Image credit: Getty/Alexey_Fedoren
Car boot sales are a great way of clearing out clutter and making some money.
You'll find sales the length and breadth of the UK, packed with bargain hunters, antiques collectors and browsers.
It's easy to spend money at these popular events, but if you want to maximise your earnings how do you ensure you get the best prices and don't return home with a full car?
We've got 10 tips on what to do and mistakes to avoid if you want to make money at a car boot sale.
Popular items at a car boot sale include clothes, accessories, children’s toys, baby goods, shoes, furniture, ornaments, photo frames, jewellery and books.
Keep an eye out for flyers and posters dotted around your neighbourhood advertising upcoming boot fairs in your area, or visit Car Boot Junction to find the closest ones to you.
First, go as an observer and see where the best pitches are located - which areas are busiest? Often these are close to the entrance or food stalls.
Look on selling sites such as eBay, Preloved and Vinted before the sale day to get an idea of approximately how much the things you want to sell are worth second hand. Based on that then decide the lowest price you would accept, so you aren't pressured into selling something for much less than you are happy with.
Put your items in boxes, so you can quickly load your car in the morning. Take a folding table and old sheets or tablecloths to present your goods. A waterproof groundsheet is a good ideas as you can put it in front of your table to present larger items. Make sure you have plenty of loose change and plastic bags for people to carry their newly purchased items away.
If you have a lightweight gazebo for the garden, you might want to pop it in the car if the weather looks dodgy; not only will it keep your possessions dry, it will lure over people who also want to avoid getting wet.
Consider taking a flask of tea and a breakfast sandwich. If your stall is busy, you might not have time to grab anything; plus you don't want to fritter your hard-earned cash on lukewarm tea and a bacon bap from a burger van if you can avoid it.
Make sure you have a cash float with you as buyers will be paying in cash and you may lose a sale if you don't have any change.
If you are plan to sell at a car boot regularly it's worth looking at a card reader, try Zettle by Paypal. But check costs and whether there is internet signal at the site.
A successful boot can mean a very early start at the most popular, sometimes as early as 5am, to ensure you arrive before the publicised opening time.
You ideally want to be one of the first in the queue in order to choose your high-traffic pitch; if it's wet weather first check that the boot fair is still running (most will have a page on Facebook or a website). If it's been raining but the boot fair is on, look for the driest areas.
And bear in mind that as with all seasonal sales, serious buyers arrive early.
An extra pair of hands can be useful if you experience a sudden rush of visitors to your stall' when you need a break or to keep an eye on your goods if you're busy with a customer.
And if maths isn't your strong point, find a friend who can add up and take away without breaking a sweat, so you don't have to fumble with a calculator.
Having someone to pass the time with will prevent you looking bored and unapproachable - but be careful not to get so engrossed in your conversation that you miss a prospective customer's attempt to make eye contact.
Not pricing everything up can save time, and people may pay more than you expect for an item, especially if it's something particularly collectible or nostalgic.
If anything has an interesting back story, consider leaving a price off, as you might be more likely to make the sale if you build up a rapport with the buyer.
However, if you organise a bargain bin or rail with a label declaring 'Everything 50p', that could attract people of a shyer nature, who would rather not chat as they browse.
Eye-catching signs often work: BOGOF (Buy One, Get One Free) or you might like to try a couple of more creative ones like 'Treasure Trove' for some of your older items (jewellery, ornaments, pictures, etc.)
During summer, organise plants, garden shears, gnomes and parasols in a prominent position.
Place all-year round items such as books in a 'Great Reads' box.
If you're selling clothes, use a clothes rail, perhaps organised in sizes, or divided into men's, women's and children's clothes.
Periodically view your stall from the front as a customer would - what would appeal to YOU if you were passing by?
Be polite and upbeat, and show interest in the customer; this has a huge effect on sales.
Be confident in your approach: if you're unhappy with an offer, politely say no and tell them why you feel it's worth the price you are asking, but be prepared to strike a bargain.
If you want to go home with an empty boot, use your vocal cords to good effect and let customers know of some great tactical combinations, for example; tennis racquet and 10 balls were £15, now £9 for the lot.
Above all, enjoy the fun of being a seller.
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