10 Tips to Having a Successful Yard, Garage, Tag Sale!

Here are 10 important tips to holding a successful yard, garage, tag sale. From preparation to what to do with leftover sale items.

1. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare...
Start pulling aside all your sale items a month before your planned sale. Many times I have waited until the last minute, and didn't have time to prepare the items I really wanted to sell. Also, make sure to check if you need a permit to have your sale.

2.Keep it Clean!
Make sure to clean and dust all sale items. Everything should look like it has been well taken care of. Polish the furniture, wash the china and glassware, and if time permits rewash any clothing. If you are really ambitious you may want to iron the clothing. The better an item looks the better chances of a sale.

3.How much is it?
All items should be priced and labeled before the sale. Customers may walk away from your sale if they don't see prices, especially if you are busy with other customers. Price reasonably, after all this is a yard/garage/tag sale. Most customers are looking for a bargain. Any antiques should not be sold at this kind of venue. Try eBay or an antique dealer.

4.Advertise!
There are many yard/garage/tag sale advertising websites. Most of these sites are free. Also craigslist and local newspaper advertising sites are a must. If you are willing to put a little money into your advertising, then think about placing an ad in your local papers. This has attracted many customers to my yard sales. Finally, if your town allows, try placing flyers in the surrounding street corners. And, don't forget local business bulletin boards, such as your local supermarket.

5.Multiply!
It's a good idea to speak to your neighbors about your yard sale. Do they want to join in? You will attract more customers if there are multiple yard sales on your block, and you can save advertising costs by splitting amongst all the participants.

6.Organize!
Group like items together, or group by price range. Make sure you display big ticket items at the front. Furniture and Tools are good eye catching items.

7.Necessities:
Have plenty of bags and newspaper to wrap fragile merchandise. Tape can come in handy too. Also, don't forget to stop and get change. Always carry money on you, rather than leave out in a cashbox. A fanny pack or apron works well. You should have an outlet nearby with an extension card, so customers can try any plugged merchandise. And it is a good idea to have working batteries in any battery operated item. If the customer sees that the item works well, the easier the sale.

8.Make a Stand!
At my last yard sale, I had my daughter make lemonade and set up a stand. Even if a customer didn't buy at the sale, they at least purchased a cup of lemonade. Especially easy to do in those hot days of summer. Feel free to sell donuts or other small baked goods. If you are really adventures you can try coffee/tea also.

9.What is More Important?
In the beginning of the sale you need to decide if your focus is to make money or to clean out clutter. Price accordingly. If you mainly want to clean out your house, than price for a quick sale, or at least be willing to go down in price.

10.Leftovers!
What do you do with leftover merchandise? If you are trying to clean out clutter, then the best thing is to donate the unsold items. Since, you get a tax receipt; it is still money in your pocket. Many places will pick up. If you were willing to sell it, then it shouldn't be too hard to donate it. If your goal was to make some needed cash, then you might want to consider placing the better items on EBAY or trying renting a table and selling it at a flea market.

Good Luck!