How To Make Money Selling Other Peoples Stuff (& Have Fun Doing It)

Yesterday I witnessed something terrible; my own mother sold over $50 worth of wrenches and lug nuts for a dollar. The salesman and lifelong entrepreneur within me cringe at the slightest thought of that kind of loss in profit. It got me to think; theirs got to be an opportunity here.

As far as I can remember, every year, the beginning of spring — or end — for us procrastinators — has been the perfect time to dig through all of our junk, getting rid of the things that no longer serve us. And do you know what follows? Yard sales. I mean, you could load all of your useless junk into a trailer and unload it at the dump (usually for a fee), but why would you do that when you could make a few extra bucks and likely have a little fun in the process?

Around late May or early June, yard sales start popping up in my area. If you live in a big city, then it’s likely that you’ve experienced this as well; hundreds of yard sale signs plastered all over street lamps, street corners, the local board at the farmers market, on craigslist, Facebook, etc.

A Hidden Opportunity

When it comes to yard sales, people basically give stuff away for free. Either that or they mark up the price too high, scaring off any potential buyers. I mean, they aren’t talented barterers or negotiators. They’re everyday people getting rid of everyday things.

Most folks are happy if they make a few bucks, usually donating the rest by the end of the day. As long as they get rid of whatever it is they no longer need or want. So why not take advantage of this prime opportunity?

Are you a good negotiator? Do you like talking to people? What about sitting in the sun all day with a good book, sipping cold coffee, without a care in the world? Does that sound good to you? What if I told you that you could do all that and more while making some money in the process.

Now do I have your attention?

Good. Here’s my idea.

Offer to work yard sales in exchange for a 20% commission.

Think about it. Nobody’s gonna pay an hourly wage to get rid of something they don’t want. If so, they’d rather take everything to the dump (or pay someone to dump it) and call it a day. But, if you offer to work for commission, it increases your chances of landing the gig and making more money.

• Start by reaching out to potential clients.

It’s not hard to find nearby yard sales. Facebook, craigslist, even the local newspaper usually hold advertisements for upcoming yard sales. Utilize these tools to land your first gig. Reach out to them and offer your services.

• Make sure to clarify that you’re working for a set commission.

• Point out the benefits: it saves them time and increases the likelihood of making more money!

• Offer your rates upfront. I usually recommend no less than 20%.

• (Optional) Ask for permission to advertise the yard sale in advance. Best suited for those with marketing skills.

Don’t price anything.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not too fond of price tags. I love the traditional bartering method. One person might pay you $5 for that Hannah Montana figure that’s been sitting in your kids' closet unopened. Still, another customer might leak that it’s a collectible before offering you 20 bucks, but you close on $30. And like I said, I love to barter. Being able to negotiate with people is just an overall fun experience.

Advertise if necessary.

It doesn’t hurt to ask if you can advertise your clients' yard sale. The last thing you want is to offer your services on a commission basis but with no opportunity for sales.

• Post a few extra signs around the neighborhood
• Utilize the local boards at any nearby farmers' markets or grocery store if available.
• Ask if they’ve already advertised online and if not, do so.

At the end of the day, ask if you can take some stuff to sell online.

Why not? They’re probably going to throw it away anyways. If you have any experience selling on eBay, Amazon, or any other online sales platform, then this would be a perfect opportunity to score an extra couple of bucks

Walk around and see if you notice anything of value that could easily sell online. Memorize them and, if they don’t sell, bring them to the owner and ask if you can take them. Remember, it’s probably going to the dump or nearest Goodwill if not.

Offer a card or way of contact for a referral.

Word of mouth is a great referral opportunity. If you provided adequate service, then it’s likely that your client might bring you up to friends and family. Consider purchasing some business cards to hand out at the end of the day, with your email and/or phone number attached.

If you’ve been looking for a fun and exciting side-hustle, then this might be it! So what are you waiting for? Give it a shot. And if you’ve already done something similar to this, let me know in the comments!