How to Increase Earnings with Pre-yard Sale Events

Hosting yard sales offers strapped householders the opportunity to de-clutter their homes, while also earning some extra cash on the side. Many yard sale sellers concentrate all their energies on the actual day of the yard sale. But did you know that you can significantly increase your overall earnings with pre-yard sale events?

Advertise at Least a Week Ahead of Time

If you are hoping for pre-yard sale shoppers to call or stop by your home, you need to make sure you advertise at least a week ahead of time. This will give bargain hunters a chance to look over your ad, decide what they want and to contact you ahead of time to stop by. Offer specifics such as price, size, colour (if applicable) and any other information you can in the ad so that potential buyers will see for themselves if you have what they want!

Encourage Pre-yard Sale Buyers

Pre-yard sale buyers who like to bag a bargain ahead of time should be encouraged to do so, rather than told to "Wait until Saturday." Why is that? The reason being, if a potential buyer sees an item advertised that they want to buy right now before it is gone, they will not want to wait two weeks and risk losing out to another buyer. Some people also prefer to work on a one-to-one basis with yard sale sellers, not show up at the crack of dawn to compete with dozens of other shoppers.

In the ad, make it clear that you are willing to sell items ahead of time and leave a contact number where you can be reached. I know from personal experience that encouraging pre-sales works. I have used this technique on a number of occasions and have actually been able to make a few hundred dollars just in pre-sales alone.

Include Pictures

If you are advertising your yard sale and pre-yard sale event on Facebook, Craigslist or elsewhere, include clear pictures that will allow people to "window shop" at their leisure. Enclosing several pictures of single items can entice shoppers even more, so if you are selling a bicycle or an armoire, offer close-ups and different angles, along with specifications of each item that you are selling. Also, be willing to send additional pictures to potential buyers.

Pre-yard sale events are often easier to set up than the actual day of the yard sale. Once you advertise the yard sale, make it clear that you are willing to allow pre-yard sale shoppers to stop by. Include pictures and let the buyers come to you! It really is that simple.

More from this contributor:

A Yard Sale Seller's Guide to Good Customer Service.

Tips for a Stress-free Yard Sale.

Tips for Hosting a Successful Yard Sale.