If you’re moving, downsizing or looking to make a couple of bucks on some old items sitting in the attic, a good ‘ol yard sale will do. So how do we go about putting something together other than just throwing “stuff” in the front lawn? Here are some tips: #1. Plan ahead. Pick the date and time about a month before hand, to give yourself enough hours to put everything together. Start listing all the things you (may) need. Will you need to recruit help? Who will make the signs and where will they go? Does your city require a permit? Are there any HOA rules you’ll have to follow? This is the time to list everything that needs to be accomplished. #2. Recruit help. There’s so much to do alone. You won’t be spread so thin if you get somebody to help you. Ask a couple of friends, family members or neighbors to help, and distribute tasks accordingly. Who will help put up the signs, work the register, or help clean up? #3. Advertise your sale. If you want results, you can’t simply count on hanging a couple of signs day-of. Post your event on Craigslist and yard-sale Web sites. Also consider sending an email with the information to friends and family and adding the information in the neighborhood newsletter. Always include the address (with general street intersections) and a contact phone number. If you want to go the extra mile, you can pay for an ad in the newspaper. #4. Presentation is everything. Make the yard look good. Align everything nicely, because most folks are visually influenced. It wouldn’t matter if you had Picassos out on the lawn, if everything is messy and unorganized, people will lose direction and get distracted by the clutter. In addition, make sure that all the items are wiped down and cleaned, clothes washed and ironed. #5. Price everything. If you’re busy running around and folks are interested but don’t know a price and keep waiting for somebody to help... Well... Odds are they won’t be waiting around for too long. Put price tags on every item. #6. Spice up the atmosphere. If you want, you can have some music playing in the background to help relax the folks browsing through. Just make sure it’s something almost everybody would like and don’t make it loud. You could maybe serve lemonade or cold water on a hot day, or hot tea/coffee if it's cold outside. Little things like that will help people open up and feel good about being there. #7. Keep it safe. Since mostly strangers will be roaming around your lawn, remember some simple rules: Keep all your doors locked. Never let people in your house to try on clothes or use the bathroom. Don't take personal checks from people you don’t know, and keep the money you’re making with you, rather than in a public cashbox. Pricing tactics: Bundle where you can. I.e. “4 pillow cases for 2 bucks”. Stay away from the "all green tags are $1" type of system. It can get confusing and most people don’t like it. It's much easier for the buyer if the price is clearly displayed on each item. If you’re adding cents, add 25 cents or 50 cents, so you don't have to need a calculator every time. If you have items you don’t think will sell, or items that are slightly dinged or odd, give them away for Free. Who doesn’t love free stuff? You’ll get people to hang around, while getting rid of all the odd items in your home. After you’re done with the sale, remember to always take down the signs right away. For more tips and How To’s, ‘Like’ to join our Facebook community. Good Luck :) US Storage Centers
