Yard Sale Checklist

Yard sales, stoop sales, tag sales (whatever you want to call it) they are a really great way to make some extra money and declutter your living space all in one fell swoop. You’re also contributing to the environment by being apart of the reduce, reuse, recycle movement. In order for it to be successful, it’s important to spend some time preparing so that it’s not just a big waste of time and energy. Here’s our yard sale checklist to ensure you have a lucrative day.

• Choose an area of your living space and designate it for items you want to sell. This can be a spare room, the corner of your living room, or a section of your basement.
• Spend a few weeks cleaning out your closets, basements, attics, dressers, garage, shed, kitchen, play room, bookshelves, music collection, etc. Anything goes at a yard sale, so be sure include things like broken instruments or machines which can be used for parts. Don’t forget about the little things like novelty buttons, trash bins, old text books and empty wine bottles. You never know what people are interested in buying.
• Pick a date and time. Saturday and Sunday are the best days of the week to have a yard sale. Many people make a day of foraging, so be sure to pick an early start time like 8:00 AM. A good time to wrap things is up is around sunset.
• Advertise your sale. Be sure to put up ads on various websites like Craigslist or Yardsale.com. Also, many local newspapers will list your sale. Give the sites and publications plenty of lead time so that you’re sale is published. Put up signs in your neighborhood. Bright colors with arrows and an address always work well. Send out emails to your local friends and encourage them to stop by.
• Consider having a joint yard sale with local friends or neighbors. They will help spread the word which will lead to more sales, and it will make the sale more of an event. Plus, it will be nice to have extra people around to be in charge as you’ll want to take breaks.
• It’s time to price your items. This can be done several different ways. You can buy little stickers and write prices on your items. You can designate a price to certain items on a particular table and make a sign saying, “Everything is $5.00.” Some people just make a number up on the spot. Choose whichever scenario works for you. Be ready to negotiate on some of the prices, and be flexible (unless you’re trying to sell a nice antique piece or something of really high value).
• Enlist a friend, roommate or family member to help you. It will be more fun and you’ll want to take a break every now and again.
• The evening before your sale, make sure you have plenty of card tables to display smaller items and a rack for clothing. Larger items can rest on the ground.
• Wake up nice and early the day of the event. Give yourself plenty of time to eat breakfast and get ready before a big day selling your stuff. It will take you a little bit of time to display everything, too. You’ll want to put up your local signs before the sale gets started, as well.
• Be friendly to people passing through, but don’t be overbearing. It’s a yard sale. Keep it laid back. Sit back in a comfy chair and listen to some tunes in a shady spot. Have fun with it!
• Donate any left over items to charity. Be sure to get a receipt so you can get a tax credit.

Enjoy your extra money and clutter free home! Is anything missing? Leave a comment below.