Helpful Yard Sale Tips

Yard sales are one of my favorite summer activities. With as little as twenty bucks, a full tank of gas, and the blessing of decent weather, it is easy to return home with a car load of treasures before the clock strikes noon.

I've bought everything from furniture and house wares to clothing and knick knacks and at much cheaper prices than offered by the local discount stores. Because of my fondness for sifting through other people's junk, and because I am a veteran junk seller, I have comprised a list of helpful hints for making a yard sale enjoyable for everyone.

Tip One: Advertise! Many newspapers offer a yard sale package. They will run an ad for your sale in a special yard sale section. Hard core shoppers read these sections weekly and plan out the best routes for maximum shopping potential. Post arrowed signs in and leading up to your yard. People are more likely to enter an unknown neighborhood if there are easy to read signs to follow.

Tip Two: Good Weather! No one wants to be outdoors when it is too hot or too cold, so plan accordingly. Ask yourself if you can handle sitting outside for six solid hours. If you can, then chances are, the weather is good enough for a sale.

Tip Three: More! Sometimes less isn't more. Invite friends to participate in your sale. More people means more merchandise, and more merchandise displayed in your lawn increases the odds that people will stop to shop. It's also a good idea to plan a neighborhood wide sale. Some places have even set up annual mile long sales along main thoroughfares.

Tip Four: Display! If you have a few specific items that you think might generate some interest, put them in places that are easily seen from the road. Many of us are guilty of doing the yard sale drive by. If we don't immediately see something we need or want, many of us will keep going to our next yard sale destination. Furniture, electronics, and baby/toddler clothes and toys are well sought after items.

Tip Five: Preparation! It can be helpful to set up the night before. My last yard sale was supposed to start at seven. My friend arrived at six, and we began to set up the tables and lay out our stuff. By half past six, we'd already had several customers. I made half of my money before the sale was supposed to start. If I had set my junk up the night before, I might have sold even more.

Tip Six: Pricing! When tagging your merchandise, use easy to remove tags. Masking tape works perfectly. Also, it is important to remember that the prices shouldn't be set in stone. People like to make deals, so while it is a good idea to have a price in mind, you don't have to stick with it.