How to Begin
Ask your family members about items they wish to sell, they may desire to sell more things than you imagined. Or, you might organize a “neighborhood” sale and pool the efforts of other families on your street.
When to Have Your Sale
Set a date and a time as soon as you can. Fridays and Saturdays are usually best; however, try to avoid holiday weekends. Establish a rain date if you think it may be necessary. Determine the hours, such as 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Many shoppers like to be first in line, so be prepared for early arrivals.
Where to Hold Your Sale
Check with local authorities about restrictions for sales in your area. Once you have a location, decide if the sale will be in the garage, yard or basement. Make sure there is ample parking and space for people to move about.
Publicize Your Sale
A good source of publicity is Craigslist. Not only is it free, but also the most popular classifieds website to find local deals.
Mention the most popular items in your ad, such as furniture, appliances, tools, electronics, etc. Consider including your phone number so people can call for more information about sale items or for directions (this is especially useful if you live in an obscure area).
Another publicity technique is to display flyers around the neighborhood. Note in large letters the type of sale, date, time and location. You may also place signs in high-traffic areas on the day of the sale with arrows and directions. (Please note that there may be restrictions on the posting of flyers and signs. Your local Chamber of Commerce can assist you should you have any questions.)
Ten Essential Preparations
1. Look at your list of items for sale. Visit secondhand shops, retail stores, etc. to determine prices for each.
2. Record the price on a tag or sticker and place on the item in an easy-to-see location. Use different colored stickers or an identification code on the tags if more than one family is involved in your sale.
3. Start saving shopping bags and cartons to make it more convenient for customers. Have tissue paper or newspaper on hand to wrap glass, knickknacks and other fragile purchases.
4. Bundle or package all sets, groups, or units together so customers know what they are getting. Put loose game pieces in a sealable bag and secure inside the box.
5. Set up the yard, garage or basement so that all “For Sale” items will be separated from items not for sale.
6. Display items in groups according to type, such as kitchen utensils, sporting goods, tools, etc. If possible, hang clothing on a clothesline or rack for easy viewing.
7. Set up a cashier’s desk with a calculator, scissors, tape, string, markers, a cash box and plenty of change. Make sure that your assigned cashier is able to spot the basic differences between legal and counterfeit currency by learning the differences here.
8. Be prepared for the weather to change at any time. Have several large sheets of plastic handy to quickly cover everything.
9. To keep the kids busy, buy a few varieties of soft drinks and bottled water. Ice them down in a cooler the night before. Tell the kids that the money they earn selling drinks is their reward for helping. On a hot summer day, a cold drink will be a welcome relief to shoppers.
10. Assign everyone a responsibility for the day, like cashier, clerk, organizer, etc.