Sellers Quick Yard Sale Tips

Yard Sale Portal
Yard Sale Portal
Friday, June 24, 2005

Read from the Source

• Make sure to make quality and visible signs for your yard sale (garage sale). How many times did you see signs with blue pen writing over brown cardboard pizza box? Your potential customers must be able to read it from a glance.
• Be sure to post an advertisement in your local newspaper. That will draw many potential customers to your yard sale (garage sale).
• Do not forget to remove the signs at the end of the sale.
• Find stuff that you do not want or will never use several weeks before the garage sale. Put it aside. If you didn't use it before the actual sale, you most likely won't need it in future.
• Put on some background music during the yard sale (garage sale). Local radio station would suit the best. Don't play it too loud, or you won't hear your customers.
• Start preparing several days before the actual sale day. Do not procrastinate.
• Don't forget to advertise your yard sale (garage sale) online. You can submit your yard sale or garage sale on our web site. It's FREE!
• Prepare many plastic bags. Be sure that customers will ask you whether "you have something to put this in." Used grocery bags will do just fine.
• Have some drinks and snacks handy in case you get hungry. You don't want to leave your valuable stuff while you are away to drink.
• Go to your local bank and get change. Many customers will pay with $10 and even $20 bills for $1 items.
• Tell the truth to your customers. Otherwise what you say can stain you forever. If you sell something that doesn't work or it's not what you described it was, the rumour will spread and you can only imagine the consequences.
• Test each item that can be tested so that you can honestly answer any questions someone may have about it.
• Consider selling things out of compassion for others. Baby equipment that your kids have grown out of could mean a lot to someone with limited resources.

• If your yard sale (garage sale) is going to be successful, you have to let people know about it.
• Laying out your items for sale in an organized fashion will increase the success of your sale. Group similar items together so that someone looking for a particular type of item will be sure to see everything you have.
• Hang clothing up, if possible. It will catch your customer's eyes from a distance, especially if it is in good condition.
• If you're selling electronic items, have extension cords so customers can see they're in working order. Stock up on grocery bags that customers can use to cart away their purchases. Use old newspapers to wrap any fragile items.
• Advertise your yard sale (garage sale) at least a week before it begins.
• Make sure every item has a price tag that's easily visible and includes the size.
• Try to avoid holiday weekends.
• When setting prices, try to determine what you would pay at a garage sale for the item in question, and start with that.
• Typically, household goods and appliances that are in good, working condition and decent shape will fetch one-fourth to one-third of their original price.
• Make sure clothes are clean. Organize things, putting like items and sizes together.
• Use a fanny pack or apron to collect money and make change. Don't leave money boxes unattended.
• Place small valuables, like jewelry or video games, where you can keep an eye on them.
• Try to have at least two adults on hand throughout the sale. That makes it easier to handle any rushes and helps turn off would-be thieves.
• Have on hand about $50 worth of change and small bills. Keep a calculator on the check-out table, so that you can quickly total customers' purchases.