The Craigslist ad says "starts at 9am", the signs around the neighborhood say "@ 9am" , we are clearly carrying things down the three flights of stairs still but that doesn't stop these yard-salers from creeping in at around 8am.
We had a very exciting (exhausting) day Saturday. We simplified our homes and de-cluttered our minds, and we made some money in process. We figured the only way to recap our first yard sale is to give you a play-by-play of how things progressed.
Friday, 8:00PM - Dylan and Keri (along with Becca, of Becca Bakes) prepare items for Saturday's Yard Sale while eating not-so-great Thai food. Dylan takes one last trip around the apartment looking for items to throw in the sell pile.
Friday, 10:07PM - The gang finishes up pricing and prepping, the Thai food is not sitting well. Keri, after working 12 straight days in a row, wants to get to sleep early. Dylan, anxious and excited for tomorrow, forces keri to watch the first 40 minutes of Super Troopers. Keri passes out, Dylan giggles.
Saturday, 6:15AM - Dylan wakes up early and makes coffee. Starts unloading the borrowed tables from the car - Keri sleeps.
Saturday, 7:00AM - Keri wakes up and helps bring items down the three flights of stairs to the yard. Items are being brought to the lawn from upstairs in the apartment, downstairs in the basement, the back of the house and out of the car. The enormity of the junk is overpowering. So much so that another table is needed.
Saturday, 8:06AM - Lookie loos arrive and start asking questions including "Does this work?", "Are you moving?" and our favorite "Is there going to be more or is this it?".
Saturday, 8:20AM - Still setting up items on blankets and in the driveway. We make our first sale. A cab driver buys several of Dylan's old shirts, he thinks they are women's shirts, Dylan is offended. The cab man also buys a framed picture of Boston, Dylan tells him it is of Paris, France. The cab man wants to see if the small CD player actually works so Dylan runs it up the three flights of stairs to plug it in and plays Green Day's "Warning" out the window. The cab man leaves a satisfied customer.
Saturday, 8:50AM - After looking at all their junk and garbage Keri realizes that we are charging WAY TOO much for some things, She creates a free table with a sign that says "OMG! A Table of Free! (Things)".
Saturday, 9:00AM - Yard Sale officially begins! Lookie loos are back and a small crowd has gathered. Dylan sets out the prized item: A Dr. Seuss mug from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida that says "Dylan" . The price is $500. People are outraged and don't get the joke.
Saturday, 9:30AM - A woman uses her little adorable child against Keri to haggle the price of a $300 purse down from $80 to $25. We now see the reason people have kids.
Saturday, 10:05AM - Items are selling quickly, things we thought no one would want - we realize we have cool stuff and these people are lucky to own our garbage.
Saturday, 10:45AM - We are hungry. Keri takes some cash out of the cash box and runs to Dunkin Donuts. While she is gone Dylan makes zero sales, reads his book quietly while more people don't get the $500 mug joke.
Saturday, 11:15AM - A very nice woman buys a blender and some vases, her husband buys every graphic novel except one. They spend over $60 - we're shocked.
Saturday, High Noon - A very short lady comes around and buys almost all of Keri's jewelry. She sees the items on the free table and asks for a bag - she takes everything on the free table, comes back for more.
Saturday, 12:45PM - A young couple stops by while walking their cat, the young man says that he and Dylan have the same taste in things. He buys several DVDs and books. High fives are exchanged.
Saturday, 1:20PM - A man says he will give Dylan $80 for the mug, Dylan says "No thank you. The price is firm." Keri decides to take a shower. While she is gone Dylan makes zero sales.
Saturday, 2:00PM - It is now Dylan's turn to take a shower. While he is gone Keri sells some women's clothing, jewelry, and shoes to a young man.
Saturday, 3:00PM - Things have slowed down significantly. Our friend Zac Wolf shows up for moral support - asks to be able to break the $500 Mug, the answer is no.
Saturday, 4:00PM - Over 75% of the items have sold. All that's left are several books, movies, scarves, and a 'Hot Dog Oven'. Dylan and Keri decide to sell every item for $1. Dylan bikes around to the signs in the neighborhood and writes in red marker "EVERYTHING $1".
Saturday, 4:01PM - Three "Bros" wearing flip flops and graphic tees stop and buy beautiful ceramic decorative pieces - we all learn a lesson about judging.
Saturday, 4:30PM - An older Irish woman stops and buys almost everything left for $1 - still tries to haggle the price. Leaves with the 'Hot Dog Oven' but not with the understanding of what it is or how it works.
Saturday, 5:30PM - Dylan and Keri decide to close up shop. A man walking by bumps into the $500 mug - it smashes on the ground - there is no God.
Saturday, 6:00PM - Keri tallies up the day's earnings: $263. We are psyched. That money will go toward the Citi Credit Card, which is next up in our snowball process. We take out $20 and go to Panera.
