yard sale checklist
by Ramona Creel of OnlineOrganizing.com

Does the idea of setting up your wares in the front yard and spending a weekend selling unwanted items make you break out in cold sweats? Do you picture yourself spending every spare minute of your life for months gathering up merchandise, arguing with shoppers about pricing, and running around like a chicken with your head cut off for the length of the sale? GARAGE SALES don't have to be so painful -- not if you plan ahead from the very beginning. Here are some quick tips for making your sale both fun and profitable.

PREPARING YOUR SALE ITEMS
The best way to get ready for a yard sale is to SORT your merchandise as you clean out (rather than creating a pile of discards and having to go through it a second time later on). Divide items into meaningful categories -- such as kitchen, books, kids, clothes -- and have a large box or trash bag set aside for each category. Be sure to CLEAN and repair items as you go. You will also want to PRICE items and label them with a description (when applicable).

YARD SALE REGULATIONS
Many people don't realize that you can't just put a pile of junk in your yard and hold a yard sale - many areas have specific RULES and regulations about the size, location, and advertising of sales. Call your city or county government for a listing of local yard sale regulations. In particular, be sure to find out about "SIGNAGE" rules governing the size, shape, and placement of billboards or signs. And also find out if you need to obtain a PERMIT to hold a yard sale in your area.

NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING
Most dedicated "yard-salers" check the newspaper listings to plan their route of attack -- so you definitely need to be included in the lineup. Call your local paper for prices and DEADLINES -- and don't forget to check with "free" and community papers. When placing your ad, include the date, time, address, and directions (if you live in a hard-to-find area).

You may also want to make note of some particular items of INTEREST -- expensive or unique or high-demand merchandise you will be offering. But don't list every type of item you plan to sell -- everyone knows that yard sales have books and household items, and advertising is usually priced by the letter or the word. Plan to run your ad at least 1 day before and the day of your sale -- much more than that really isn't necessary.

MULTI-FAMILY SALES
The bigger the offerings, the more customers you will attract. Ask your friends, neighbors, and family to join in -- suggest that you all pool your items together into one large sale. However, have each participant mark his or her items DIFFERENTLY -- with a different colored pen or different type of sticker or their initials by the price -- so that you can distinguish whose item is whose. Keep track of each person's sales in a NOTEBOOK, with a running list of items sold (or just the price) under each name.

YARD SALE POLICIES
The easiest way to avoid confusion and conflict during your sale is to decide how you plan to run it - ahead of time. Determine the LENGTH of your sale -- the number of days and hours each day. Also decide if you will accept personal checks or put items "ON HOLD" for people who say they are coming back later.

And finally, make up your mind in advance if you will allow EARLY BIRDS or let people in your home (to use the bathroom or phone). Most importantly, once you have put a policy in place, stick with it!

GATHERING YOUR SUPPLIES
What will you need to run your sale? You will need to collect up three types of supplies, The first are "DISPLAY" items -- tables, racks, table cloths, hangers, etc. The second are "CHECKOUT" items -- cash box, extra bags, tissue / newspaper, etc. And the third are "TRY-BEFORE-YOU-BUY" items -- extension cords, batteries, bulbs. Make sure to have plenty of each on hand.

PUTTING UP SIGNS
Whether you live on a main road or in the middle of nowhere, it's important to put out directional signs for your sale. You never know how many "casual" shoppers you will attract who were simply driving by and saw your sign. Put posterboard signs at major intersections and along your road -- and always be sure to include an easy to read street address and ARROW pointing folks in the right direction. You may also want to put up FLIERS in local stores, laundromats, and churches. Always be sure to include your hours of operation and major items of interest.

SETTING UP YOUR CASH BOX
There is nothing more frustrating at a yard sale than running out of CHANGE in the first hour. So be sure to get enough to last you through the day -- that means at least $20 in coins, $50 in ones, and $40 in fives. Also create a list of MINIMUM prices you will accept for each item -- so that when a shopper asks your husband or friend who is helping out if they will take $10 for your lawnmower, they can handle the situation without having to find you.

SETTING UP YOUR SALE AREA
Planning a yard sale involves more than just laying out all of your merchandise on the lawn. The first goal is to make sure that nothing is blocking your TRAFFIC FLOW -- you don't want a sales area so clogged with people that no one can get around or see what you have on display. Secondly, be sure to display like items and complementary items TOGETHER. It will be easier for people to shop if they know all the household items are on this table and all the books are together in these boxes. Put any valuable items that you don't want to "wander off" in a closed case or right at the checkout table. Finally, make sure everything is clearly VISIBLE. Some shoppers like to dig, but most people "glance" their way through a yard sale -- scanning tables and floor displays for something that catches their eye.

ASKING FOR HELP
It can be very difficult (almost impossible) to run a yard sale completely on your own - so don't be afraid to ask for some assistance. Recruit several HELPERS -- friends or family -- and bribe them with pizza and sodas at the end of the sale. You should have at least 2 people signed on to stay the length of the sale -- or more if they can only help you throughout part of the day. And you may need additional help right at the start of the first day when things are busiest. EDUCATE your helpers about your pricing and willingness to negotiate so they can assist customers without having to ask for your input. And finally, make arrangements ahead of time for a CHARITY to pick up your leftovers at the end of your sale.

THE WEEK BEFORE THE SALE
This is the time to get ready. Put up FLIERS in public areas around town and place your newspaper AD. Gather your supplies, get change, and confirm times with your "helpers". You should be done pricing and organizing your merchandise by now -- but if not, finish any last-minute LABELING.

THE WEEK OF THE SALE
A day or two before the sale, put up DIRECTIONAL signs around your neighborhood. But don't do it too soon or you risk your signs being blown down or rained on. BLOCK OFF any areas you don't want shoppers to enter -- especially if you plan to hold your sale in your garage, basement, or interior of your home. And finally, get a good night's sleep -- you'll need it!

THE DAY OF THE SALE
You will want to start setting up 1-2 hours before your sale is scheduled to start. When the shoppers arrive, put one person in charge of cash box -- never let them leave it UNGUARDED. And most of all, have fun -- let your kids sell snacks and play some peppy music! Just think of what a load is being lifted -- and how much extra cash you'll have at the end!

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Ramona Creel is the founder of OnlineOrganizing.com -- offering "a world of organizing solutions!"

Visit OnlineOrganizing.com for organizing products, free tips, a speakers bureau -- and even get a referral for a Professional Organizer near you. And if you are interested in becoming a Professional Organizer, we have all the tools you need to succeed. (Copyright 2000, Ramona Creel)

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