How to Maximize Profits when You Have a Yard Sale

Holding a yard sale can be a fun way to spend a day and if you have done it properly you will have shifted most of your unwanted items and made some spare cash too. But how can you increase your profits?

Advertise

Start off by deciding when it would be best for you to host a yard sale. Look at local weather reports and try to schedule your yard sale for a time of year that the weather will be fair. Many shoppers are put off by rain and will not venture out of doors if the weather is bad. So unless it will be held undercover in your garage instead of in your yard, pick your day wisely. You cannot expect a big turn out if you have not advertised. So about 10 days or so prior to the event, circulate flyers around town advertising your address, the time the yard sale will take place and feature a few items that will be on sale. This will target potential customers who are looking for your specific items. So rather than simply saying "Clothes and household goods" be more specific. Mention that you have men's, women's and children's clothes. List the various sizes on offer. For household goods mention the toaster, ice cream maker, pots and pans that you want to sell. Don't forget the local newspaper. Place a small advertisement in the paper. This will reach more people. Be sure to mention to family, friends, work colleagues and any other people you know of that you will be holding a yard sale. Ask them to mention it to their friends too. This will help ensure a wider circulation of the upcoming event. You might be pleasantly surprised to see what a large turn out you have.

Prepare

If you have not already done so, prepare all of the items that you plan on selling. Make sure that you will not be getting rid of any of your family members' treasures. So check before you stuff their clothes, toys and trinkets into boxes ready to sell. It may look like junk to you, but to them, it might be their prized possessions. So be courteous and fair. Do not assume the whole house is free to ransack for the yard sale. Sort items into categories and try to keep these all in one spot during your yard sale, so that all toys, clothes and accessories are together and easy to find for customers. Decide what price you are willing to accept and price the items either individually or as a group. It is a good idea to charge slightly higher than you think customers are likely to pay. Let them haggle and you are still likely to make some money.

Day of the yard sale

If your yard sale is due to start at 8:00am try to have everything set up by 7:30am. There are bound to be a few early birds trying to get there before the rush for a bargain. Present customers with a smile and converse with them. Do not take yourself too seriously. If people walk away without always buying, don't give up. Just keep trying and you will find a few serious buyers. Tell customers about unusual items, the history behind them and how long you have had the item. Many buyers are curious about the background of what they are getting. So try to offer some information.

Extras

Try to have refreshments on offer to customers. Make up a pot of tea or coffee and have a selection of homemade cakes available. Charge a small charge for refreshments, but not too high. You may even wish to offer sandwiches. Try to keep it manageable and simple. If laying on a spread seems too much like hard work, just stick with cup cakes and coffee.

Increase one day yard sale to a weekend sale

You may decide to hold your yard sale over both days of the weekend. Perhaps you can offer an incentive, such as reducing prices by 50% on day two or buy- one-get-one-free offers. That may help attract more customers and you may well find your hard to shift items selling much quicker this way. Many customers who come to yard sales are avid bargain hunters and love nothing more than to find a reasonable bargain. This will make you and the customer happy.

Leftover items

It can be a bit annoying at the end of a yard sale when you end up with a lot of items left over. There are several ways to deal with this problem. One way is to deal with the issue shortly before the end of the yard sale by offering a "free" gift to some of your customers who walk off with a purchase. You can also donate some items to a worthwhile charity or take them to a consignment shop. After a specific amount of time, you can check back in and see if you have made any money on the consigned items. You can also give away items to friends and family.

At the end of the yard sale, you will probably be tired and customer weary. You have been sitting outside reading a book and practicing your sales technique, even to people who only wanted to browse without making a purchase. You smiled sweetly and then told them to "have a nice day". Now you can pack up and go back indoors and count your money. You may have made a lot more than you thought you would. Above all, enjoy your yard sale experience!