Throw a Successful Yard Sale

Stephanie Modkins
Want to throw a successful yard sale? Take into account a few factors that ruin most people's attempts. Navigate them well and get the cash you need in a few hours.

1. Check the weather.

Plan your yard sale around the sun. People are more likely to stroll around the neighborhood, take a drive and stop at a friend's house when the weather is pleasant. So select a day that is warm, not hot to have your event.

2. Organize your goods.
Don't toss your goods onto a table without any order. Throw a successful yard sale by organizing your items by category with enough space for people to browse. For example, books, clothing, and kitchenware should all be separated from each other.

3. Price items appropriately.

Be realistic when putting prices on the items you are selling. Squelch old sentiments and think about how much a used chair with a few nicks would really go for in a discount store. On the contrary, stick to your guns with "true" antiques and rare items. You don't want to undercut your self by making quick deals just to appease a buyer.

4. Market your yard sale well.
Even if you do the prior three suggestions, you won't throw a successful yard sale without good marketing. Let your community know what you're doing using three methods: signs, Twitter and e-Bay. Notify locals and friends by setting up signs around the area and tweeting about your event. Then, put special, high priced or rare items on e-Bay for buyers who can't actually come to your home.

5. Enlist adequate help.

Enlist enough people to help you at your yard sale for ease of business. You need a cashier and a couple of sales reps. With adequate help, visitors can haggle prices and purchase items without waiting too long or searching for someone. You can also keep your eye out on people who might just show up to pilfer a few knick-knacks when nobody is looking.

6. Offer crowd pleasers.
Throw a successful yard sale by offering a few crowd pleasers. These are attractions that pull people in like free food, big deals or free giveaways. When you market your event be sure to let people know about them and how long they will last.

These six tips will help you in your next yard sale. You will sell more goods and make more money.

Published by Stephanie Modkins

Stephanie M. is a freelance writer who lives in the northwest. Her main goal is to write in a way that entertains, educates or uplifts readers.  View profile

1 Comments

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  • Matthew Austin8/15/2010

    Great advice! Just to add, build awesome signs and they will come. I have seen people shy away from really amazing yard sales because the signs were scribbled on a piece of torn cardboard. On the other hand, I was able to draw an entire community of people to my yard sale using two very nice signs. Make them from poster board and laminate them. It's worth the extra time. Thanks, Matt.

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