An unsuccessful yard sale is something you are not likely to forget — hauling heavy boxes and furniture outside, then sitting for hours in the hot sun only to have no one visit or buy is nobody's idea of a good time.
But with some careful advance planning, smart advertising, catchy signage and a beautiful setup, you can make extra cash and (gasp!) even have fun doing it.
1. Make it a party, with profits. Wipe from your mind everything you thought you knew about yard sales. Instead of a fusty old tag sale with boring blankets of junk sprawled on the lawn, envision a fun and festive neighborhood party where you also happen to be earning money.
Tip: Invite the neighbors, since block sales tend to attract large numbers of visitors. To do this, simply send around a flyer with the date of your sale and encourage others to participate.
2. Snag extra profits by embellishing your goods. This tip is certainly not for everyone, but if you love a good DIY project, why not try your hand at a little furniture upgrade before selling your old stuff? Try painting chairs or tables in a bright hue, dip-paint chair legs for a cool modern look, change out dresser knobs or paint over a worn tabletop.
A bit of work and a few bucks in paint and brushes could translate into much greater profits on sale day. Or you might like your newly refurbished stuff so much, you decide to keep it.
3. Think ahead about ways to display. The typical yard sale with stuff spread out on blankets on the ground (or shoved in saggy cardboard boxes) gives passersby no reason to stop. Get your stuff up off the ground, where people can see it!
Tip: Use folding card tables (borrowed from friends if necessary) and wooden wine crates (cheap and available at many wine shops) as building blocks for yard sale displays. Begin gathering them now.
4. Get creative with a sales concept. Try to think up a concept and name for your sale that will draw people in. Are you an avid gardener? Consider offering plant cuttings or small bouquets of flowers in jelly jars in addition to your other sale items. Kids want to earn a few extra bucks, too? Try a combination tag sale and lemonade stand.
5. Begin advertising your sale a week or two in advance through the events listing page on Craigslist. If your neighborhood coffee shop or park has a community message board, consider asking to hang a pretty and professional-looking flyer there as well.
Tip: The day before the sale, hang signs at all major intersections around your home, plus one on the nearest busy street. (Check local laws before you do this.) Be sure to use clear, neat handwriting, big enough to read from a moving car, and include the following: anarrow pointing in the correct direction, the word "sale" and your address. The date and time can be smaller — the most important thing is that people find you.
6. Dig out that party decor. Hang colorful bunting from the porch, dangle paper lanterns in a tree or tie balloons to the banister — anything that makes your sale look festive will help draw people in. At the very least, cover those card tables with cloth (even sheets will work) to help your items stand out.
7. Keep pricing super simple. Don't drive yourself (and your potential customers) crazy by pricing each item individually. Categorize items and price them by group instead. For instance, you could price all kitchen tools at $1 and paperback books at 50 cents.
Tips: Make your ownprice labels inspired by the vintage tags shown here by threading index cards through forks; set each one in an old mason jar near the group of items being priced. Keep a master listfor your own reference, in case price tags get lost.
8. Make sales easy. Be sure to have ample bills and coins available for making change, and provide shopping bags and cardboard boxes for toting items home.
9. Display clothes with panache. Even nice clothes look unappealing when tumbled on the floor, so making an extra effort in this department can definitely help boost sales.
Tip: If you have a coat tree or garment rack,bring it outside to use as a clothing display. If not, try stringing up a clothesline between two trees, or at least keep clothes neatly
10. Give pride of place to small items. Tiny items like earrings can get lost in a big yard sale, so think up a way to give them their own spotlight. Collect small trinkets on cake stands, hang earrings on a foam-core board from the art supply store or around the edges of teacups, or put items in a tray with many compartments.
11. Give shoppers a way to check if items work.If you are selling things that need to be plugged in, such as light fixtures or small appliances, you may want to run an extension cord outdoors so you can show that they are in working order. Just to be on the safe side, make sureyou are the one to actually plug in the item and test it.
12. Create vignettes for maximum appeal.Styling your sale items in vignettes that show how they would be used will draw shoppers in for a closer look — and they may even be more tempted to buy items that go together if they are displayed well.
Tip: Take a few extra minutes to set a folding table with dishes, glassware and vases; arrange pillows on a bench; or set up the tent you're selling and position it near the cooler and outdoor gear.
13. End on a high note. Most of the serious shoppers tend to come in the morning, so there's no reason to hang around all day — set a reasonable time to end the sale and stick to it.
14. Get help. Invite a few friends over for a casual party after the yard sale, and they can help carry a few things back in ... and get free food in return! If you have a lot left, put it in the car instead of back in the house and drive it directly to your nearest charity donation center, or place a "curb alert" on Craigslist and leave the items out with a big sign that says, "Free!"
Tell us: Where do you weigh in on yard sales — love them or hate them? What are your best yard sale tips?
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