Knowing how to price your items is of importance. For example, there was a man in California who purchased Ansel Adams negatives for $45.00 only later to find out they were worth $220 million. Books, Novels, and Textbooks – The going rate for a single paperback novel and outdated textbook is typically $1.00. A hardcover book in good shape can go for $2.00 and, and depending one how many books you have, it is often a good idea to make bulk sales at a price break to help move them. Cassette Tapes – Many people still drive cars that have cassette players and many elderly individuals listen to opera, musicals, and classical music on cassettes. Also jam bands such as the Grateful Dead and Phish have lots of cassettes floating around that are worth a pretty penny. So there still is a market for these. 10 cents apiece for a non collectible tape. If you have a collectible tape or motivational tape then $1.00-5.00 is an ample starting price point. Compact Disks – CD's are another dying breed due to electronic and digital media players like the iPod.
However, we all have a CD player in our vehicle. $1.00 a piece with a bulk deal of 10 for $5.00 is fair, just make sure to check for scratches as you wouldn't want to purchase a disc that doesn't play or skips. Electronics - This is the broadest category of items to price: DVDs – Depending on the age of the movie $2-3.00 is a fair starting price point. If it's brand new in the wrapper still or is a new release within the past couple of years then $4-6.00. Household Items – As long as its in decent condition most household items are a breeze to sell at a sale as the bulk of visitors are looking for new furnishings and useful items for their home. Make sure to clean up all of these items, especially food related ones, to avoid spreading germs to the new owners. Furniture – If you are a college student or a new homeowner who needs furniture then a garage sale is a dream come true for a bargain hunter. If you have antique items like an armoire, bookshelves, or other furniture, then you may want to seek a consignment shop opposed to a rummage sale.
Sports Equipment – Whether its golf clubs, exercise equipment, or other miscellaneous sports equipment there will certainly be a market for it at a tag sale. As long as the item is not broken beyond repair you can wash off the item and place it for sale. Toys – This is a tough category to price because the range of items depending on year and condition can vary. The consumer products safety commission has made it illegal to sell recalled products at a yard sale so please make sure that you are following legal guidelines for the safety of the children. Try not to sell broken toys that cannot be easily put back together. Some of the bigger brand names such as Leapfrog, Fisher Price, and Playskool usually command a small premium to off brand products. Tools - As long as they still function you can sell them. Some of the bigger and more industrial items will sell well above the normal garage sale prices. Videogames – Consoles, games, controllers, and memory cards are very popular items at garage sales and always attracts family friendly visitors.
If you are selling a game that was released in the last two years and the purchase price was $50.00 or greater then 70% off or $15.00 is a fair starting point. Videotapes - VHS tapes tend to be popular at a garage sale and some shoppers like adding to their historic collection. 25-50 cents a piece is the going rate, and bulk deals such as 5 for a dollar will help sales. If you have a rare or collectible tape such as a Disney limited release you may want to consider keeping it or auctioning it off as you probably won't maximize your value at a yard sale.HelmetsHelmets are designed to protect you from one accident, and one accident only. Sometimes damage isn’t visible, so buy a new helmet to make sure you’re getting full protection. Child car seatsLike helmets, car seats are really only meant to protect in one accident. But damaged car seats are common; a survey found that one in ten have been in an accident. Plus, car seat technology improves each year. TiresIf they’ve been in an accident, tires are likely to be unstable and unreliable.
Make sure you can get an accurate history. Wet suits and swimsuitsPersonal products that hug your body are technically safe if you wash them in hot water... and still we're cautious. But constant changes in water pressure also wear out swimwear faster than regular clothing, so it's likely a used wetsuit or swimsuit will tear. MattressesBed bugs could lurk in any used mattress. You might also end up sleeping with other people’s mold, mites, bacteria, and bodily fluids (yuck!). CribsScores of crib recalls, as well as changing safety standards, make it hard to verify the safety of a used crib. Laptops or other devicesLaptops, e-readers, tablets, or mp3 players are more likely to be dropped, knocked around, and spilled on, simply because they’re out in the world. A desktop computer sits (mostly) safe at home, but even that would likely cost more to upgrade than buy new. TVsIt’s hard to determine how well TVs, DVD players, and other electronic devices have been cared for by their previous owners.
Plus, technology changes so quickly that you can often get a better quality device. If you're buying refurbished devices directly from a manufacturer, you'll be covered by a warranty—but a random TV at a garage sale could be hit or miss. ShoesUsed shoes have been molded to their previous owner’s feet—and poorly fitting shoes will make you miserable, or you'll just never want to wear them. Sheets and PillowcasesSure, you can wash them in hot water, but that might not protect against bed bugs. Baby bottlesWhile sanitation and cracks can be an issue, the real culprit is the chemical BPA that's present in most older bottles—and as of June 2012, the FDA no longer accepts that as safe. Go with new bottles to make sure you're getting the safest, most up-to-date bottles. Worn plates, pots, and other cookwareRust, flaky non-stick coatings, and chemicals that leach out are just a few of the safety problems you can run into with older cookware. DVDs, CDs, and VHS tapesIf you're still using this technology and looking to scoop up a bargain, know that scratches have ruined many a DVD or CD—and VHS tapes lessen in quality the more times they're played, not to mention disintegrate over the years.
Upholstered furnitureJust like mattresses and sheets, any upholstered furniture can be home to bed bugs, fleas, and spiders, as well as unknown odors and stains. Unless you're going to reupholster the piece, steer clear. Clothes that require a tailored fitIt might look like it fits—until you put it on. Unless you can try something on, it's often not worth the money you'll spend on alterations. Video GamesYou might want to quickly google the video game—manufacturers are now including codes for one-user only play, either for the whole game or special bonus sections. Fragrance or makeup (new or old!)The quality of both can lessen over the years (and yes, they do expire!). Even if makeup is brand new in the box, skip it unless you can tell that it was recently manufactured. Stuffed animalsStuffed animals can be hard to send through the extra-hot cycle on a washing machine, and like mattresses and upholstered furniture, they can be full of creepy crawlies and other unsavory finds.