12 Yard Sale Tips- Ones you might not have considered
This topic comes up A LOT in the small house scene Facebook groups. People are looking for ways to save for their dream tiny house, but before they can do that (and while they do it) they need a means to downsize from their regular or current mode of living. So how does one go about that?
Why not host a yard sale? Yes, they're work, but THEY WORK.
However, if you're going to take the time to downsize while attempting to turn your stuff into cash for whatever future project, here are a few off beat tips on how to ensure your yard sale, tag sale, rummage sale, or estate sale, is a big success.
The methods and tips I recommend here are ones I DO NOT usually see people talking about- things many neglect to consider, and for that reason I feel that this little video might be worth your time.
Meanwhile, check out my newest book "MicroLiving"- CLICK HERE
While I don't live on the road, I OFTEN see people post on tiny house or homesteading pages asking "How can we make a living while living on the road or off grid"? Well, I feel there are a TON of ways to do it, and perhaps I'll get into that in another post. Again, I don't live off the road, nor off grid, but I do make a good deal of my living from "nothing"- repurposing the discarded waste of others and making it into art, fixing some of these items, flipping them, and so on. All of this can be done with minimal materials, with limited space, and its fun! Furthermore, these flat art items wouldn't take up much space (especially smaller pieces) in your tiny home, RV, or cabin. Canvases don't have to be frame either, you can simply paint them and roll them for storage or shipping if you are worried about space.
Here's one I recently found/did. Its a bit more on the experimental/urban/weird side....
So lesson ONE- if you have an inkling of artistic ability, considering rescuing some of those "wine and paint night" monstrosities you find curbside on trash day, and painting over them. You can then use this art for your own home decor, or possibly sell it (which I've done dozens upon dozens of times now). In fact I just made a huge graffiti piece that was shipped all the way to Miami to reside in a VERY swanky oceanfront apartment. This shipping ALONE was $250- which the buyer was fine with. Apparently they REALLY wanted this piece- which was flattering as heck, and profitable.
But back on track...
SOME of the art you find might actually be cool and/or fine as is, so before you paint over whatever, do consider its value as it already exists (and DEFINITELY look up artist names if the pieces are originals!!!). I've sold many pieces this way without having to do ANYTHING to them at all. Posting this type art on social media will also help with sales, but don't overlook old-school approaches. About once or twice a year I will rent a booth at a flea market and display some of my larger pieces there. These pieces (wildly colorful) are what I call "eye bait"- they are distracting/attention grabbing and draw people in out of curiosity. My intent often isn't even to sell these pieces, but to lure people in, who then end up buying the other junk I have laying around. Getting people to your booth is half the battle. These art pieces have also served as networking pieces too in that they frequently result in side jobs for me from the people that see them (graffiti mural work in a house, selling a few paintings to tv shows as props, and so forth- all connections that DID actually happen as a flea market. I even had a couple buy a piece of me at a flea, then contact me later on to make two more custom paintings for their home.
So give it a whirl. Even if they never sell, its STILL a lot of fun and there are worse things you could do with your time.
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Not sure I could do it, but there is a certain romance about daydreaming of living in such a small space, or any tiny house for that matter. Regardless, I came across this insanely tiny a-frame cabin on Facebook marketplace and thought it was kind of neat in its simplicity, and possible affordability (the VERY reason I designed a set of A-frame cabin build plans many years back- you can find them at the link below). Check this guest tiny house tour out though, and again, its for sale with the asking price of $8400 USD. It was NOT built to transport on the road with the given trailer, for the record.
As the listing states- this might make a great hobby or craft space, a cool guest cabin, or even a rental tiny house/cottage for airbnb. Me? I might toss it on a small barge and make a houseboat out of it, or place it in a strong tree house platform.
HOW TO BUILD A TREE HOUSE- The SIMPLE (and affordable) WAY....
Here's one for those not looking to remortgage their homes (or tiny homes) for one of those super mansion treehouses you see on tv and in coffee table books all the time, because lets face it, few of us are gazillionaires (never mind recent lumber prices). So, here's a short video on a couple of tips (budget friendly ones) when it comes to building the base of your small or medium sized treehouse. This is a cost effective way to get started on that tree fort or tree office- so check it out and I hope you grab some ideas from it.
Lets face it, lumber is getting "stupid expensive"- in fact its been just as stupid-expensive since April of last year and I'm not sure we're going to see prices go down anytime soon. SO.... word to the wise, salvaging lumber just might be saving your butt AND your wallet for any upcoming projects you have. Furthermore, you might actually be able to make a tidy profit from found architectural salvage and trashed materials as you'll see in this video. Whether its buildings being renovated, dumpstering with permission (most will be more than pleased to let you reduce their dumpster weight), dismantling old buildings, or just finding stuff on the side of the road, it seems that the getting is not only good, but frequent. Keep those eyes and ears open!
I talk about the value of some of the stuff I found for FREE in this video here. You'll also get to see a bit of a walkthrough on a 120 year old building that was being partially gutted to make way for some new framing and joist work.
Whether its your tiny home, cottage, cabin, garage, shed, or workshop, at some point, you're going to be dealing with mice, especially if its a place you don't use 24-7. So what is a poor soul to do when these little suckers start chewing things to pieces and leaving their, well, you know, everywhere? Here's one idea that can work in both a "kill 'em" way (some call it "The Wheel Of Doom"), and that can also work in a humane catch and release fashion for pest control, as I explain in this video.
