Tips for a Good Yard Sale
Lisa Brodeur Whether you're planning to move or just want to clear some clutter for cash, here's some good tips to make your garage sale a successful one. 1. Advertise Put an ad in the paper a few days before your sale. Post it on Craigslist and on local used sites. Mention a few of the highlights of the sale - used books, children's clothing, tools. Put signs up the day before. Make sure your sign is legible, eye-catching, clear and not illegal. In some areas, signage is governed by local by-laws, so make sure that you're not violating them. 2. Organize unwanted items As you de-clutter your house, make sure that you're not just throwing unwanted items in a big homogenous pile. Separate toys from tools and try to keep clothes in a reasonable order. Yard sales do best when you're presenting items in an organized format. 3. Price each item People don't like to have to ask the price on every item. Take some time with easy-off stickers or labels and take the time to price. For small, cheap items, you can label a box with "1.00 each" or whatever price you want to affix. If you are selling upscale items, you might go into the boutiques specializing in second hand, high quality items to see what the prices are on them. Many people are eager to buy gently used quality items - yard saling attracts people from all walks of life and many will be happy to pay what you're asking for items of worth. 4. Buy or borrow tables and shelves People generally don't like to bend over to look at small items on blankets. A table makes it easier for people to stop and examine items they are interested in. Ask around if your friends have any folding tables that they could loan you for the day. It's a good idea to hang signs on the tables stating that they are not for sale if they are only for display. 5. Set up as much as you can well before the event Organize your things into easy-to-transport boxes for carryout the next morning. Place tables where you can transport them easily - they'll be going out first. If you aren't too concerned about people stealing things from the yard, you could even set up the night before. Place a covering over the tables to prevent things from getting damp. 6. Organize items on tables and shelves This is why you organized as you de-cluttered. A well-laid out sale encourages people to browse instead of giving up after searching through two boxes of things. Place similar items close to each other and don't forget to place items that can be used together in the same place. For instance, placing a tennis ball or two next to (or as part of a set) tennis rackets will encourage people to buy. 7. Go to the bank Get at least $50 worth of small bills and change. $100 is better. Since the smallest denomination ATMs dispense are $20s, plan accordingly. Most people will be asking you for some change from their purchase. 8. Decide what you want to do about earlybirds Many early birds are happy to hang around for a few minutes before a sale starts, but there are some who will arrive at a home at 6 AM for a 10 AM sale. If you're okay with this, that's fine. If not, post signs that say "No earlybirds" or "Earlybirds pay 3x the price" depending on how you want to deal with them. You are not obligated to start a yard sale sooner for the sake of someone who has chosen to ignore your posted times. 9. Keep your money secure It's a sad fact that some people will steal. Keep an eye on your customers and keep your money where it is supervised at all times. It helps to have two people managing the sale so that one can help customers and the other can manage the cash box. 10. Don't be afraid to bargain If you're getting rid of it anyway and don't want to spend time advertising it on E-bay, consider lower offers. Don't feel compelled to accept a lowball offer if you don't want to, but sometimes the relief of getting rid of stuff makes up for less cash. If you really think that something might sell, take the bargainer's name and number and tell them you'll call if the item doesn't sell by the end of the day. 11. Don't let the stuff back into the house. End the sale early enough to bundle all the unsold items to the local recycling center/thrift store/charity. If you bring them inside, they will probably sit there and add more clutter to your life. Get rid of it! About the Author
For quality information about Miami real estate, visit AllianceRealtyFlorida.com. Lisa Brodeur is a certified Realtor offering a wider range of professional services in the South Florida real estate market. Lisa Brodeur may be contacted at http://www.alliancerealtyflorida.com. Click here to view more articles by Lisa Brodeur. Reprinted with Permission from IdeaMarketers.com
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