Yard Sales: Tips for a Successful Yard Sale

Yard sales are a great way to make some extra cash. Everyone has something laying around the house that they've either grown out of, don't use anymore or just don't want. By having a garage or yard sale, you are able to finally get rid of it and make some money in the process.

Even though summer is nearing its end, there are still a few weekends left to hold your own yard sale. As long as the weather holds out, knowing that it'll be an entire year before yard sales start up again, regular yard salers are anxious to get in those last great bargains of the season.

Here are some tips for having a successful yard sale:

1) Be sure that your items are clean, whether you're trying to sell children's toys, appliances, furniture or clothing. Most people will by-pass items that seem particularly dirty. No one wants to take unclean items into their own homes. So take the time to give your items a good washing or cleaning before putting on your price stickers. This might also help you to get better prices if they look clean and near-new.

2) Be flexible on your asking price. Sometimes it's better to haggle, taking even less than you hoped to receive, rather than bring that item back into your home, making nothing. To get even a small amount is better than having it continue to take up space in your home if you have no use for it anymore. Consider, if you sell all your items at drastically reduced prices, it's better than selling only a few items at a higher price.

3) Promote your nicer items. Most yard salers are looking for particular items, usually household furniture or appliances. Place these items up front, where they can be seen from the street as potential customers drive by. Larger, household items are easier seen from the street and If they see something they like, they will most likely stop to take a closer look. This also makes it easier for them to carry the larger items to their vehicles after purchase. Once they view these items, they'll notice your other items, as they come by to question you about prices, possibly purchasing even more.

4) Hang clothes on a rack or line, if at all possible. It is easier for your customers to glance through a rack of neatly hung clothes than it is for them to rummage through clothing that is scattered in boxes or disheveled on the tables.

5) Place items according to their purpose. Put all books on a table of their own. Place household appliances on a separate table, and so on. This way, if someone is interested in a particular kind of item, they can stop at a certain table to view the items, not being in the way of other potential shoppers. They feel more leisurely to shop when things are in a more organized fashion.

6) Place your tables at a good distance from each other. Create aisles if room in your yard permits. This allows customers easy movement when walking around the tables to view your items, especially if you have droves of people stopping by at the same time (and this often happens with yard sales). In this way too, things will not fall off the tables and possibly get broken. Also, place items at a good viewing level. Most people often don't want to bend down to look through things placed on the ground.

7) If at all possible, be sure to have a source of electricity nearby. If you are trying to sell electrical appliances or electronic equipment, such as radios or TV's, customers want to know if they work. If you are able to plug them in, they can see for themselves that they do in fact function as they're suppose to.

8) Move your items around periodically. Give your better items a chance at "center stage".

9) Have a good variety of items, some appliances, some clothing, some toys, some household articles, etc. Holding a yard sale with neighbors or other family members, give potential customers a greater variety of items to choose from, as every customer is most likely in the market for something different, helping to make you even more cash.

10) Lastly, for your own safety, keep large earnings out of public sight. While holding a yard sale, you do need a "float" (money to make change with), but try to keep this at a minimum amount. Take larger earnings into the house for safe-keeping. Unfortunately, even yard sales can be a target for thieves, knowing that where there is a yard sale, money is nearby.