Yard Sale, Anyone???

Hey Taggers!

Do you ever think about conducting your own tag (garage, yard, estate) sale?

Here is some concrete advice to help make for a smooth sale.

Gather up your items to see what you have so you can determine if having a sale is a good idea.  Once that has been determined, check out your goods to find your 'notable' pieces.  Notable pieces will be the ones that will lure your customers in? They will be the interesting pieces or the pieces that you know collectors are looking for.  Once you have your special items, clean them up so they are in the best condition possible.

If you have enough pieces to have a sale the next step is to set the date.  Weekends work best for estate sales and some garage sales,  however, if you don't have that much to sell, consider a one day only sale.  Saturdays are good for this type of sale and you can limit the time you will be selling and that will encourage people to make your house an early stop.  Get the people to stop by while they have money to spend.

With the date set, you will need to advertise.  Use your special or 'notable' pieces in the advertisement.  Be clear and concise in your ad.  Date, time. location and special pieces.  Keep it inexpensive! You are having the sale most likely, to get rid of stuff and to make some money.  If you spend too much money on the ads, your profit is less.  Less is not good! Consider placing signs at the end of your street and throughout your subdivision if you are not easily found.  You do not want your potential customers getting frustrated on their drive and giving up.  Also, consider asking your neighbors to join in on the sale.  More sellers equals more buyers.  Plus, they can share the price of the ads announcing the sale.

Tags your pieces with prices that are reasonable.  Having said this I have found that some sellers price their merchandise at prices equal to the stores prices.  I do not know how well these pieces sell, but I do know that I do not buy used merchandise for retail prices.  I just don't!

Borrow tables and clothes racks to display your items.  Just like in a store, the nicer the display, the more desirable the merchandise looks. You are going for desirable, right?

You can put your signs up a few days before the actual sale to announce the sale, but not all neighborhoods allow for this.  If yours does, then do it.  If not, you will need to spend some time the night before putting up the signs.

Have about $100.00 in change, $20.00's, $10.00's, $5.00's and quarters... use an apron with deep pockets if you have one.  Very convenient - carry the money with you!

Rise early the day of the sale.  Set out your wares.  Grab a chair and possibly a table with an umbrella to block the sun (or rain).  As the sale progresses and you notice people looking at some pieces, but not buying, ask them why.  You may be overpricing your goods or there may be a flaw you did not see.  Be willing to come down in price if you really want to get rid of things.

After the sale, whatever you do not sell, can be taken immediately to the charitable organization of your choice for a tax write-off and less clutter in your home.