Spring is a perfect time for yard sales. The weather is pleasant, people are looking for activities and your spring cleaning has identified a lot of stuff to get rid of. One man's trash is another man's treasure! So get ready to turn unwanted items into cash with these tips.
1. Schedule your sale far enough ahead to give you time for all your preparations, including getting any required permits.
2. Plan your sale for a non-holiday weekend (some people recommend Fridays) and check the long-range forecast for good weather. (Have a rainy day plan, too.)
3. Use no-cost advertising, such as online listings or community newspapers that publish free classifieds. Make sure your signs are big enough to be seen from several car lengths away. (www.yardies.com lists garage sales for free.)
4. A few weeks ahead, get family members to fill a box (or two) with things they want to sell You can let the kids keep the proceeds from their items if they show up to help.
5. Let your neighbors know at least a week before your sale. They may even contribute.
6. Make sure there's plenty of parking. Move your cars down the street.
7. Set and post a firm starting time and stick to it. Otherwise, the early birds will descend like vultures before you're ready, throwing your plans into chaos. Note: Serious buyers are out at the crack of dawn.
8. If you think you'll get a large crowd, get friends and family to help.
9. Make your wares attractive by cleaning and polishing anything that looks dingy. Don't put out junk, like old broken appliances or tattered clothing. Have an electrical outlet or heavy extension cord for people to test electrical items, but don't stretch electric cords across walkways.
10. Price things realistically and be flexible for other offers. Leave yourself haggle room. Your goal is to get rid of the stuff.
11. Write the price on tape or stickers with a permanent marker. "$1 or less" and "$5 or less" tables or boxes can save you time and attract shoppers.
12. Organize your items. You'll sell more if buyers can easily see just what's available.
13. Hang clothing on racks, rather than jumbled on tables or in boxes. Sort by size and don't over-fill the rods. If you can, have a changing area and mirror.
14. Something attractive and big near the curb will entice passing cars, like children's play sets or attractive furniture.
15. Display your merchandise on folding tables, not on the ground. Plywood and sawhorses make a good alternative, if they're stable enough. Display any small valuables on the cash table. Don't put sharp knives or tools in boxes with other items.
16. Put some toddler and infant toys on a rug or heavy blanket on the lawn. Parents will park their kids there and the kids will want to take home what they've been playing with.
17. Keep your spirits high and have fun. Encourage haggling. Make it fun to buy your stuff!
18. Your cash table should be near the entrance to your sale. Have plenty of small bills and coins in a cash box (or a purse if you anticipate moving around a lot). Pencils and pens, bags (saved during the weeks before), boxes, newspapers (for wrapping fragile items), a calculator, and a tape measure should be on or at your table.
19. Keep anything that's not for sale out of the sale area, preferably behind closed doors. Never accept personal checks. Keep your house locked.
20. Recognize when to call it a day. When traffic falls off, slash prices. When you reach your set time limit, donate your leftovers to charity for the tax deduction. Many provide pick-up service.
Happy Haggling!
Read more at How to Plan a Yard or Garage Sale | eHow.com
