Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO®. Marty Stevens-Heebner is a Certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Clear Home Solutions, a home organizing and senior moving management company based in Southern California. Marty is the President of the National Association of Senior and Specialty Move Managers (NASMM), with certifications in Senior and Specialty Move Management, Professional Organizing, and Aging in Place. Clear Home Solutions was the first nationally accredited firm in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Marty is the first Certified Senior Move Manager (SMM-C) in the United States and has been acknowledged as a Hoarding Specialist and ADHD Specialist through the Institute for Challenging Disorganization. Marty also hosts How to Move Your Mom (and still be on speaking terms afterward), a podcast dedicated to later life and all its idiosyncrasies. She received her B.A. in History from Cornell University and an MFA from the University of California, Los Angeles.
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Pricing items at a yard sale can be challenging, especially when you remember exactly what you paid when you bought your used treasures new. Remember that yard sale shoppers are looking for deals, so don't overprice your items if you want to have a successful sale. Read on for a basic guide to pricing yard sale items.
Steps
Price books at $1. People don't want to pay more than this for a book at a yard sale, unless it's a beautiful hardcover coffee table book. Display your books spine-out in an attractive box or on a bookshelf that's also for sale.[1]
Price DVDs at $5. You may want to consider having a laptop or DVD player handy so people can make sure the DVDs work before they fork over the cash. Display the DVDs in their original cases.[2]Advertisement
Price CDs at $3. Keep in mind that CD sales have gone down, so these aren't the hot commodity they used to be. You could try to sell bundles of CDs by the same artist for a little more if your aim is to sell them off as quickly as possible.[3]- If you have cassette tapes, go even lower; these probably won't move for more than $1.
- Sell records at $2 - $3, unless you have a very rare record that is still in good condition (in which case you may want to consider taking it to a record store to trade it in - you might make more cash that way).
- If you have cassette tapes, go even lower; these probably won't move for more than $1.
Price games at $5 - $10. Some rare or expensive games might sell for more, but in general your games won't go for more than $10.[4]- Make sure your magazines are cheap, especially old ones, $0.50 or $1 are most appropriate
Price baby clothes at $1 - $3. People won't expect to pay more for used baby clothes, since they're often inexpensive to begin with. Make sure the clothes are laundered and well presented to make the best sales.[5] If the item is name brand with the tags still on, you can price it a little higher.- If you want to sell clothes that have been heavily used or are stained, price them at $0.50 or $0.25, just to move them off of your lawn.
- If you have a ton of baby clothes to sell, consider selling them by the bag for $5.00 or so.
- If you want to sell clothes that have been heavily used or are stained, price them at $0.50 or $0.25, just to move them off of your lawn.
Price adult clothes at $3 - $5. Old shirts, pants, dresses, and other items shouldn't be priced higher than this, unless they're name brand with the tags still on. You might have more luck selling clothes if you leave out the oldest, rattiest items; don't make people dig too deep to find something worth buying.[6]
Price shoes at $5 - $7. Be sure to polish the shoes to remove scuff marks and worn areas before you display them. If you have a pair of very gently used name brand shoes, you could price them a few dollars higher.- Old tennis shoes should go for less; you may even want to give them away for free.
- Display shoes attractively, rather than throwing them all in a box.
Price coats at $10 - $15. Launder the coats and display them neatly on hangers. Coats that look like they're 15 years old will sell for less, but if you have a name brand coat that hasn't been worn much, you can price it a little higher.
Price lower quality furniture at $10 - $30. Furniture made with materials that aren't sturdy, or furniture that has been very heavily used and is full of scratches, should be priced cheap so you can move it off the lawn. At these prices, you may be able to sell off your old furniture to students looking to furnish a dorm cheaply.[7]
Price sturdy furniture at $50 - $75. A solid wood dresser, table, cabinet, or bookshelf might be one of the higher-priced items in your yard. A good rule of thumb for these items is to charge 1/3 the original price. If you paid $300 for a table you've hardly used, go ahead and charge $100 for it. You can always drop the price if you need to.
Price rare antiques at $100 and up. If you've got something truly special, like a Tiffany lamp or a Victorian chaise, price it high. The right buyer will be willing to pay what it's worth.[8]- If you don't know the item's value for sure, do some research first or get it appraised. You don't want to undersell your most valuable possessions.
