It’s yard sale season and it seems every where you turn, you see signs for a yard sale or a garage sale, especially in residential neighborhoods! Yard sales can be a great way to make a little bit of money while also decluttering your home of items you no longer need or use. If you’re considering hosting a yard sale this spring or summer, we’ve compiled a few tips for you to consider.
Check with Your Homeowner’s Association First
Be sure to check with your HOA on whether you’re able to host a yard sale on your property. Some HOAs have stipulations on the size of the sale and parking on the street. Additionally, many HOAs host a community yard sale at a common location within the neighborhood that attracts more shoppers because of the wide variety of items on display. Joining a community yard sale might be a great option for you! If your HOA doesn’t host a community yard sale, ask your neighbors if they’d like to join in on the fun. A larger yard sale is likely to attract more buyers!
Designate Space for Parking
If you live on a main road or even close by to neighbors, decide where your shoppers will safely park their vehicles when they start browsing. If you don’t have much room for parking, consult with your neighbors to ask if customers are able to park in front of their homes while shopping. Once you’ve designated a space for parking, create signage to guide your customers on where to park so there isn’t confusion the day of the yard sale.
Decide Pricing Ahead of Time and Mark Prices on Belongings
Unless you’re willing to take any amount of money for your possessions, decide ahead of time how much money your items will cost your buyers. Purchase color-coded stickers from your local dollar store and mark each item so that when folks are asking to purchase something, you already have an idea of what you’re willing to take for the item and aren’t shorting yourself for items you’re selling.
Be Prepared with Small Bills for Giving Change for Items Sold
Many folks that will stop by your yard sale might not have small bills to purchase your items with. They may have been passing by and something displayed caught their eye. Make sure you prepare ahead of time by bringing small bills so that you can give your customer’s change if they don’t have the exact amount on-hand.
Make a Plan for Items that Don’t Sell
After your yard sale concludes, you will likely have some items left that did not sell. Make a plan ahead of time to decide what you will do with those items. After all, you cleared them out of your home to declutter your space. The last thing you may want to do is to bring the items back into your home. Consider donating un-sold items to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army locations.
