Having a successful yard sale.

Although 'yard sale' and 'garage sale' are the most common terms, you may see ad postings or signs for estate sales, moving sales, attic sales, jumble sales, rummage sales, tag sales, junk sales and more. Whatever you name your sale, the same tips still apply. So please continue reading and let us provide you with some ideas for a successful yard sale.

Successful yard sales are projects that need careful planning and organization. First, see if your city and county have regulations for yard sales. Next, if your neighborhood has a home owners association, see if the HOA has any rules that might not allow you to have a sale.

Be aware of regulations from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (www.cpsc.gov). According to the CPSC, you can be fined if you sell toys containing lead. Even yard sales are subject to the regulation. Visit their website for more details.

Advertising

Let shoppers know you are there. Some grocery stores have a community bulletin board for ads. Your neighborhood may have a newsletter. See if they offer free advertising for yard sales.

Yard Sale Size

The size of your yard sale is important. If shoppers drive by and see that you don't have much they will keep going. Ask neighbors, family and friends if they have goods to contribute. Large yard sales get a better response.

Organization

Categorize items as furniture, jewelry, kitchen utensils, toys, tools, electronics, CDs , etc., into groups. Shoppers will linger longer if your displays are neatly organized.

Set Pricing Correctly

If you offer big ticket items, such as TV's, appliances or furniture, do research beforehand to determine a realistic price for the item. Using the style or model name or number use classified-ad or auction websites to determine a price. eBay and Craigslist are excellent sources to find examples of similar items for sale. Read more about Yard Sale Pricing

Additional Tips

Items not for sale, should not be in the yard sale area. Lawn furniture or garden tools lying around near the sale that are not for sale might be mistaken for sale items. Put them away or cover them.

In your ad, specify "early birds" are not welcome if you arent okay with people showing up earlier than your stated start time. They will show up if you dont. You will be doing a disservice to shoppers who respect your sale hours if you sell all the good stuff to shoppers who show up before the sale is scheduled to start. Tell the early birds the sale has not started yet.

Have refreshments available for the shoppers. They are your guests. Make them feel welcome and comfortable.

Have a supply of plastic grocery bags available for those small items. Watch for shoppers who are browsing your sale and picking up items. Offer a bag to hold their items.

Keep one closeable cash box to hold the money and have someone act as cashier and stay with the money at all times. Or try a fanny pack instead of a cash box. Before the sale, have money available for making change. A suggested amount would be between $70 and $100. A minimum breakdown might be 20-$1 bills, 4-$5 bills and 2-$10 bills with a $10 roll of quarters. Keep the minimum pricing increment at 25 cents.

Speaking of cash, be alert for shoppers attempting to use counterfeit bills to pay for their purchases. Although we may not think of a yard sale as a place a crook is going to try and pass bad cash, it unfortunately happens on occasion. Consider investing in a counterfeit bill marker, and if you have time, do some homework on what counterfeit bills look and feel like.

You are operating a short term sales business. Prepare as if you are opening a shop. Be aware of local rules or regulations about yard sales. Gather and price your inventory. Create product displays, organized for convenient browsing. Advertise to let people know you are in business. Be prepared to make change. Thank everyone who comes to your yard sale, they may be back later. Following all of these tips will help ensure you pull off a great success with your yard sale or garage sale.