10 Yard Sale Planning Tips
Having a yard sale is a great way to reorganize your living area, get rid of unused items (junk and clutter), and make a few extra dollars. I love visiting yard sales and will purchase items if the yard sale is organized and the products are clean.
Tips for planning a yard sale:
1. Plan in advance. Separate the saleable items from the broken items that should be thrown away. Do not ponder over the broker items. It will not miraculously fix itself sitting in the corner of the garage in the “hope” pile.
2. Separate items into categories (toys, clothing, household appliances, entertainment/videos, tools, lawn items, etc). By separating items into categories, you will find it easier to inventory and price each for sale.
3. Plan your marketing in advance. Do not wait until Friday evening or Saturday morning to post your yard sale signs. The best sales notices are posted several days in advance. Consider posting all notices on Monday or Tuesday. Adding signs to busy intersections and main entrances to neighborhoods are great. Post classified ads if necessary.
4. Cleaning items. Take the time to clean those items that are soiled using a household cleaner that is safe, and if you are planning to sell any articles of clothing, set aside a day to do the yard sale laundry. Avoid placing clothing on the ground. It is a haven for bacteria.
5. Use folding tables and rails. Folding tables are great for displaying electronics and small items. If you don’t have a rack for hanging large clothing, you can easily create a temporary fixture using a few pieces of PVC pipes and/or peg boards. Large less expensive items should be placed at the front of the driveway/lawn while the smaller/larger and expensive items are kept close by to discourage the five finger discounters.
6. Have ample help available. Never try to manage a yard sale by yourself. A busy yard sale requires additional hands, eyes, and negotiators. If you have any teenagers, assign them to the less expensive items or make them responsible for different sections.
7. Pricing your items. Remember to be reasonable with pricing. It is not necessary to match your prices with the local retail chain. Use color dots to set pricing on different items in each category. Use websites like EBay and Live Deal to get a feel for higher price items including software, computers, printers, appliances, furniture, etc.
8. Baby and Toddler items. Many will say it is not necessary but it is important that you disclose to potential buyers if the item is not in 100% working condition, i.e. missing screws, broken rail, small pieces that can be pulled off easily, etc.
9. Allow buyers the opportunity to test out all electronic items such as computers, stereos, small appliances, etc. If you are selling computers, remove the hard drive after testing and do not include it in the sale unless you have thoroughly removed all content from the hard drive and know for a fact that you have not stored confidential information on the system (banking, credit card, family records, etc).
10. Never keep a large quantity of cash on hand and avoid using a cash box. Yes, robberies can occur at yard sales. You should also keep all doors locked to prevent wonders from entering your home while you are busy working outside. Also let the younger kids know that they are prohibited from using any other entrances or exits during the sale except one that you or another adult will monitor.
Carolyn Nelson, NAR Certified REPA | Carolyn@OnlineREPA.com | www.OnlineREPA.com | Direct: 877.717.4491 | Fax: 866.590.2269