How to Have a Successful Yard Sale

Every year, I hold a yard sale. Sometimes, I very nearly talk myself out of it, and yet, the allure is just too much for me. Along the way, I have learned what works and what doesn't. Having a yard sale can be a lot of work. However, getting rid of the clutter in your home, and making some cash can make it all worth it. Having a successful yard sale is key to making the most out of the day, and making the most money.

The first thing you should do is check with your town and see what, if any restrictions there are, whether you need a permit, where you can put signs, etc. Luckily, my town has none, and yours may not either, but better to be safe than sorry.

Next, set a date. Then set a back-up date. Several things could happen with your first date. Something could come up, it could rain, you may not even be ready on time. I recommend setting the date at least three weeks away. Choose whether you will have the yard sale just on Saturday, or whether you can do it Friday and Saturday both. Think about times. Most yard sales have run their course by 2PM, sometimes sooner. Also, the earlier you start, the better you will do. Hard core yard-sale customers get up early. I recommend starting by 7 am, and 6:00-6:30 isn't unheard of. Try to have a yard sale around the first or fifteenth of the month, when most people get paid. Do NOT use a holiday weekend, when a lot of people will be travelling or too busy.

See if anyone else wants to have a yard sale with you. Get together a neighborhood yard sale, or just a couple of friends and family. Yard sales advertised at multi-family draw more customers. Even two families are better than one. Be sure if you do this, it is advertised that way. If you have several families in different areas, hold the yard sale at the person's home that has the most traffic going by. Sometimes people don't intend to stop at a yard sale, but will because it is there when they pass by.

Start collecting items to put in your sale. Collect knick knacks, books, clothing, shoes, anything you can think of. Don't include tons of junk. Put items in boxes and bags, pricing them as you go. This saves time later. When you start getting things back out to set up at the yard sale, pricing them all at once will seem like a monumental task. Be sure to wrap glass items if your yard sale is several weeks away. Remember that these items are destined for a YARD SALE. People will expect them fairly cheap, and really don't care if it was given to you by Aunt Joan or Grandma. Sentimental value has no place at a yard sale. You don't have to price items to practically give them away, but try to look at them objectively. Think about how much YOU would pay for it if it was at a yard sale YOU were going to. You can also price up some items a little bit to allow room for negotiation. Whatever you do, be sure prices are clearly marked. I have left several yard sales where things were not priced because I am not interested in asking, "How much is this?" every 2 minutes. Put your initials on tags if other people are going in the yard sale with you. You can put like items in a box and label the box, such as "all books 50 cents". Put batteries in items that need them, or at the very least, have some so people can test items out. Make sure items are clean and in good shape.

Advertise your sale. Put an ad in the paper, posters up on community bulletin boards, wherever you can. Make signs for your yard sale. Make sure the letters are large and easily readable while people are driving by. Bright poster board is great for yard sales. Put your signs up the night before or at least 2 hours before the next morning in places easily visible by traffic. Include arrows if you want. When you put an ad in the paper, clearly set times, and the full street address. Also include a sample of items to be sold, such as baby clothes, furniture, etc. If you will cancel if it rains, say so. You can also say something along the lines of "next weekend if rain".

Make sure there are plenty of tables, and places to hang clothing. Set like items up together. Health and beauty together, dishes together, etc. Make sure it is not cluttered so people can walk around freely. Have a tv tray or small table set up to hold a notebook, the telephone, cash box...whatever else you will need so you don't have to run back and forth to the house. Make sure someone always watches the cash box. Decide whether or not you will take checks and stick to it. Make sure the day before the sale, you have gone to the bank and gotten plenty of change and small bills. Save grocery bags and newspapers. You will need papers to wrap breakables and grocery bags for customers to carry their items home in. You will want to set up your yard sale the night before if at all possible, to avoid having to get up extra early the next morning. I have often set things up on tables in the garage, closed the garage, then just pulled the tables out into the driveway the next morning. Be prepared also for early birds. No matter what time you have advertised, some people will show up early. You can help avoid this by placing "No early birds please" in your ads, but it will still not deter all of them.

Place things most people are interested in closest to the road. People driving by might be enticed to stop. These things could be furniture, lawn mowers, baby items...things people generally look for good deals on. Make the shopping experience good for customers. Don't hover, but be available if there are any questions. Be friendly and say hello as soon as they walk up. Keep animals away. Some people just don't like Rover, no matter how cute he is. Sell cans of soda iced down if it is warm out. Leave plenty of space for them to walk. Make it easy to test items either with batteries or an extension cord. Have a little easy listening music playing in the background. If someone comes and jumbles up things, straighten them back out when they leave. If it is a pleasant experience, they may stay longer, if they stay longer, they will likely buy more, making your yard sale even more successful.

At the end: Consider slashing prices toward the end of your yard sale, but don't advertise it. When people come up the last hour, simply say, "Everything is half price". Decide whether you will save items left over for another sale or take them to the Salvation Army or Goodwill. Be sure to take down your signs. That evening, use some of your hard earned money to treat yourself ot dinner! You deserve it!