How to Hold a Great Yard Sale
Gather all the unwanted stuff together., Check each item closely to make sure a family member will not need it anymore., Create flyers for the yard sale., On the day of he sale, make sure you have signs out so people can find the yard sale easily...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Gather all the unwanted stuff together.
Go through your bedroom, house, attic, basement and garage.
Any garden sheds or other storage areas? Check those too.
Try to find all of the things that nobody at home is using anymore. -
Step 2: Check each item closely to make sure a family member will not need it anymore.
Are the items in good shape?If so, sell them.
If not, trash that item, or try to fix it. , Post them all over your neighborhood.
Check that this is permitted though! Consider also advertising in the paper, online and at the local supermarket or mall bulletin board.
For online advertising:
Post it on Craigslist, Facebook, etc. ,, Make sure the price is reasonable.
If you don't have prices, however, people will take advantage of you.
Don't overprice your items.
Ask other people to help you price correctly.
People will walk away if things are overpriced.
In spite of having prices, expect some people to haggle.
It's part of the tradition––and fun––of yard sales.
If you don't want something to go for a song, don't sell it through a yard sale! Shy, quiet or reticent people like to see prices and can be very uncomfortable if they don't see some indication of a price.
Make things easy for them as much as preparing yourself for the hagglers.
Most people hate to keep asking, "how much for this?" even if they're keen on a bargain.
The moral is, make it really easy for people to see prices, even if you price by table or lot (for example, "All things on this stand are $1). , Use tables, large boxes, or just lay everything on the driveway.
However you set up, make sure:
Have the valuables near you.
If you would be distraught if it walked without an appropriate exchange of value, keep it where you can see it.
Things do walk at sales, so be vigilant and choose what matters to keep secure.
Place heavy items close to transport for removal.
Have all weather covers at hand. , Do not create bottlenecks, lack of space or messy areas.
Think of flow when setting up, making it easier for people to find things.
Organize clothing.
People don't want to go through a ton of clothes looking for one particular size or age group of clothing.
Make use of large grocery boxes to put things in, such as "men's t-shirts"
"girl's dresses" and "size 18 lady's skirts"
etc.
Place freebies away from the actual sale, in clearly marked boxes, at the front of the yard.
This allows people to rummage out of the way of buyers. , Organize this in advance.
There will be someone with a large bill, as there always is! , Be patient.
They might not come for a while.
Sometimes they come in groups, so have people to help you available. , This helps to establish some rapport and reassures people that you're a good egg who has good items to sell. , People don't like pressure, especially not at a yard sale.
After all, they are there for a bargain but don't really need your stuff, so let them be to form their own needs.
They will, don't worry, as bargains always create a sense of need! , Part of a yard sale is talking the seller down.
Be willing to do so.
And enjoy the process, it's all part of the fun; you'll just happen to have a bit of cash out of the end process too! , When you don't have much stuff left and want to stop, take everything inside and count your money.
You just held a great yard sale! -
Step 3: Create flyers for the yard sale.
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Step 4: On the day of he sale
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Step 5: make sure you have signs out so people can find the yard sale easily.
-
Step 6: Set prices for everything.
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Step 7: Set up your yard sale.
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Step 8: Make it so that people are able to access items easily.
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Step 9: Have change.
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Step 10: Wait for customers.
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Step 11: Be friendly.
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Step 12: Don't try to be a salesman.
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Step 13: Negotiate.
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Step 14: Finish up.
Detailed Guide
Go through your bedroom, house, attic, basement and garage.
Any garden sheds or other storage areas? Check those too.
Try to find all of the things that nobody at home is using anymore.
Are the items in good shape?If so, sell them.
If not, trash that item, or try to fix it. , Post them all over your neighborhood.
Check that this is permitted though! Consider also advertising in the paper, online and at the local supermarket or mall bulletin board.
For online advertising:
Post it on Craigslist, Facebook, etc. ,, Make sure the price is reasonable.
If you don't have prices, however, people will take advantage of you.
Don't overprice your items.
Ask other people to help you price correctly.
People will walk away if things are overpriced.
In spite of having prices, expect some people to haggle.
It's part of the tradition––and fun––of yard sales.
If you don't want something to go for a song, don't sell it through a yard sale! Shy, quiet or reticent people like to see prices and can be very uncomfortable if they don't see some indication of a price.
Make things easy for them as much as preparing yourself for the hagglers.
Most people hate to keep asking, "how much for this?" even if they're keen on a bargain.
The moral is, make it really easy for people to see prices, even if you price by table or lot (for example, "All things on this stand are $1). , Use tables, large boxes, or just lay everything on the driveway.
However you set up, make sure:
Have the valuables near you.
If you would be distraught if it walked without an appropriate exchange of value, keep it where you can see it.
Things do walk at sales, so be vigilant and choose what matters to keep secure.
Place heavy items close to transport for removal.
Have all weather covers at hand. , Do not create bottlenecks, lack of space or messy areas.
Think of flow when setting up, making it easier for people to find things.
Organize clothing.
People don't want to go through a ton of clothes looking for one particular size or age group of clothing.
Make use of large grocery boxes to put things in, such as "men's t-shirts"
"girl's dresses" and "size 18 lady's skirts"
etc.
Place freebies away from the actual sale, in clearly marked boxes, at the front of the yard.
This allows people to rummage out of the way of buyers. , Organize this in advance.
There will be someone with a large bill, as there always is! , Be patient.
They might not come for a while.
Sometimes they come in groups, so have people to help you available. , This helps to establish some rapport and reassures people that you're a good egg who has good items to sell. , People don't like pressure, especially not at a yard sale.
After all, they are there for a bargain but don't really need your stuff, so let them be to form their own needs.
They will, don't worry, as bargains always create a sense of need! , Part of a yard sale is talking the seller down.
Be willing to do so.
And enjoy the process, it's all part of the fun; you'll just happen to have a bit of cash out of the end process too! , When you don't have much stuff left and want to stop, take everything inside and count your money.
You just held a great yard sale!
About the Author
Amanda Thomas
Brings years of experience writing about home improvement and related subjects.
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