"How to build a better (and free) mouse trap with household junk"
Few really know just how well one can do collecting roadside items for resale. Often times people don't know exactly what they once had and are in hurry to part with it for a variety of reasons (time, space, a death in the family, moving, divorce, etc). Even more frequently, these very items don't even need repainting and repair. I could tell your stories of the HUGE scores I've landed until both you and I are blue in the face- but we'll save that for another time.
I also run ANOTHER YouTube channel where I chronicle some of those finds (and report what they sell for via Facebook marketplace, yard sales, of flea markets). Check it here- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3ePK6dw_7L5dlmkGZ5vVnw
Speaking of which, in further luck, we recently had a chance to pick through an abandoned 1850s house that was soon to be fully demolished- the house AND everything in it. Yes, we had permission to take anything we wanted as it was all destined for the dump. The owners had recently hosted an estate sale, but there were so many items in this hoarder house that it really didn't make a dent- and that is where we came in- cue to video.....
Basically, here is proof that there are outside-the-mainstream ways to make a living- MANY of them. It just takes a little know-how, and a little elbow grease (and maybe a dust mask or two).
We've featured Kate "Tooth" Wentworth in one of our past videos and she's just awesome- she's going the DIY route, taking chances, isn't afraid to try new things, and won't take "no" for an answer. After recently completing her "Transforming A-Frame Cabin" build (from my plan sets/design available on this site), the former "Naked And Afraid" star is now well underway on her latest, and biggest, project- building her own permanent off-grid home. Its a project she's mostly tackling by herself (and with a few friends), and with a very limited outlay of cash. Located up in Passadumkeag, Maine, Kate has been working hard on this latest endeavor, while also recently turning her A-frame into a successful Airbnb glamping rental on her large parcel of private land. This video will give you a little more of a look as to what she's been up to- and what her future plans hold.
Be sure to support her current life of self-sufficiency in the woods by possibly picking up something from her Etsy store too! https://www.etsy.com/shop/WilderBabeCreations?ref=search_shop_redirect
From time to time I might start to feature tiny houses on my channel- ones that others are listing for sale. Aside from randomly helping out whatever owners with the sale, it also gives us all a chance to look through theses small cottages, cabins, and tiny homes on wheels to judge whether or not the asking price is reasonable. Furthermore it also gives us all an opportunity to pick through a home and to "take or leave" some of the spatial arrangement ideas and decor elements. Lets face it, everyone like to voyeuristically paw through the homes of others- its why "open houses" are often attended by those that have absolutely no intent of buying. This version, I suppose, during these trying times, is Covid safe too....
You HAVE to check this one out. It was designed by Amanda Wolters and built by The Small Dwelling Company ( http://www.smalldwelling.com ) based out of Weathersford, TX. I'm pretty darn impressed (and having seen so many tiny houses over my 10+ year span in the field, I don't impress easily).
Again, yes, its for sale with an asking price of $99k- IF interested you can DM Amanda through instagram at @ladybirdthetinyhouse
LADYBIRD THE TINY HOUSE Specs:
38 by 10 Trailermade trailer/tiny home base, built specifically for tiny home use
3 inch spray foam insulation in all walls, floors, ceiling, and in floor between bedroom and bathroom
Reverse Osmosis drinking water system
4 stage whole house water filtration system plus uv sanitizer (sufficient water pressure required, bypass installed for lower water pressure situations)
High efficiency propane on demand water heater
LG WiFi enabled mini split HVAC system with tankless dehumidifier, remote, and smart phone control capability
Exterior “control center” closet for easy access to water heater, electrical panel, water filtration system
Dickinson Marine Newport P9000 Propane Fireplace
Metal Roof (portion of roof built to accommodate future rooftop patio deck)
Double pane energy efficient casement awning windows through out
Egress skylight over sleeping area
Quartz countertops throughout kitchen, bathroom and living area
Authentic tongue and groove shiplap throughout
Herringbone luxury plank floor throughout
Extensive custom storage throughout
Sho Sugi Ban exterior wood accents
100 amp hardwire electrical service, can be converted to 50 amp plug in service by buyer
Designer lighting throughout with led bulbs and multiple dimmers
Rugs included, coffee table included
Custom window coverings throughout
Wired for satellite internet, currently connected through Nextlink
*Art and personal items are not included in the sale
Bathroom:
Dual flush water saving residential toilet
Full size jetted tub
Multi head luxury shower
Built in towel warmer
Separate WC with sliding door
Humidity sensing automatic bathroom vent
Hidden pop up outlets with usb charging connections (bathroom and kitchen)
Kitchen/Dining:
6 seat built in dining banquette with under seat storage and drawers
Hidden built-in vanity with lighted mirror, makeup storage, and electrical outlets
Hidden desk storage
LG Ventless 4.3 Cu. Ft. Capacity Steam Washer/Dryer Combination with TurboWash, TrueBalance Anti-Vibration System, NeveRust Stainless Steel Drum, Allergiene Cycle
Big Chill brand 10.7 cubic foot designer vintage inspired refrigerator with built in ice maker
EdgeStar 6 Place Setting Energy Star Rated Dishwasher
Samsung 5 burner LP gas 30 in. 5.8 cu. ft. Gas Range with Self-Cleaning and Fan Convection Oven in Stainless Steel
Commercial grade outside vented vent hood with metal filter system
Living Area:
Built in 10 foot wide three sided sectional with custom upholstery, tandem pull out sleeping spaces, integrated electrical and usb plugs, and built in storage under all seating.
100 inch motorized drop down projection screen with projector, bluetooth sound capability, amazon fire tv connected
Flat screen smart tvs in living and bedroom
Alexa capable surround sound system with subwoofer
Bedroom
Custom nightstands with built in lighting
470 point fiber optic star ceiling with remote and color change options
Will accommodate king size foam mattress
