Make Your Yard Sale a Winner
By E. E. Kane
Photo: © Gene Chutka - iStockphoto
 Holding a yard sale is like going into business for a day. It can be fun and wildly successful, or it can be pure drudgery and a waste of time. Don't go to the trouble without reading these tips for a winning yard sale.
Join forces with friends or neighbors. A lot of "stuff" in a sale is always more enticing than sparse offerings. A yard sale requires a lot of energy, lifting, moving, and time for details, so the more helpers you can gather, the better. It's also a lot more fun!
Research rules your neighborhood may have concerning when or how long you can hold a yard sale. Is there an annual neighborhood garage sale you can join? You may also need a permit from the city.
Advertising is important, but the extent depends on your location. The more remote your location, the more advertising you need. |
Make use of newspaper classifieds, online community boards like Craigslist, neighborhood signs, and word of mouth.
Begin collecting weeks before the sale so you have time to make decisions (don't sell grandma's wedding brooch!), and gather supplies like tables, shelves, hangers, bags, and spare change. If you are in doubt about whether something will sell, put it out there. Even broken appliances have value for their parts.
Go into the sale with a "let's make a deal" mindset. You'll sell more if you are willing to bargain, because shoppers love yard sales for that very reason. You can remain firm on items if you like, but if your goal is to get rid of junk there are several ways to do it:
- Designate a charity as the recipient of all or part of the proceeds—people are more willing to buy if they know it's for a good cause.
- Make up bags or boxes of similar items and put one price tag for everything.
- Toward the end of the sale you can lower prices, offer two-for-one deals, or let shoppers fill a bag for $1, $5, or whatever seems to be a fair "bargain" price.
Don't forget the small details, such as providing extension cords to test appliances and making a plan for rain. |
