| There is something about the change of seasons | | | | Clean things up as they accumulate because things in |
| that makes people want to get organized. With the | | | | good shape will sell faster than dusty or dirty items. |
| holidays in the not so distant future, it may be time | | | | Also, consider grouping small items in bags to sell for |
| to get rid of all the junk that has been accumulating | | | | one price, like a bag of small toys for a dollar rather |
| in the guest room or make space in the garage. A | | | | than trying to sell them separately. Collect plastic |
| yard sale can be a good way to get unwanted stuff | | | | bags and even asks friends to donate their plastic |
| out of the house and make a little money. | | | | shopping bags so there will be plenty on hand for the |
| A yard sale or garage sale does require some work | | | | day of the sale. Have plenty of newspaper on hand |
| before, during and after, but having more space and | | | | for wrapping breakables. |
| some spending money makes it worth it. Several | | | | At least a day before the sale, make sure there is |
| websites giving yard sale advice point out an | | | | enough coins and bills available to make change for |
| interesting thought to consider: Is the sale to get rid | | | | customers. Elizabeth Mayhew of the Today Show |
| of junk or to make money? The consensus seems | | | | suggests having $100 in small change on hand the |
| to be that if the focus is to get rid of unwanted | | | | day of the sale. Other supplies that will be needed |
| belongings, the sellers actually make more money. By | | | | are stickers or tags for pricing and an extension cord |
| pricing items to go rather than to profit, sellers | | | | so customers can test electronics. |
| generally end up selling more items. | | | | Make signs and price items the night before the sale. |
| In addition to the benefits of clean space and | | | | The importance of good signage is heavily stressed |
| spending money, yard sales are also good for the | | | | by veteran yard sellers. Take advantage of sale days |
| environment by giving unwanted items a new home | | | | designated by homeowners associations or have a |
| rather than sending them to the landfill. In fact, many | | | | group sale with neighbors. Bigger sales and good signs |
| environmental and government websites offer yard | | | | attract more buyers. |
| sale tips. The Santa Clara County Recycling and | | | | Yard Sale Day - Get the whole family involved in |
| Waste Reduction Commission in California had several | | | | placing items for sale. It is recommended to put big |
| helpful ideas for having a yard sale, like start | | | | ticket items up front, like table sets or couches. |
| preparing three weeks before the sale day. | | | | Group like items together and display things in an |
| Preparation - Pick a staging area where things to sell | | | | attractive manner on tables, rather than piling a bunch |
| can be collected and kept. It may be the guest room | | | | of stuff on the ground. |
| or the garage, but it needs to be a space large | | | | Have a calculator handy for adding up the sales and |
| enough to hold the stuff and allow some work space | | | | feel free to enjoy the day, mingling with customers |
| for grouping and pricing, etc. A good plan is to have | | | | and rearranging tables as items sell. Afterwards be |
| several empty boxes and mark them with prices, like | | | | sure to donate any leftover items to a local charity, |
| the $1 box and the.10 cents box. As things to sell | | | | that way they won't end up cluttering the guest |
| accumulate put them directly in the box | | | | room again. A yard sale is work, but at the end of |
| corresponding to the potential price of the item. | | | | the day there will be less junk and some money for |
| Remember, pricing things to go rather than focusing | | | | going out to dinner. |
| on what they actually cost can be far more lucrative. | | | | |