Gardner, Westminster preparing for annual town-wide yard sale events (2024)

Stephen Landry|Gardner News

GARDNER — It’s that time of year when treasure seekers and spring cleaners rejoice – it’s yard sale season. This year, at least two local communities will invite shoppers and browsers to scour the community during town-wide yard sale events.

The first, in Gardner, will take place on Saturday, May 21, with the following Sunday set aside for the rain date. A few weeks later, on Saturday, June 18, the town of Westminster will host its community-wide event.

Julie Mazza, who helped organize previous events in Gardner, said she wanted to get the word out about this spring’s yard sale a little earlier than usual. The city actually hosted two city-wide yard sales last year — one in the spring and one in the fall — and Mazza said there were fewer participants for the latter event.

“I’m thinking it’s because so many people took part in the spring yard sale, so the fall numbers were down,” she said. “People didn’t need to do it in the fall again.”

She said she hopes the earlier lead time this season will allow for more households to officially sign up for the event.

“The earlier I get all the information out, the more time people have to plan, and we seem to see a big turnout,” Mazza said, adding that the online enthusiasm for the annual yard sale event is overwhelmingly positive. More than 10 families are already signed up to take part in this season’s yard sale, she said, an indication that people are responding to the positive reaction to last year’s event.

“I had people coming to my house (last year) who said they had come from an hour away because they heard about this, and that there’s nowhere in their area that ever did this,” Mazza said. “They told me to make sure they were told about the next one. People really do want to come back every year.”

Mazza said she is planning on using social media to spread the word about this season’s event, and perhaps ask some local businesses to advertise the yard sale in their establishments.

“Because this is a free event, it’s tricky, because I can’t put any money into this,” she said.

Anyone wishing to register for the Gardner yard sale should email their home address to gardneryardsale@gmail.com for more information. To obtain a free permit, go tohttps://www.gardner-ma.gov/formcenter/.

Betsy Hannula, who is organizing the Westminster event, said she is expecting the town’s spring yard sale to be a success based on two factors — residents have spent the past two years organizing their homes and they’ve had plenty of time to decide what they don’t need anymore.

“And it’s easier sometimes to put (things) outdoors and let people come and buy it, rather than trying to get it to the Salvation Army or a thrift shop or that kind of thing,” she said. “I think this is going to be a great opportunity to get the whole town involved.”

Officials at the Lions Club and the American Legion have already told yard sale organizers that their organizations will be participating in this year’s event, according to Hannula.

“This has really become a town activity, which I am excited about,” she said.

As in previous years, maps will be available to yard sale participants. In addition to including an address, participants will also have an opportunity to list the types of items available at their home.

“And that’s especially important for people who live outside of the center of town, because some of those items are what will attract certain people to their house,” Hannula said, adding that organizers will make the maps available on the morning of the event. “The reason we don’t put it out before that day is because there are some (early) pickers who will go pester people at their houses. We don’t want to pester people. This is an opportunity for people to just have fun and get rid of their stuff and make some money.”

Hannula said participating residents will be provided with a large, colorful poster to put up in front of their homes on the day of the event.

Westminster residents can register for the yard sale within a few weeks at westminsterhistoricalsociety.org/.

Some Gardner officials are looking forward to yard sale season.

“The city-wide yard sale is a great event to move the community out of winter and into spring,” said City Council President Elizabeth Kazinskas, adding that she enjoys visiting yard sales in search of treasures and the stories that go with it. “It’s a nice way to meet a new neighbor or a good reason to visit a neighborhood you may not have been to before.”

Gardner, Westminster preparing for annual town-wide yard sale events (2024)

FAQs

What is the best day of the year to have a yard sale? ›

Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings are usually the best time to hold a successful garage sale. Consider scheduling your sale on the first weekend of the month—when people have just gotten paid and haven't spent all their fun money yet.

What is the best selling item at a garage sale? ›

12 Garage Sale Items That Sell Like Hotcakes
  1. Gently used clothing, in good condition. Everyone needs clothes, and savvy shoppers know you don't have to pay retail to look good. ...
  2. Tools. ...
  3. Furniture. ...
  4. Vintage dishes, glassware, and casseroles. ...
  5. Garden tools. ...
  6. Shoes and handbags. ...
  7. Costume jewelry. ...
  8. Games, toys, and bicycles.

