or Garage) Sale.

2. Prices: Having no clue what you are going to charge for your items or even worse, ask the buyer to make an offer. I can tell you right now, my offer will always be low. Not every item needs to be priced; separate them into price tables - Everything in this table is $1, this table $2, this table $5 and so on.

3. Just because you paid $50 for an item, don't think you can get 90% of the money back. If you want to make money with items, use Ebay or Craigslist. The idea of yard sales should be to get rid of stuff you don't want anymore. Pricing items too high and you will have a ton of stuff left.... and little money to show for it.

4. Junk: I know the saying that one man's junk is another man's treasure but that is true, only to a point. Ripped, torn, dirty clothes are not going to sell. Pots and pans with left over food in them are not going to sell. Don't think that people are going to pay money for garbage; do everyone a favor and throw it away.

5. Dogs and children: I know you think your dog and kids are cute but no one wants to have a dog jumping up on you while you are looking at items. Same goes with children....

6. Signs on items comparing the price to Ebay: If you go to yard sales, you know what I'm talking about. Someone is getting rid of some collectibles and so they go on Ebay and compare what Ebay is asking vs. what the seller is selling them for. 9 times out of 10, the price on ebay is not a completed bid, just what someone else is asking for the item. The only price that matters is how bad do you want to get rid of the items. If you can sell it on ebay..... then do it.

OK, those are my yard sale pet peeves about sellers. What aggravates you when you go to a yard sale?