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How to have a successful yard sale.

Member
By Natalie England
User-Submitted Article
(3 Ratings)
have a successful yard sale.
have a successful yard sale.

When you have a yard sale it should not only be about making a little money. When you have a yard sale your goal should be to get rid of the extra clutter in your home.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Internet access for your Craigslist Ad.
  • Stuff you don't need
  • Money for your newspaper ad.
  • Posters and markers.
  1. Step 1
    Get rid of unworn clothes.
     
    Get rid of unworn clothes.

    Go through your clothes and get rid of any clothes you haven't worn in two years. If you haven't worn them yet, you probably won't. Get rid of any clothes that don't fit.

  2. Step 2
    Purses are a hot ticket item.
     
    Purses are a hot ticket item.

    Go through your shoes, purses, and coats. You don't need ten black purses. Name brand purses sell well also.

  3. Step 3
    Get clutter out of your garage.
     
    Get clutter out of your garage.

    Go through garage and clear out any unused items. If you have a bike you haven't been on in ten years, it is time to say goodbye.

  4. Step 4
    Get rid of unused furniture.
     
    Get rid of unused furniture.

    Go through your house and get rid of any furniture that is just not used or cluttering up your house.

  5. Step 5
    Get rid of toys and other items that no longer fit your kids.
     
    Get rid of toys and other items that no longer fit your kids.

    Get rid of age inappropriate items such as toys your kids have outgrown. You should also ditch that bike carrier if your kids are too heavy to ride in it now.

  6. Step 6
    Save money by ditching that storage area.
     
    Save money by ditching that storage area.

    If you have a storage area, you have too much stuff. Go through it and donate it, put it in a yard sale, throw it away, or put it in your house.

  7. Step 7
    Neighborhood wide yard sales attract customers and save you money on the newspaper ad.
     
    Neighborhood wide yard sales attract customers and save you money on the newspaper ad.

    Talk to your neighbors about having a neighborhood wide yard sale. You can have them pool money for the newspaper ad as well as draw in more customers.

  8. Step 8
    Get a newspaper ad.
     
    Get a newspaper ad.

    Collect money from any neighbors that are interested in doing a yard sale and go put in your newspaper ad.

  9. Step 9
    Put an ad in Craigslist.
     
    Put an ad in Craigslist.

    Put a free ad in your local Craigslist. If you don't have a computer, borrow the local library's computer or a friend/relative may let you use theirs.

  10. Step 10
    Price items appropriately.
     
    Price items appropriately.

    Price your items the night before. If you need to, go to another yard sale to see what others price their items for.

  11. Step 11
    People driving by may come to your yard sale.
     
    People driving by may come to your yard sale.

    Make some yard sale poster. Place them where people driving by can see.

  12. Step 12
    Set up your yardsale with big ticket items out in front.
     
    Set up your yardsale with big ticket items out in front.

    Set up your yard sale an hour before it should begin. Put big ticket items like furniture out in the front to attract customers.

  13. Step 13
    Keep the junk out.
     
    Keep the junk out.

    Arrange for a charity to come pick up your unsold items at the end of the yard sale. The last thing you want is to bring everything back in to add more clutter. If you need to, bring it to the charity yourself.

Tips & Warnings
  • Keep a careful eye out for anyone stealing your items. You'd be amazed how much this happens at a simple yardsale.
  • Check out your local laws to see how many yard sales you can have per year and be sure to not go over that.
  • Check with local laws to find out where and how you post flyers/posters for your yard sale.

Comments  

edieness said

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on 5/3/2009 Great article. Great pics. Well written.

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on 7/27/2008 Outstanding tips! Well written and thorough article, 5 stars!

showpup said

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on 7/22/2008 I wish I could have a yard sale! I live too far out in the boonies but I love your article. I'm a big fan of shopping at yard sales. I never thought to check craigslist for listings! Thanks for the tip. 5 stars.

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