Successful yard sale
July 2011
Sale away your stuff!
10 tips for a successful yard sale
by Ann Kelley
I’ve always said that there is at least one good thing about a move: it motivates us to get rid of the STUFF that we’ve accumulated and don’t need.
The year that I moved my family from one home to another in the same city, I kept asking as I unpacked, “Why did I move this?” I ended up having a yard sale at the new home and it turned into a great strategy for meeting the neighbors. Who knew?
Whether you’re moving, need to reduce the clutter factor in your home, or need some extra cash, having a yard sale is the answer.
Here are my top 10 tips for making it a success.
1. Make signs from neon colored poster board. Use only one color for all of your signs so that shoppers know they’re yours as they follow them. Write “Sale” and a large arrow in large letters and bold black ink. Any other details are unnecessary and hard to read from a moving car. The morning of the sale, start by placing the signs closest to your house and then work your way out farther. At the end of the sale, work in the opposite direction to remove the signs: from farthest point to closest.
2. Don’t worry if your items aren’t priced individually before the sale. If it’s reasonably organized and you can come up with a price quickly when asked, you’ll be fine. Assuming you’re not swamped with people, you can price any items throughout the morning of the sale (especially large items).
3. About pricing. Remember… this is a yard sale. No one wants to know how much you paid for it originally. Bite the bullet and be ok with the fact that you’re going to sell it for A LOT less. Shoppers are looking for bargains and if you’re firm on your price and the price is too high you have to ask yourself, do I really want to take it back in the garage? Be willing to haggle over prices.
4. Have plenty of small bills and change. Lots of shoppers get spending money from an ATM, so you’re apt to get a lot of $20 bills. Keep the money in a fanny pack, apron pocket, or in a locked strong box. The ugly truth is that theft happens, so keep the money pot with you at all times. Better yet, have a helper who can stay with the money when you can’t.
5. Get the kids involved by encouraging them to purchase cans of soda or bottled water to keep in a cooler and sell at a profit. If they’re really ambitious, they may want to sell their own baked goods to make money.
6. Put furniture and home décor sale items together to create an appealing vignette. Example: on an area rug place a chair and table. On top of the table place a tablecloth, silk plant, lamp, and frame. Be sure to use items that are for sale!:)
7. Keep CDs and candles out of the direct, hot sun. Yes, they can melt.
8. Don’t make people rummage through a box of clothes. They are much less likely to sell like that. Organize clothing by gender and size and hang as many as you can. The rest you can neatly fold.
9. Even when you’ve sold a large furniture item that will be picked up later, keep it out and easily visible. Put a small sold notice on it, but use it to attract more shoppers who are driving by.
10. Donate any unsold items to a local charity that will pick up at your home.
Above all, enjoy the process, be friendly, and find pleasure in having less STUFF!
