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	A Surefire Successful Yardsale

	by Nancy Twigg

Over the years, I have been to plenty of successful yard sales. By successful, I mean the buyers found good BARGAINS, the seller made a sizeable chunk of cash, and everyone had a pleasant experience in the process. I've also been to some real "bowser" sales -- the buyers found few bargains, the seller barely covered his COSTS, and everyone could have found a better way to spend his or her morning.

A FINE LINE

What separates the good, PROFITABLE sales from those that make you wish you'd stayed in bed? A successful sale is a win-win situation for both the buyer and the seller. In most cases, this involves PREPARATION on the part of the seller. Here are some surefire steps to ensure your next sale is a success:

GETTING SHOPPERS TO YOUR DOOR

Unless you live on a busy street, a NEWSPAPER AD will usually more than pay for itself in increased sales. Also, make sure your ad appears at least the day before the day of the sale. Serious shoppers plan their Saturday yard sale route on Friday and won't see your ad if it appears in the Saturday paper only. Not putting a START TIME in your ad can be a turn-off. Serious shoppers don't want to waste their time tracking down sales that aren't open when they get there. On the other hand, it is usually wise not to put an end time in your ad. That way, you can be flexible about when you close up.

LET THEM KNOW WHERE YOU ARE

If shoppers must make more than one turn off the main street, use multiple SIGNS to clearly lead the way to your sale. Place them strategically so shoppers know exactly where to turn to get to the sale. Just be sure to keep the signs SIMPLE. Some of the best simply say "sale" with arrows clearly pointing in the direction the shopper should turn. Small signs with lots of writing are ineffective because they can't be read.

PLANNING THE FINANCES

If multiple people are involved in the sale, decide in advance who will be in charge of the MONEY. She may need a helper to help add prices or make change, but she should be solely responsible for making sure all participants get credit for their sales.

MONEY THAT JINGLES

Always have more CHANGE on hand than you expect to need. Don't be in a position where one $20 bill would totally wipe out your supply of change. And decide in advance how much you want for your items and then price them a little higher than that. For example, if you really don’t want to sell an item for less than $5, price it at $7 so you have room for NEGOTIATION without going lower than what you are comfortable with. And be sure to put a price tag or sign on each item -- there is nothing more annoying for a shopper than having to ask 15 different times how much something is.

RUNNING THE SALE

Remove things that not for sale from the sale area (lawnmowers, hoses, etc.). If that’s not possible, COVER them with an old sheet or dropcloth, or use masking tape to rope off areas that are not part of the sale. And set up your sale area for good TRAFFIC flow. Leave space between the tables, don’t block the entryway, and make it easy for customers to see and reach any item they are interested in. And always put your HIGH PROFILE items -- especially those that you specifically advertised in the paper -- near the front to attract shoppers.

OPEN ARMS

Be sure to make shoppers feel WELCOME. There's nothing worse for a shopper than to feel that she is an annoyance to the proprietor. If you're not good at talking with strangers, enlist the help of an outgoing spouse or friend. Consider giving inexpensive FREEBIES such as coffee in the winter or cold water or Kool-aid in the summer. This small act of kindness makes for a friendlier, more pleasant (and usually more profitable) yard sale experience.

SELLING YOUR STUFF

Keep only your coins and SMALL BILLS outside with you. Every so often, take any large bills into the house so that if by the unfortunate chance your money was stolen, the thief would only get small bills. Organize your space so that the CHECKOUT area is near the front exit of the sale and clearly marked. You may want to put expensive items near the checkout area so you can keep an eye on them.

HAGGLING IS OKAY

Don’t be afraid to BARGAIN with people to make a sale. Unless you are selling something that is particularly valuable, the goal is more to get rid of things you don’t need than to necessarily get the full asking price for each item. The last thing you want to do is have to haul everything back into the house at the end of the day. Have a FREE BOX for those items you're not sure anyone would want. You'll be surprised at how many of those things find new homes.

HAVING A CONTINGENCY PLAN

If rain or some other unforeseen event cancels the sale, clearly post a sign stating that the sale has been CANCELLED. There's nothing worse than driving up to a house and wondering whether you have the wrong house or if the sale's been cancelled. You might even state in your ad that your sale will be cancelled in event of rain. But be sure to include a date when you plan to RESCHEDULE the sale if that happens – die-hard yard sale shoppers are usually willing to come back on another day.

HAVE A PLAN

Also know ahead of time what you will do with any LEFTOVERS from your sale. Either schedule a local charity to come and pick up anything that doesn’t sell or plan to haul it off for DONATION yourself. Or you can avoid having too many leftovers by offering a “late-in-the-day” sale -- after noon everything is half off. Remember, the goal is to clear your house of the clutter -- and that only happens if your belongings leave your property!

Nancy Twigg is the editor of Counting the Cost, a Christian ezine devoted to everyday abundant living at its best. Topics include experiencing life more joyfully, using our time and money wisely, building stronger family relationships, and spiritual enrichment. To subscribe, send a blank e-mail message to .

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