How to Price Items for a Yard Sale

A yard sale is a great way to get rid of things you no longer use and make some extra money in the process--but the question is how much money you can expect to make. Knowing how to price the items you're selling is key to a successful sale, but unfortunately there is no set formula. You need to take the following factors into account before you set a price.

Instructions

1. Consider what the item costs brand new, in a store, and knock two thirds off that price. So a $300 brand new treadmill should earn about $100 at a yard sale. If you don't know the retail value of an item, look it up at PriceWatch.com.

2. Consider how desperately you want to get rid of the stuff you're trying to sell. If you're having a yard sale because you're moving in a week and need to lighten your load, you should price items significantly lower so they'll move. If you're just holding the yard sale to make money and could later try marketing items that didn't sell online, stick with the 1/3 of retail rule.

3. Look at your watch. If the yard sale's just begun, chances are you'll be able to get full asking price for many of the items. If there's only an hour left till you close up shop, get out your red pen and start slashing price tags.

4. Expect to do some negotiating. Most people who go to yard sales will bargain with you, so have a bottom line price in mind, especially for bigger ticket items like electronics, antiques and exercise equipment.

5. Assign a flat rate to items like used books, CDs and used non-designer clothes. This makes it easier for you to process sales since you won't need to look up individual prices on these products.

Tips & Warnings

• Advertise any bigger ticket items like exercise equipment, televisions and computers prior to the sale. This will draw more customers and also prepare people for how much money they should bring.

• Don't take it personally if no one wants to buy the artwork you always thought was priceless--or if someone offers you a few dollars for an item you think should earn ten times that amount.