How to prepare for a successful garage sale? ›

How to Hold a Successful Garage Sale
  1. Don't wait until the last minute. ...
  2. Contact your local government. ...
  3. See if neighbors want to join in. ...
  4. Schedule the sale. ...
  5. Advertise. ...
  6. Price your goods. ...
  7. If it's junk, recycle or donate it. ...
  8. Display items nicely.

How much change should I have ready for a yard sale? ›

Here's a suggested breakdown:
  • 20 $1 bills.
  • 5 $5 bills.
  • 4 $10 bills.
  • 1 roll of quarters.
  • 1 roll of dimes.
Apr 18, 2024

What are good yard sale hours? ›

Garage sales usually start early in the morning, around 7 a.m., and end mid-afternoon. The busiest hours of a garage sale are often between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m., before temperatures get too high. Depending on how many items you plan to sell, you may want to spread the sale out over multiple days.

Is it better to price things at a yard sale? ›

The most important thing is to actually put prices on things. Generally speaking around $0.10 on the dollar is fair. Yes, this is most important. Put a price on everything or put a price on the box that everything is in.

What not to sell at a yard sale? ›

Creepy, Tacky, Inappropriate | Things You Should Never Sell at a...
  • Used Underwear: Nope. ...
  • Medicine. ...
  • Taxidermy Animals: Since other people didn't shoot it or catch it, don't sell it.
  • Personal Hygiene Products. ...
  • Adult Movies: OK…that's just ALL I got to say about THAT.

What is the fastest way to organize a garage sale? ›

How to Organize a Garage Sale
  1. Get Rid of Everything You Don't Need.
  2. Organize Your Items.
  3. Reorganize Your Garage.
  4. Create Lots of Signage.
  5. Online Advertising is Key.
  6. Create a Fun and Welcoming Atmosphere.
  7. Display Your Best Items.
  8. Place Price Tags on Your Items.
Aug 23, 2021

What makes the most money at yard sales? ›

Offer Profitable Extras

Whether you make them yourself or pick them up from Costco or Sam's Club, selling snacks and drinks during your garage or yard sale can take your final total over-the-top. It doesn't have to be fancy; cookies, snack bags of chips and bottled water will sell really well.

What is the average profit from a garage sale? ›

The right items bought at garage sales are often resold for an average profit of 462% each. As long as you know what to look out for, and who to sell it to, flipping garage sales (and yard sales, and flea markets!) is a clever and easy way to really line your pockets.

How do I attract people to my yard sale? ›

Here are some useful tips that will help you attract as many shoppers as possible and make a decent payday from your yard sale.
  1. Planning The Date And Time. ...
  2. Regulations. ...
  3. Sorting for a Yard Sale. ...
  4. Advertising. ...
  5. Organizing Items. ...
  6. Bulk Selling Strategy. ...
  7. $1 Items. ...
  8. Extra Pair of Hands.
Aug 22, 2023

How much change for a cash box? ›

Though the exact amount might vary from business to business, make sure to have cash, sometimes referred to as petty cash, on-hand in the morning. For a small business, $100 to $150 should be more than enough. It's good practice to keep at least $20 in five-dollar bills and $20 in one-dollar bills.

How much change for a garage sale in Australia? ›

Make sure you have a good supply of $1 and $2 coins, and $5 notes – if you run out of change, selling will become difficult.

What is the best month to have an estate sale? ›

Winter Is Better for Sellers; Summer is for Buyers

Spring and summer are packed with garage and estate sales. Fortune favors the brave; if you have a sale during the winter you will surely see more people come through the sale. More people means more potential buyers.

What time of year is the best sales? ›

What months are best for sales? Knowing what are seasonal sales can help you save on just about everything. Holiday weekends, including Presidents Day in February, Memorial Day in May, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day in September, are all marked by dayslong sales events.

How do I get more customers for my yard sale? ›

Post your garage sale flyers around the neighborhood a few days before the yard sale. Make sure to place them in high-traffic areas like marts, parks, office elevators, and churches so people will see them. You can also ask your friends and family to help out.

What day does longest yard sale start? ›

The 127 Yard Sale is an annual event that takes place the first Thursday-Sunday in August each year. It's literally, The World's Longest Yard Sale! The route spans 6 states (Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama) and is 690 miles long.

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