Lawn Sales

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
I feel that living on a busy highway is actually hurting my lawn sales. My property has no driveway or pull-off (an none can me made because of the sidewalk and other structures. The few people that do stop complain about the dangerous parking situation, but there's nothing I can do about that. A few drive down the block and park on the side street, but then have to hike back and sometimes when people park on the side street, some neighbors call the police saying the parked car is blocking traffic. Here is an aerial photo of my block. I live in the row of houses on the left. Any suggestion I can tell people about parking?
aerial4.jpg
 

I've tried may ways (Craig's List, Facebook Online Garage Sale, local classifieds) and haven't had much success. Are people that really strapped for money they can't but antiques and collectibles?
 

The baby boomers which were a huge market in the past are retiring and most are no longer buying and collecting much. I think younger folks prefer modern stuff. But you might want to hunt around and find a venues in small towns where antique buyers go and take your stuff there, maybe a fall fair or farmer's market. It requires some research and effort though and you might have to pay for a table/booth as well as travel.

You might also consider letting cars park on your lawn, if it is big enough.
 
I had a devil of a time getting rid of my mother's antiques. I ended up giving away the beautiful oak pump organ that was over 150 years old and was an unusual model. I called a guy in Georgia who has a "pump organ orphanage" and he said he had over 130 in his barn and couldn't give away a one.

The young folk don't want antiques, people my age are downsizing and don't want them, and anyone who does like antiques already has all they want.

Doomed, I tell ya.
 
I still think the flea market, fall fair circuit might be worth looking into, but it requires going to the market, it doesn't look like it will come to you -- going online to search out upcoming events, phoning around, driving around, doing the legwork. That's what the craft artisans do -- look for the market. It might mean driving out of your town into neighboring villages to see what events they are planning, printing up some business cards or flyers to hand out and leave in specialty or gift shops, chatting up the locals.... it might be fun.
 
Why not donate it to a hospital thrift shop or to Goodwill if you can't sell it and it appears you can't? Not many people want antiques these days, even you don't want them.

It seems like dealing with all these items is weighing you down.
 
My mom's antiques definitely weighed me down. She spent years emphasizing that they should be handed down to the next generation. Well, the next TWO generations most certainly had no interest in them. Finally a few years ago, I just came out and explained that no one else in the family wanted them and I couldn't use them anymore. To my surprise, she said "I don't care what you do with them." And she meant it, thank goodness. With the exception of the huge farm table and six chairs that one of my sisters agreed to take (since she lives on a farm), the rest were sold or given away. Whew.
 
Often thrift ( we call them charity) shops won't take old furniture especially if it's scratched or if it has no fire certificate...(at least that's the case here.)

Do you need the money from the sale Debodun, or are you just trying to offload the stuff out of your home?
 
debodun, I'm confused. You say you're selling antiques and collectibles, but that you sold a scarf for 25 cents. :confused:

Also, have you considered having your antiques examined and appraised? You could even have an antiqies dealer handle the sales. They would take a % for a fee but at least you'd get something (better than what you're doing on your own).
 
We have antique dealers in Adelaide who hold monthly auctions, of antiques they collect the items from large furniture items to a small vases p, advertise a complete list of items in the local papers and on the net prior to each auction ....surely they have similar businesses where you live ??? it surly would be less stressful on you to offload all your unwanted antique items in one hit ..
 
applecruncher said:
have you considered having your antiques examined and appraised? You could even have an antiqies dealer handle the sales. They would take a % for a fee but at least you'd get something (better than what you're doing on your own).
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I've been every route. I've contacted estate liquidators, auctioneers and dealers and nobody is interested. It's consensus of opinion that they aren't doing well at the moment, so they can't acquire merchandise they can't sell. I've even sent items to consignment shops without success.
 
HollyDolly, Here is the US yard and Garage sales are very popular. Holding a sale is NOT a sign of destitution. debodun, I am thinking your best option is piggy back onto anothers sale with a couple of tables of your own,or to see about renting a vacant corner for a weekend. Neither may be a viable solution for you,but just suggesting.
 
Robusta said:
HollyDolly, Here is the US yard and Garage sales are very popular. Holding a sale is NOT a sign of destitution. debodun, I am thinking your best option is piggy back onto anothers sale with a couple of tables of your own,or to see about renting a vacant corner for a weekend. Neither may be a viable solution for you,but just suggesting.
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I don't think I inferred it was a sign of destitution in any way shape or form Robusta... I simply asked the question whether the sale was needed to fill coffers or whether it was just to have a clear out...!!

Either way several different answers may have applied...

Here in the UK Boot sales..garage sales and every other type of sales are extremely popular too, and quite often people hold them not necessarily for the money but to clear their homes out of excess furnishings,,or to replace new ones..

It was a simply question to determine how we could help the Op decide which was the best way to dispose of her items, nothing more!!
 
Robusta, actually the one who implied destution was the OP in Post #3:

debodun said:
I've tried may ways (Craig's List, Facebook Online Garage Sale, local classifieds) and haven't had much success. Are people that really strapped for money they can't but antiques and collectibles?
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