Selling from you Garage, Porch, or Yard

Hosting a yard, porch, or garage type sale can be very daunting due to all that is involved.  With some good thought, it doesn't have to be daunting if you start early and get other family members or friends involved.  If you want to make money, you will need to spend a little money to do so.  It takes an organized person, willing to spend some time to plan, advertise, organize, and lay out the merchandise.

1.  Plan

• Know the restrictions placed upon sales by your municipality and homeowners association.  Some allow sales during certain time periods or may limit the number of sales.  Do you need a permit to host your sale?
• When in the year will you host your sale?  Depending upon where you reside in the country, think about normal weather conditions.  Look at your families schedule for conflicts like sports, jobs, or other activities keep you busy and unavailable to host a sale.  If there is a major event in your town, more people will be in your neighborhood.
• Involve neighbors or friends in the sale.  Larger sales can bring in more shoppers.
• If your residence is not an appropriate place to host a sale (i.e. on a hill), is there a local organization hosting a sale where you can rent space?
• Gather supplies you will need to advertise and set up the sale.
• Determine the date(s) and time period for the sale.
• Just before the sale, go to the bank and have ample money available - $100 in smaller bills and coins.

2.  Advertising

• Traditionally people search their local newspapers.  Look into the requirements a few weeks in advance and look at other people's ads for ideas.  Create your ad and following time deadlines for submission.
• Purchase bright colored poster board and a black Sharpie marker to make signs.  You want people driving by to be able to read your sign.  Make the lettering large and simple.  Each sign should include an arrow, date and time.  Place them at key intersections near your home on the Monday before your sale, unless there are restrictions set by your municipality or homeowners association.
• Print fliers to place at local stores on their bulletin boards.
• Consider posting your sale on the Internet.  Look at sites for other sales in your area.  Again, look at their requirements as to the size of the ad and number of photos you may post.  Some popular sites include:
•   Craigslist.com
•   yardsalesearch.com
•   yardsales.net
•   yardsales.com
•   garagesaletracker.com
•   yardsaletreasuremap.com
•   garagesales.com
•   garagesalehunter.com
•   yardsalequeen.com
• As a common courtesy, take down all signs after the sale.

3.  Organize

• Designate a location for gathering sale items - have boxes or shelves available to start sorting.
• Taking one room at a time, look around your home and decide what items are not being used, are outgrown, or no longer needed by you and your family.
• Make sure the item is clean, all pieces are there (use a plastic bag to gather small pieces), and if damaged make note of it.
• When you transfer items to your temporary storage location, place similar items together after pricing them.  Be careful when placing tags on items that they will not damage the surface.
• If other people are sharing your site, place your initials on your price tags.
• Expect people to ask for a lower price.  If your price is firm (not willing to go lower), note that on the price tag.

4.  Lay Out

• Think of your sale as a store, what would help draw people into your sale?
• Place like items together such as kitchen items; clothing arranged by gender and size; furniture; etc.
• Overcrowded displays are not appealing.  Because your sale is competing with others, people will spend time looking through boxes or piles of items.
• Electrical items should be placed near the building with an electrical cord available for testing.
• Keep the money with you.  Most people are trustworthy, however some are not.  If you are distracted by showing someone an item, your money box could be left unattended.

With some key points covered, you can have a successful sale and line your pockets with some extra money from items you no longer want or need.