- Display high value items close to the house, in a special area you can keep an eye on.
Price home décor items at $3 - $5. Candlesticks, pictures, knickknacks, and other home décor items should be some the lower-priced items in the sale. Exceptions are made for antiques or items that are rare or expensive, such as high-quality art.
Price computer equipment and other electronic equipment at $20 or lower. Even if you bought your juicer at $100, it'll be hard to move it for more than $20; good deals on electronics abound, so you've got to go lower than what savvy shoppers can find online.[9]
Price kitchen supplies at $1 - $3. This includes china, flatware, baking supplies, and all other kitchen items. Make sure they've all been carefully cleaned before you put them on display.
Price toys at $1 - $3. You could also have a "free" box with some of the least expensive items, so kids who come to the yard sale with their parents can take something home; perhaps their parents will also be more likely to buy something in this case.
Community Q&A
- QuestionWhat should an oven along with a 4-in-1 printer be priced at?
Community AnswerSold together, probably $100-150 dollars, but if they're completely new then $200 at the most. Sold separately, charge $100 for the oven and $40-60 for the printer. Be open to other offers. - QuestionHow do I price a La-Z-Boy recliner couch?Community AnswerPrice it at about 1/3 or 1/4 the original price you paid for it. If it's in really bad shape, price it less than that.
- QuestionHow would I price clothing items or costumes?
Community AnswerIf the costumes or clothes are new, expensive, or in good condition, you can price them a little bit higher. If the costumes are hand-made and a lot of effort went into their creation, you can also price them higher. Regular, worn clothing should be priced lower, especially if you have worn it many times.
Video
Tips
- Expect hagglers - people think "cheap" when they think yard sale, so don’t be deterred if your $125.00 table goes for $60.00. It's still $60.00 more than you had the day before and you've got less clutter in your life!Thanks
- Advertise broadly and obviously. Without traffic to your garage sale, the items will just sit out in the sun and you will realize little to no gain. So put up signs around the neighborhood, put an ad in the local newspaper, and try internet garage sale websites as well.Thanks
- Set up your merchandise so that it is easy to see. On the day of your sale, make sure to place all of your items within eyesight, in an organized manner, so that everything can be easily found.Thanks
Warnings
- Check local regulations if you plan on selling any food.Thanks
- Be careful of selling re-called items. Check online, especially in the fields of electronics, toys, electrical appliances, and baby furniture.Thanks
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about yard sales, check out our in-depth interview with Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO®.
References
- ↑ https://www.angieslist.com/articles/ultimate-garage-sale-pricing-guide.htm
- ↑ https://www.angieslist.com/articles/ultimate-garage-sale-pricing-guide.htm
- ↑ http://www.garagesalestracker.com/garage-sales-guide-pricing.asp
- ↑ https://myfrugalhome.com/printables/yard-sale-price-guide.pdf
- ↑ http://www.denverpost.com/smart/ci_23414750/how-purge-and-price-your-garage-sale-items
- ↑ http://www.bestgaragesaletips.com/best-garage-sale-pricing-tips.html
- ↑ https://www.angieslist.com/articles/ultimate-garage-sale-pricing-guide.htm
- ↑ https://www.angieslist.com/articles/ultimate-garage-sale-pricing-guide.htm
- ↑ https://myfrugalhome.com/printables/yard-sale-price-guide.pdf
About This Article
To price yard sale items, remember that shoppers are looking for deals, so avoid overpricing for a successful sale. Price lower quality furniture that may be scratched up or made out of less sturdy material at 10 to 30 dollars per item. For furniture that’s sturdier, like solid wood dressers, tables, cabinets, or bookshelves, you can charge ⅓ of the original price. If you have some smaller home decor pieces, like candlesticks, pictures, and knickknacks, price them at 3 to 5 dollars each. This is also a good price range for most clothes, toys, and DVDs. To learn how to price antiques for your yard sale, keep reading!
Reader Success Stories
"I am in charge of organizing the first military community yard/bake sale, and these tips have basically given me a good guideline on what to sell. It feels less stressful now that I have an idea on pricing and such. "..." more
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