How To Have a Yard Sale

Advertise your yard sale a few days ahead of time by putting up clearly marked signs with the date of the sale on them in thick black lettering that can be read from a car. Place the signs every 50 feet or so, with arrows. If you’re selling a lot of stuff, place a classified ad in the local paper, or post an online ad on Craigslist.

Assemble as many card tables as you can; items sell better if they’re neatly displayed, as opposed to strewn on the lawn. If you’re selling clothes, hang them from a clothing rack.

Spruce up the items you’re selling as best you can. Shiny knickknacks and clean, pressed clothes will sell better than stuff people are afraid to touch. Use pretty ribbon to bundle loose items.

Start accumulating grocery bags and boxes. People will buy more if you make it easier for them to carry off their purchases.

Take everything you want to get rid of that you can’t imagine anyone paying for and put it in a carton clearly marked “FREE.” Stick it in a prominent place near the curb to attract passersby.

Keep at least $50 in coins and small bills in your cash box so you can make change.

Figure out what you want for an item and then mark it up a bit; people like to haggle. A good rule of thumb is to charge a quarter of the original cost for items in good condition.

If you’re selling electric items, snake an extension cord from the house so people can test the goods.

Have a mirror so people can see how hats, scarves, jewelry, and such look on them.

Group like items—kitchen stuff on one table, tools on another.

Put out refreshments. Providing coffee, lemonade, and cookies will most likely pay for itself by encouraging people to linger longer.

Be flexible about prices, especially as the day winds down. Do you really want to lug all this stuff back inside your house?