A 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!
Roy smiling at a yard sale we helped my parents set up last year. 
Our Own Yard Sale, June 2016
I printed out a copy of the checklist and signs from the kits below.
Rather than a money box I opted for a sectioned pouch that I wore at all times. 
We put our signs up the morning of, after we had the yard sale set up.
Ready to go!
Our granddaughter sold lemonade and cookies for $25.
Yard Sale Supplies
All of these items are listed in our downloadable kit.
- 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. )
Yard Sale Kit & Checklist Download
(pdfs)
Yard Sale Outline
This info is in our kit as a printable check list.
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.
Interesting 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 |
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?
Share away! Sorry it took me a few days to answer. I was traveling for a couple days without my laptop!
I have a very large pile of stuff and really need to put a yard sale together!! This is a great resource. I pinned it for the day that I find someone who will let me borrow their yard. 😉
Just find some folks who want to have one also. The more the merrier! People love HUGE sales. Thanks for commenting Jamie.
This information is perfect! What a great way to stay organized and on top of the chaos! Would you mind sharing at my link party?
http://www.thestonybrookhouse.com/2016/06/how-to-install-brick-garden-bordersthe.html
Thanks Lori! I’ll join in your party each week from this point on. Thanks for the invite! (I added your site link on my sidebar also.)
Coming from that diy party, this is a great list and I am amazed at the detail.
Numbers and percentages?!
I pinned. 🙂
Thank you!
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 🙂
So glad my checklist will be helpful. That’s an excellent idea about the color coding too! Thanks Jessica for stopping by and good luck on your sale! Ü