Tips for a Successful Yard Sale

The more you prepare for a yard sale, the more successful it will be. The key is organization and planning ahead.

The first thing you should do is wander around your house, garage, shed, basement, attic, and barn to take stock. Make notes if you feel it is necessary. Notes may come in handy if you are recruiting helpers, it will help divvy up the work in a more straightforward manner. Look at all your stuff and decide what you want to part with. Try to be objectionable at this point and ask yourself, "When was the last time I actually used that?" Anything that has been sitting around unused or unwanted for at least six months is fair game for selling.

The next step is to pick a date. If you do not have access to a garage or barn you may wish to pick a rain date as well. Shoppers seem to like sunny mornings and be more inclined to come if the weather is favorable. Many people get paid during the first week of the month; this is another factor to consider. Shoppers may be leaner in the pocketbooks at the end of the month.

Make sure after your yard sale date is picked that it is advertised for the correct date you chose. Advertise your sale in the local paper and for added coverage you can put it on Craigslist.org. Our local paper even provides yard sale kits, once you sign up for an ad you are provided with bright orange signs proclaiming "Yard Sale" and space to write the address and date. Craigslist is a totally free listing where you can expand your ad with detailed information and pictures if you wish.

Mention to your friends and neighbors your intention to have a yard sale. Who knows, they may want to throw some items in too. You may attract more customers if it is advertised as a multi-family yard sale. Depending on your location and the proximity of the neighbors, especially if they are not participating, it would be courteous to inform them of your intentions. A well visited yard sale can have the potential of many cars in front of their homes pulling in and out and parking.

The day before the yard sale, put all your stuff out. This way you won't be harried in the morning while people are anxiously waiting to view your soon to be sold belongings. Make sure you place things in the most orderly fashion you can with room to walk around the items if possible.

To increase your potential sales, be willing to open early. Many "early birds" start their yard sale shopping as early as 6:30. If you are not prepared and have a sign out reading "No Early birds" you very well may lose some potentially good sales. Your customers may leave, go elsewhere, and not come back for one reason or another.

Have your items clearly priced but be ready to negotiate, everybody loves a bargain. You will also need to keep plenty of change on hand. And keep in mind if you sell an item you won't have to return it to wherever it came from. And remember, not only are you trying to clean out your stuff, you can make some extra cash here.

And with all that cash from your yard sale you can go out and buy some more stuff!