Tips for Hosting a Yard Sale
A Few Simple Steps for Making Money at a Garage Sale
Organizing a yard sale can be simple work and easy money, not to mention the benefit of all that extra closet room you'll have when it's over!
Everyone has a closet or two of stuff they could part with. It's estimated that the average person has over $1200 in sellable merchandise they no longer need in their home. One of the easiest ways to make a few extra dollars is to host a yard sale.
Location is Extremely Important
You need to be located in an easy to find well populated area. If you're rural, or live in an out of the way cul de sac, consider hosting your sale at a church, or in a parking lot. Speak to a business owner with a nice parking lot, and point out that allowing you to hold your yard sale on their property will draw more people in. Usually, they'll go for it.
If you're in a good neighborhood, and you have neighbors, ask them if they would like to participate. The larger the sale, the bigger the turn out. People will go out of their way and travel the extra mile for a multi family sale.
Advertisement is Key
Make brightly colored posters and put them on utility poles at major intersections near your sale. Be sure to follow up, and place an easy to spot sign every few blocks leading patrons to your front door. Balloons draw attention to signs, and big bold black writing helps. Take out a classified ad in a variety of local publications. Check out local websites and forums pertaining to the area, and post an advertisement. Craig's list is a good site as well as City-Data and similar concepts. Make a flyer and post it in your office, and at church. Word of mouth is the cheapest advertisement, so let everyone you see know about your upcoming sale.
What Items to Sell
Yard sales are a great way to clear out extra junk, but to draw a crowd you need to have some desirable items to showcase. Furniture is always a big draw, desks and couches in particular. Baby equipment and clothing also appeals to young families on a budget. Make sure the items you sell are in good repair, and clean. If something is broken, or missing parts, clearly label it. Always price your items a little bit higher than you would ideally like, but still at a bargain. Expect people to haggle with you, it's half the fun of going to garage sales! Accept reasonable offers, and thank people for visiting.
How to Seal the Deal
When arranging your items for sale, be sure to make them visible from the street. Most people hunting a bargain will drive by first and then decide whether or not they want to come any further. If you have an abundance of one type of item, such as clothing, spread it out between other items so visitors don't assume you're lacking in diversity. For optimum success, have your sale on both Saturday and Sunday. Bargain hunters are notorious early birds, so if you're not prepared to open up shop at five am, specify "no early birds" in your advertisement. Plan to begin somewhere between 5am and 8am and keep the sale going until at least 1pm. Towards the end of the day, be prepared to accept a little less for items. What you don't sell you either have to move back inside, or haul off and throw away. No offer is insulting, and all of them should be considered. If you have children, let them sell sodas and cookies for a buck to give them something to do, and let them experience earning some money.
Hosting a yard sale can be great fun, and profitable. Without a lot of work several hundred dollars and some much needed spring cleaning can be accomplished in an afternoon. For additional suggestions or making revenue quick and easy, look here.
