How to Host a Successful Yard Sale

Are you looking to make a little bit of extra money? If you are, you may be interested in hosting a yard sale. Below are a few tips to help you get started.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Items to Sell
• Poster Board
• Markers
• Table
• Change (Money)
• Local Newspaper Advertisement

1. Decide What You Want to Sell
   
   At least two weeks before your yard sale, you should start going through your home, your yard, and your garage looking for items to sell. You may want to sell items, like clothes, books, movies, or toys, that you no longer use or want.
2. Price Your Items
   
   Pricing your items ahead of time is important. You can buy yard sale stickers from most dollar stores and office supply stores. Simply write your asking price on the sticker and attach it to the for sale item.
3. Be Reasonable With Your Prices
   
   Speaking of prices, be sure to be reasonable. Although your goal is to make money, you should remember that people go to yard sales expecting to find the best deals. Never charge full retail price for anything, especially if it is used or has been taken out of the box.
4. Place an Advertisement In Your Local Paper
   
   Yard sales are commonly advertised in local newspapers. In fact, that is how most shoppers find them. Pick at least one of your local papers and put a small advertisement in it.
   
   When doing so, be sure to give your address and the time of your yard sale. You may also want to list a short summary of the items that you have, like children toys, plus size clothing, books, or exercise equipment.
5. Make Signs to Hang Around Your Neighborhood
   
   Before making yard sale signs to hang around your neighborhood, first make sure that you are able to do so. Some areas have restrictions on the hanging of signs.
   
   When making your yard sale signs, make sure they are large, clear, and easy to read. Yard sale signs that will be hung on your road or near your house, can just have an arrow, but anything else should have your address listed.
6. Save Shopping Bags and Boxes
   
   In anticipation of your yard sale, you should save any shopping bags that you get. Those with large purchases, often prefer having a shopping bag or at least a box to place their items in.
7. Get Change
   
   Having small bills and change is important when hosting a yard sale. If someone unexpectedly happens by your yard sale, they may not have anything smaller than $20. Your local bank should be able to provide you with enough change for your yard sale.
8. Setup Your Sale
   
   On the day of your yard sale, you will want to get everything setup. When possible, use a table. If you don’t have a table, you can be creative. Drape clothing over lawn chairs. You can also fold clothing on top of a storage bin that is turned upside down. As a last resort, you can place items on blanket on the ground, but this approach is typically advised against.
9. Speak with Negotiators
   
   It is not uncommon for shoppers to negotiate a lower price at a yard sale. It is your decision as to whether or not you want to lower your price, but you may want to give it some thought.
10. Offer a Special Sale or Discount
    
    If after a few hours or on the second day of your yard sale, you see that you still have a lot of stuff left over, consider offering a sale. Post signs stating that your items are now all 50% off or you can run a bag sale. If you have bags, allow shoppers to fill up a bag and charge them a set price for each bag, like $1 or $2.

Tips & Warnings

• Speak to your neighbors, as neighborhood yard sales are often a big draw for shoppers.
• Be sure to keep your cash box in a secure location.