Tips for Holding a Yard Sale

Holding a garage sale is a great way to reduce the clutter in your home and get rid of items you don't want to move.

The major keys to an great garage sale is to advertise, plan ahead, and price your items low enough to sell.  If you want to get rid of the items you have to have them priced good.  Remember they are used.  some people mark items 50% off list price.  That won't sell junk and used items.

Get your license or permit  or license if you need one.

See if neighbors want to participate and have a "block" sale to attract more visitors.

Advertise, advertise, advertise. Put an ad in your local paper, and free classified papers, and put up signs at every major intersections and every corner directing people towards your home.  Adding balloons and bright color flags add attentions.  eaona and balloons at major intersections and in stores near your home.   If you are selling children's items contact your local day cares and put flyers up.  Put flyers up on free bulletin boards whereever you can.

Plan ahead.  Go through house as you are packing and put items for the garage sale in one spot.  If you haven't used it over 7 years you probably aren't going to use it.  Go through you clothes.  You have some in there you don't wear.  Price items ahead and attach prices with removable stickers. Remember, yard sales are supposed to be bargains, so don't try to sell value stuff such as antiques, or jewerly.  Price it right. 

Hold the sale for 2-3 days.  People go home and tell there friends and relatives about items that the friends might need.  I have had people show up on the 2nd and 3rd day to buy a specific item.

Double check items before the sale to be sure you haven't including something you want by mistake.

Ask friends or neighbors if they have stuff to get rid off.  The bigger the garage sale and the more diverse the inventory the longer people will stay.  Plus you may get help from the person bringing the items over for sale.

Keep big dogs or barking pets away from the sale and in the back yard.

Display items like a store does.  Fold pants neatly.  Hang clothes on hangers.  Put as much on tables and out in the open.Display everything neatly and individually so customers don't have to dig through boxes.   Spread it out so people notice things.  Rearrange as items sell and straighten up periodically.

Have an electrical cord run outside so buyers can test appliances.

Have plenty of bags and newspaper for wrapping fragile items.

Get enough change, and keep a close eye on your cash. People have been known to steal the cash box.  A around the waist belt is a great way to do it.

Talk to customers and explain what the items are and how they can be used.  Sometimes they have no idea what they are looking at.

Have tarps or a tent if all the junk spills out into the yard.

Remember pricing the items low enough will help clear out your Wayne County home, Livingston County home, Oakland county home.  Any items you do not want to keep give to charity, or give to relatives and friends just getting started in life.  Your Michigan home will be easier to pack and unpack with unneeded items gone.