Holding a Yard Sale? Have a Strategy

Have a bunch of stuff you want to turn into cash? Putting them up for sale can free up much needed space in the house and earn you valuable money. Before setting up that table and spreading out your merchandise though, make sure to check out some practical tips so you can enjoy a hassle-free sale.

Prepare Your Items

Make an inventory of items for sale to help you keep track of everything. Inspect each item for tears, cracks, or other damage and price them accordingly. Place price tags on each item or group of items to avoid confusion, especially when traffic builds up. Make sure the price tags tally with your list.

Know the Rules

Find out about the requirements and restrictions of holding a yard sale and secure the proper permits from the Town Hall. Make sure you follow the regulations regarding how many times you can hold a sale within a year, types of signs you are allowed to use, as well as restricted locations to put them up.

Give Clear Directions

Put up clear, readable signs directing buyers to your address. Use bold, dark letters and write or print your signs legibly. Using one color for your signs help buyers to follow them easily down the road. It also allows people to distinguish your signs, especially if there are other signs posted alongside them. Drawing arrows or having arrow-shaped signs also helps visually direct buyers to your yard, particularly if your address is a bit difficult to find.

Spread the Word!

Create ads and post them at your local grocery, church or community center bulletin boards to inform and entice the neighborhood. Advertise in every available venue including local papers or websites like Patch to help you spread the word. Patch allows you to send in pictures of your merchandise for posting, to give buyers a preview of your sale and help them find what they need. (Simply email the photos to the author.)

Presentation is Key

Think like a store merchandiser even if it’s just a yard sale. Display some relatively new, more attractive items up front to draw customers. Then place the bulk of those kinds of items down the back end, so people pass by the older, less appealing stuff first before getting to them. Set up a specific area for checkout and arrange smaller items like fashion accessories near that area, so people can easily add them to their purchase upon payment. Above all, make sure all items are clean, functioning and easy to find.

Things can be unpredictable especially during your first yard sale. The key is to make sure you accomplish everything else that is predictable. As for the weather, be sure to register a rain date for backup. On the sale day, be accommodating, engage your customers, make sure that everyone is enjoying the experience, and—have fun!