Is your house overrun with clutter?
Are you unable to enter your garage or attic?
Do you want some extra cash?
Are you planning on moving soon?
If you answered yes to any of the previous questions, you should have a Yard sale! Yard sales are the best way to turn your old stuff into serious money. Whether you are planning your first or your tenth yard sale, read on for some helpful yard sale tips for 2019. Our tricks will help you maximize profits and minimize stress.
Pick a Weekend for Your Yard Sale
More people will attend your sale if it is over a weekend since the average person works during the week. The most popular day to have a yard sale is a Saturday, but if you are able to have your sale on both days of the weekend, you’ll sell more and make some extra money. Pick a weekend a few weeks away, so you have plenty of time to prepare for your sale. In a perfect world, you would have your yard sale on a weekend where the weather is pleasant (not too hot or too cold). The best times of year for yard sales are late spring to early summer and late summer to early fall since the weather is temperate.
Advertise Your Sale
No one will show up to your yard sale if you don’t properly promote it! There are many ways you can publicize your sale: write a newspaper advertisement, promote online, and create yard sale signs. Contact your local newspaper to inquire about running an ad for your yard sale. A small blurb usually only costs about $20. There are many websites that promote yard sales, such as Craigslist, Garage Sale Tracker, Yard Sale Search, and Facebook. Don’t post your advertisement too early, or it will get lost among the other posts. Use a bright poster board (neon is way more visible than white) and a black permanent marker for your yard sale poster. Make a couple of signs and post them around your neighborhood. For all your promotions, make sure to include your address, date (or dates) and time (or times) of sale, and the big-ticket items (furniture, electronics, vintage clothes, kids’ toys, and collectibles).
Get Your Permit
Most towns require yard sales to be permitted. If you don’t have the proper permits, you run the risk of being shut down and fined. Check at your local town hall if you need any permits. They are usually inexpensive (way cheaper than a fine would be).
Arrange Your Supplies
Go over our checklist of supplies you’ll need for your sale. We’ve linked every supply with a suggested product from Amazon, so you can order everything you need from the comfort of your home.
- Price Stickers
- Fine-Point Marker
- Money Box
- Folding Table
- Folding Chairs
- Garment Rack
- Shopping Bags
- Packing Paper
- Cardboard Boxes
Decide What You’ll Sell and Price It
Go through your house, attic, and garage thoroughly. Leave no box or closet unexamined. Remember, the more you sell, the more you make and less cluttered your home can be. If you haven’t used something in months or forgot that you even owned it, it goes to the sale. Take your decluttering room by room, so you don’t feel too overwhelmed. Get your family involved too! If you entice your family members with a cut of the profit, they will be far more willing to give you their old stuff. Once you have your stuff for the sale picked out, it’s time to price. Refer to this super comprehensive pricing list. Price everything individual! This will save you a headache during the sale.
Ask Neighbors If They Want to Get Involved
Why not involve your neighbors in your sale? The more people included, the bigger the sale will be, which attracts more customers. It is a nice way to bond with your residential community. Also, if your neighbor lives on a busier street than you do, have the sale there! You’ll have more customer traffic.
Accept Credit and Debit Cards
Accepting credit and debit cards is way easier than it sounds and having these capabilities will increase your profits. Who even carries cash around anymore? All you have to do is order a Square reader (it’s free!), download the app on your smartphone or tablet, connect the Square reader to your device, and swipe their card. The Square reader charges 2.75% per swipe, but it is so worth it for all the sales you wouldn’t otherwise have!
The Day Before
Organize your goods for sale in your garage and yard into categories. Make sure everything looks nice and is functional! No one will pay big bucks for dirty, broken junk. Put all your best stuff to the front so they’ll catch people’s eyes. If anything in your garage is not for sale, be sure to make a “not for sale” sign and stick it on there. Put a tarp over anything outside, so it doesn’t get wet overnight if it rains. Read up on some haggling tricks.
Game Time
The day you’ve been prepping for weeks for is here: yard sale day! Wake up early, have a cup of coffee, lock your house, and start your sale. Start the festivities bright and early so you can really let as many people come by as possible. Be nice to your customers! They will be more likely to buy from you. Also, make sure to not get attached to your old stuff while it’s being sold – you’ve purged it for a reason! You’ll be happier with the cash than the junk. Keep your money in a safe place such as a money box. At the end of the sale, let your stuff go for lower prices because something is better than nothing.
The Day After
Not sure what to do with the stuff that doesn’t sell? Donate it! Charities like Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, and Salvation Army are great organizations that will take your yard sale leftovers. Ask the charities for a receipt which you can use as a tax deduction for your income taxes. If you don’t feel like donating, you can always drag the stuff to your curb and make a “Free” sign. Do not, under any circumstances, let the stuff back into your house!
Now That You’ve Declutter, It’s Time To Move!
You’ve finally purged your house from all your old junk. It’s time to move! Servicing the Tucson area for years, our locally owned moving company puts you and your belongings first. Get your free quote today! Call us at (520) 822-6140 and let’s get started, together!
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