Join forces. More junk equals more customers. Ask your friends and neighbors to join you in a multifamily sale.
The price is right. Browse yard sales in advance to get an idea of what other people are charging for things in your area, says Chris Heiska, who offers tips at yardsalequeen.com. As a general guideline, price items at a fourth to a third of what they cost new. And tag everything.
Hot stuff. Household appliances, tools and kids’ toys typically sell well. On the other hand, old exercise equipment, adult clothing and shoes are often left when the sale is over.
Make a good first impression. Arrange your items in a way that allows customers to imagine the objects in their own homes. Plug in and turn on the TV, set the dining-room table, make sure the basketball is full of air.
Hold your ground. Don’t be a pushover–at least not too early in the day. Heiska recommends telling hagglers, “I may lower the price later if it doesn’t sell.”
Set the vibe. Let the kids set up a lemonade stand for refreshments on hot days, put on some low-key music that’s good to shop to and chill. Let your customers browse on their own.
At the end of the day, drop off your unsold items at a local charity–then go home and arrange the new used furniture you bought at the yard sale next door.
