Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Successful Yard Sale Strategies

Since we are still de-cluttering the house, and fall (and spring) are major Yard Sale seasons (last week we counted about 10 in the south part of town), I decided to do a little research on how to make your yard sale a success, and wanted to share what I found.  It is a good alternative to donating, consigning, and throwing stuff away.  Your kids can help, so it will be a family affair, and you will spend the whole day outside.  And don't forget about the extra $ money $. After all, one person's trash is another person's treasure, right?

Permit
First off, check with your town to see if you need a permit to have a yard sale.

Decide on a Date and Time
Instead of a full day, consider 2 half-days to reach more people who might be out and about or busy on one of those days.

Sorting Your Items
Try to group your items together by category - baby items, books, cooking/kitchen, clothes, etc.  This will help someone who is browsing to see what else you have to offer and may inspire a last-minute impulse buy.

Un-Box Everything
Even if all the items in the box are from one category, no one will buy it if they can't see it, and many people don't feel comfortable digging.  Instead, take everything out of the boxes and put them in plain view.  Something might catch a customer's eye as they walk by.

Clean Your Items
You don't have to detail everything, but make sure things don't look dirty.  No one will buy it if they don't even want to touch it.

Put Your Items on a Pedestal
If at all possible, set-up as many tables as you can spare to lift the items up, so customers do not need to reach down.  If you don't have alot of available tables, you can be creative with turning big boxes upside-down and using two sawhorses and a piece of wood.  Bringing items closer to the customer allows them to see and reach something easily.  Besides, keeping your items off the ground shows you care for them, and they are not "trash".  If you have clothes to sell, hanging them up is the best way to sell.  Your nicely-folded pile will turn into an unfolded heap in no time.

Price Your Items
When items don't have a price on them, many people will turn around and walk away.  Maybe they are too shy or don't want to deal with negotiations.  No matter what the reason, a sale is better than no sale.  Put what you think is a fair price, and forget "book value".  Make sure you use stickers which can peel off later, and don't write directly on the item. Better yet, do this the week before so you are not rushing around that morning.

Create a Walking Path
Instead of having items all over your front yard or driveway, consider making a "U" shape with the tables, so there is a clear path - if they walk the path, they will get a good look at all you have to offer, and they won't miss anything.

Be Prepared
  • Be sure everything is set-up way before the start time on your sign - you will have early birds, and you don't want to make anyone feel awkward if you are not ready.
  • Make sure you have plenty of cash on hand in all denominations, including coins.
  • Have an apron or cash drawer ($26 at Staples) to keep your money organized.
  • Keep a calculator nearby for people buying a number of items. 
  • Have a stash of bags to give people if they buy more than one item.
  • Keep a garbage can nearby to keep things tidy throughout the day.

Signs, Signs, Everywhere a Sign
Probably the most important part of your sale is to "advertise" it to get people there.  You can price out local newspaper ads, but I've seen lots of successful Craigslist postings, and they are free.  Either way, the BEST way to get people there are large signs pointing them in the right direction from the nearest main road. 
  • Use THICK letters and a THICK arrow so people can see it from far away as they are driving - then they will not miss the turn.  
  • After you put your sign up, step back - far back, maybe 100 feet back - to test out your sign visually.  
  • It's a good idea to write date and time on the sign, and in smaller letters, the address.  
  • If there is more than 1 way to get to your house, be sure you have signs at every turn so they can easily follow your directions.  
  • You will also want to weatherize your signs - not necessarily laminating them, but staple them to a thin piece of wood and stand them on an a-frame in case there is no pole to hang them on.  
  • Putting them up the night before will let more people know you will be having a sale (good) but if the morning dew curls the sign, no one will be able to read it (bad).  
  • It is a good idea to ask customers throughout the day if they saw your signs, and if you have someone available to help you, to check on them (to make sure they are still there and didn't tip over)
It's Showtime!
Play some light music in the background to keep it peaceful and entertaining.  Put your cell phone away and be sure to greet everyone who stops by, but don't hound them.  They want to feel welcome and free to look around. As items sell, re-arrange your items so there are no big empty spots.  Thank all the customers for coming buy even if they don't purchase anything (maybe they will come back).  Most of all, don't worry about making $$.  Just have fun with it and reap the rewards after the sale.

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