The blue skies are clear and the weather is pleasantly warm, garage sale season has returned! I love to spring clean and purge old merchandise while making some cash on the side. I thought I'd share some top tips for hosting a successful yard sale that I've learned over the years so you could have a nice purge, too!
1. Gather Your Merchandise Ahead of Time
Go from room-to-room with a box in hand and fill it up with items you're tired of looking at. If your home hosts the average thrifter's excess, you should fill several boxes in no time!
2. Make Sure you Have Enough to Sell
Yard sales are more successful when you have plenty of "merchandise". If you only a few items, consider selling individual items on PennysaverUSA.com or Craigslist.
3. Plan and Advertise Ahead of Time
Advertise your sale on Craigslist and/or PennySaverUSA’s Garage Sale classifieds three days to one week ahead of time. Be as descriptive as possible, listing individual items you'll be selling at the sale. Try posting on community boards and local publications as well.
4. Signs, Signs, Signs: Make Your Sale Easy to Find
Post plenty of clear, legible signs to help people find your sale. Include the date and arrows to guide potential customers to your sale. Try neon poster board to grab their attention, or be thrifty and creative by using whatever you have around the house.
5. Have Plenty of Change Ready to Go
You want at least $100 dollars in change organized and ready to go before the sale. Make sure you have plenty of ones, fives, and rolls of quarters.
6. Write a Check List of Supplies You’ll Need
inventory list , a box or apron to keep your cash organized, tables to set up wares and chairs to sit on, and materials for your signs at the least.
7. Don't Host More Than One Sale Per Month
Yard sales are exhausting; you won't have energy to host more than one per month. You don't want people to get tired of seeing the same wares week after week, either. I think seasonal garage sales work best.
8. Have Your Wares Locked and Loaded the Night Before
Have your tables, chairs, and supplies near the door and ready to go first thing in the morning. You'll be grateful you prepped in advance. Also, expect people to come at least 30 minutes early to get a head start on scouring your goods!
9. List the Big Juicy Items on PennysaverUSA or Craigslist Individually
Make individual ads for big, juicy items you'll have available at the sale. I did this for old, collectible video game systems that I was selling and it brought a lot of people to the sale. As a plus, I had people e-mailing me for months afterward asking to buy video games!
10. Check the Weather, But Don't Let it Deter You
Sometimes the rain will clear up. If you've put a lot of time and effort into your sale, I'd set up anyway.
PennysaverUSA has an awesome Garage Sale Tips Center with tons of information and videos on hosting your own successful yard sale. You should check it out! I also love The Non-Consumer Advocate's post on running a profitable garage sale.
Got any garage sale hosting tips to share? Spill in the comments!
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