Yard Sales

Selling what you no longer want or need is one way of bringing in a bit of extra cash, so long as you know what you’re in for.  Yard Sales are a lot of work.  If you want to give it a try here are my top 5 tips:

1.   Spread the Word – if no one comes, you won’t be selling a thing.  List your sale locally, both on line and in print.  Share the date with friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers.
2.  Price to sell – remember people are looking for bargains.  Group things together by price and have a colored sticker code.  This beats having to print up or write up price tickets.
3.   Get a permit – some towns require a yard sale permit.  You don’t want to have to pay a fine, if your town requires a permit, and you don’t have one.  Check with your town hall before you plan a yard sale.
4.  Donate after the sale – establish the rule that nothing from the sale goes back into the house or garage.  Instead pick a donation location before the sale and set up a pick up date or drop off date.
5.   Have cash on hand – make a trip to the bank before your sale so you’re prepared.  Only accept cash as payment, and have plenty of change and singles to make for smoother transactions.

© June 2013 Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer® All rights reserved.

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