Yard Sale Kit & Tips : Declutter & Profit!

A yard sale is a great way to declutter and make some extra cash. Grab one of our printable kits with tips and checklist that will assure your success!blank630x20A yard sale is a great way to declutter and make some extra cash.    Having participated in and attended more than my fair share of them through the years,  I’ve created a printable kit (actually 5 of them!) that has a detailed list of great pointers and an outline to assure your success.  The kit is filled with useful printables of all types including some you probably wouldn’t think of such as a “Testing Station”. There’s also an inventory sheet to keep track of what sells.

So grab the kit of your choice (we have five colors) and start planning your most awesomely successful yard sale ever!  To help you gather your items, check out our 3 Box Rule Dejunking article.  It will take the pain out of cleaning out!

A yard sale is a great way to declutter and make some extra cash. Grab one of our printable kits with tips and checklist that will assure your success!blank630x20

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Roy smiling at a yard sale we helped my parents set up last year. A yard sale is a great way to declutter and make some extra cash. Grab one of our printable kits with tips and checklist that will assure your success!

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Our Own Yard Sale, June 2016

I printed out a copy of the checklist and signs from the kits below.A yard sale is a great way to declutter and make some extra cash. Grab one of our printable kits with tips and checklist that will assure your success!

blank630x20Rather than a money box I opted for a sectioned pouch that I wore at all times. A yard sale is a great way to declutter and make some extra cash. Grab one of our printable kits with tips and checklist that will assure your success!

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We put our signs up the morning of, after we had the yard sale set up.

A yard sale is a great way to declutter and make some extra cash. Grab one of our printable kits with tips and checklist that will assure your success!

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Ready to go!A yard sale is a great way to declutter and make some extra cash. Grab one of our printable kits with tips and checklist that will assure your success!

blank630x20Our granddaughter sold lemonade and cookies for $25.A yard sale is a great way to declutter and make some extra cash. Grab one of our printable kits with tips and checklist that will assure your success!

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Yard Sale Supplies

All of these items are listed in our downloadable kit.

 

A yard sale is a great way to declutter and make some extra cash. Grab one of our printable kits with tips and checklist that will assure your success!

  • Price stickers. We used these and they make pricing easy!
  • Money Box  We’ve actually used a shoe box in years past. Whatever you use, make sure it’s in someone’s possession at all times.
  • Batteries for items. (You can use cheap ones, just make sure battery operated items are equipped.)
  • Clear zip lock bags to hold parts of small items.
  • Extension Cord and Power Strip  (For a testing table.)
  • Tables (borrow as many as you can)
  • Lots of change, bills and coins.
  • Saved grocery bags (to put buyer’s items in.)
  • Soft music (Optional. See checklist)
  • Refreshments, drinks or items for a very inexpensive bake sale. (Optional. See checklist.)
  • Full Yard Sale Kit (In case you’d rather not make your own signs. We strongly suggest you still print our check list. )

blank630x20Yard Sale Kit & Checklist Download

(pdfs)

A yard sale is a great way to declutter and make some extra cash. Grab one of our printable kits with tips and checklist that will assure your success!

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Yard Sale Outline

This info is in our kit as a printable check list.

