Successful and profitable yard sales and garage sales employ the same tactics as successful business: planning, preparation, marketing, and profit.
Planning
When thinking about holding a yard sale, it’s most important to decide whether or not there is even enough “junk” to spend time holding a yard sale. Setting dates and times is an important factor for success. Various regions of the U.S. seem to have different unwritten rules. If the neighborhood arranges a yard sale weekend, piggy-backing on that is always a good idea. It draws in traffic and allows the individual to do less marketing.
Preparation
Although it’s not necessary to wash everything that will be for sale, clean items are more likely to go home with people. If items have been sitting around collecting dust for years, it’s not required to clean them completely, but items that at least get a good “brush off” are more likely to fetch a higher price. Clothing items that are hanging are easier to look at than folded items. Cover up any items that are not for sale with old sheets.
Public Relations and Marketing
simply draw arrows in the right direction and people will follow the signs. Then balloons on the mailbox can draw attention directly to the house.
Pricing for Profit
Better to have a price on everything and then offer to make deals with customers. Overpricing can be a danger, so it’s helpful to remember that getting a little something out of an item and sending it away is easier than hauling it off later.
Pricing small items may be a hassle, and spending a bunch of money on supplies such as price stickers can cut into the profits. Masking tape and a permanent marker work well for individual prices. For clothing, dishes, toys, and other items sold en mass it’s fine to post signs. “Sweaters= $1.00, Coats= $2.00,” etc
Purge Afterward
When the sale if over, inevitably there will be remaining items. It may be tempting to go through them and take some things back into the house, but it’s best not to. “Saving” them for the next yard sale is also not a good practice. Instead, pack all of the items into the car and take them over to the local charity, that day! Be willing to accept the money that was made, and let go of the rest of the stuff! Many folks can even take advantage of a tax deduction from the items which were donated, if they itemize on their tax returns
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