How to Have a Successful Yard Sale

Having a yard sale always seems like a fun idea. It is a great excuse to get your family together for the weekend or day, to spend time together in a fun way. Even for those of you with young children can get them involved by having them host a lemonade stand while you manage the yard sale. You can even include your close friends and neighbors by allowing them to co-host the yard sale with you. And the most obvious reason is that it allows you to rid yourself of unwanted items. By doing so you will be able to cut your packing load in half before moving to West Palm and make a little extra cash for moving expenses! Sounds like fun right?

Well yes, but don’t let the idea fool you. Most people talk about the great outcomes of yard sales but no one likes to rehash the stressful details and hard work that goes into the preparation and set up. So whether this is your first yard sale or tenth yard sale, here are a few good rules to live by in order avoid feeling overwhelmed and in the end having a successful yard sale.

Yard sales cannot be spontaneous. To get the full affect you need to think ahead of time. Begin collecting items throughout the year for your grand sale.
To go off the previous tip, have a plan. Organization is key. Go through every nook and cranny in your home and organize everything for the yard sale a couple days prior and begin to label and price your items.
Promote. People will not come unless told you. Thanks to the internet there are several free ways to advertise your yard sale.
Don’t feel like you must go about it alone. Team up with a friend or neighbor for a larger turn out.
Timing is everything. Make sure not to clash with any major holidays as most people are traveling. And don’t let the weather ruin a potentially successful yard sale. Plan appropriately.
Labeling and pricing is a science when it comes to yard sales. Labeling should be easy to apply and readable such as round, brightly colored stickers to attracted buyers. And price to sell. Typically 1/3 of what you paid for it new, but never more. People come to yard sales for bargain shopping.
Lastly, begin to mark down the price towards to end of the day or last day if you are feeling daring for a multi-day yard sale.

At the end of the day don’t let yourself be discouraged. Pre-move de-cluttering is actually a fantastic way to get organized and figure out what it is you truly want and need to keep. The stress and hurdles you will face before and during your yard sale will be completely outweighed by not only the satisfaction of cleaning out your junk but also the extra pocket money you will have on hand at the end of the day. Just keep in mind, your junk may be someone else’s treasure!