IMPORTANT TIPS AT A GLANCE
Have a lot to sell or wait until you do.
Sell working, clean items.
Put batteries in things.
Price everything.
Do NOT overprice.
Have lots of change (coins and bills).
Set up a testing table with a power strip.
Use a money box that someone handles at all times.
Take down street signs and ads at the end.DECLUTTER
•Spend months/weeks/days gathering stuff to sell.
•Our article “3 Box Rule Dejunking” will help you out!
http://bit.ly/3boxruleCHOOSE THE DAY OR WEEKEND
Saturdays are the best day for yard sales.
• Check the weather forecast.
•Don’t schedule the sale on holidays.
•Don’t schedule the sale when big events are happening.ADVERTISE
Week Before:
•Place an ad on www.craigslist.org
•Place an ad on www.garagesalestracker.com
•Place an ad on www.garagesalecow.com
•Place a notice on any local bulletin boards.
•Make signs to hang the day of the sale. (Signs included.)PREPARATION
•Go to the bank and get plenty of change (coins and bills).
•Use a money box. Assign someone to be with the box at all times. (Pay Here & Cash Only Sign included.)
•Load up on grocery store bags.
•Make pricing labels or buy them ready made.
•Gather an extension cord and power strip.
•Gather batteries.
•Have a tape measure for people to use if needed.
•Use zip lock bags for items with small pieces.PREPARE ITEMS TO SELL
•Clean anything that is dirty.
•Make sure electrical and battery items work.
•Put batteries in things.
•Clearly price everything! Making people ask will lose you sales and it’s lazy.
•Do not overprice. Either you want to sell it or you don’t.
•Adjust a small amount so you can come down a little if asked. See “DAY OF” below.THINGS THAT MAKE A SALE EXTRA AWESOME
•Play soft music.
•Free doughnuts or a super cheap bake sale.
•Water or sodas. Sodas for a dime.
•If you sell treats super cheap or give them away it’s a good idea to put up a sign: Only 1 each please. (Sign included.)
•Put up a sale sign. For example $2 off if they spend $10 or more.DAY OF
7 AM is the best time to start a yard sale.
•Set up at least an hour early. People will come early to beat the crowd. Let them. Sending people away will lose you sales.
•Set up a “testing station” with a power strip for testing electrical items. (Sign included.)
•Place street signs in prominent, legal spots early in the morning. (Signs included.)
•Expect to be bid down. Adjust accordingly. People like to think they’re getting a good deal.
•Group like items together and use signs above the groups. (Signs included.)
•Keep things neat.
•Use tables if at all possible so people don’t have to bend over to look at everything.
•Do not pile stuff in boxes and make people dig through them.
•Hang clothing. Ironed clothing, hung up sells much better. (Don’t sell torn or stained items.)
•Have a FREE table. It’s good karma. Ü (Sign included.)

AFTER THE SALE
•Immediately donate the leftovers. Just do it and don’t think twice.
•Immediately take down signs and remove online ads.
•Count your money.

 

blank630x20Interesting Yard Sale Stats

From statisticbrain.com

Garage Sale Statistics
Average number of yard sales each week in the US 165,000
Average number of people who purchase something at a yard sale each week 690,000
Average number of yard sales listed on Craigslist each week 95,000
Average number of items sold at yard sales each week 4,967,500
Total US weekly revenue from yard sales $4,222,375
Best time to start a yard sale 7:00 am
Best day to hold a yard sale Saturday
3 Least liked yard sale items:       Stuffed Animals, Televisions, Magazines
3 Best loved yard sale items:       Tools, Collectibles, Sports Equipment
Those who expect to negotiate the price 42%
Those who leave within 2 minutes if they find nothing interesting. 97%
Average profit margin when items purchased are resold on eBay 462 %
Average Cost Per Item
Clothing apparel $0.59
Accessories $0.70
Crafting items $0.45
Decorative items $0.83
Entertainment (DVD, CD, Books, Games) $0.47
Household goods, (dishes, office supplies) $0.57
Yard items (plants, trimmers, mower) $2.37

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A yard sale is a great way to declutter and make some extra cash. Grab one of our printable kits with tips and checklist that will assure your success!blank630x20 A yard sale is a great way to declutter and make some extra cash. Grab one of our printable kits with tips and checklist that will assure your success!blank630x20

10 Comments

  1. Nice work Nancy! I love this post, the printables and your website, too! The bright, clean, uncluttered style, your beautiful photos and the professional-looking graphics make it easy and enjoyable to read.Your content is useful– not all fluff — and your personality shines through in your writing.

    May I have your permission to share?

    Reply
  2. I am having a yard sale in about a month and I will be using this checklist to be sure I don’t miss anything. I made colorful signs and category tags for my last sale and that was very helpful! Instead of using price stickers I just use small colored stickers to color code items for prices. Sheets were placed throughout the sale to show the coordinating colors and prices. Love your ideas 🙂

    Reply

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