Hobby Ideas > Preparing For Your Yard Sale

Love Flea Markets and Yard Sales and want to try having a sale of your own? It can be a lot of fun and very profitable with just a little planning. So, let’s get started.

1. Pick the date. Always have a back-up "rain date" scheduled as well. And, make it a family project. The kids can gather old toys and have a sale area all to themselves.

2. Check your attic, basement, closets, and garage. There’s a buyer for everything. So, even though you don’t need the item anymore, it might be just the article someone else is looking for.

3. Clean, wash, polish, scrub! Everything should be in the best possible condition for re-sale.

• Clothing should have all buttons, zippers intact.
• If possible, hang clothes rather than piling them on a table. They’ll look neater and more appealing.
• Appliances should be sparkling clean.
• Put a light bulb in the lamp you’re trying to sell and have an outlet nearby to plug it in to confirm it’s in good working condition. The extension cord will also come in handy for radios, TVs, microwaves, and any other electrical appliances you’re selling.
• Separate and organize like items for sale. Buyers can then focus on specific areas according to what they are looking for.

4. Reasonably pricing your merchandise is important if you want to move things out quickly. However, keep in mind hagglers will always try to talk you down in price, so allow a little leeway in your pricing. Have everything priced and labeled in advance, rather than leaving it to memory.

5. Make sure you have enough change. You’d be surprised how many people will walk in with a $20 bill only to purchase a dollar item. Don’t leave money in a cash box unattended as you will be walking around helping different customers. Keep all cash on your person or leave one person in charge of the cash box at all times.

6. Don’t forget to advertise! Use your local newspapers, supermarket bulletin boards, street signs, and flyers. Always give good directions, dates, and time of sale. Make it easy for people to find your house. Colorful balloons wrapped around the mailbox will draw quick attention to your sale. When the sale is over, remember to remove all signs.

7. When advertising, list large and specialty items (bedroom sets, collectibles, antiques etc.) and those things you specifically want to move out.

8. Invite a few neighbors to participate, bringing in some of their unwanted items. More merchandise brings in more people. Tell them to bring along a sandwich and enjoy lunch together when there’s a lull in the crowd.

Most of all, make it a fun day and you’ll find yourself looking forward to having these yard sales more frequently.