5 Tips for Making Your Yard Sale a Success

Having a yard sale is a great way to get rid of unwanted items in your home and garage. Whether you're cleaning out clutter, remodeling, or moving, our real estate agents know that hosting a yard sale can help you clean up your home and generate extra cash for household expenses or donations to your favorite charity.

When a yard sale is done right, it draws a lot of attention from neighbors, people searching for collectibles, and buyers looking for Georgetown homes for sale. That old saying, "one man's trash is another man's treasure," is what makes yard sales so popular. Here are 5 tips for making your yard sale a big success.

1. Start Collecting Items
   Before you plan your yard sale, go through your closets, cabinets, and garage and collect all items you want to sell. First, make sure that all items for sale are in good condition. Next, focus on sorting and getting organized. To make sorting easier, group items into specific categories such as clothing, linens, kitchen wares, small appliances, toys, workout gear, gardening equipment, and household tools. Tip: It's helpful to round up some boxes before you start sorting to keep things organized.

2. Price Your Items
   To stay organized and reduce stress, it's best to price your yard sale items ahead of time. Pricing can take a long time, so don't wait until a day or two before the sale to think about it. Allowing extra time for pricing will ensure bigger profits and a successful yard sale. Here are some helpful tips for pricing sale items:

• Use Price Tags – To stay organized and save money, buy some inexpensive tags or stickers from a local discount store. Mark each item's price with a permanent marker. Apply the tags or stickers to each item with string or masking tape.

• Create Pricing Sheets – If you're selling a lot of clothing, create pricing sheets so you don't have to put a price tag on each item. Place pricing sheets in clear sheet protectors and hang them near the clothing. Keep extra copies near the payment area.

3. Pick a Sale Date
   Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are the best days for a yard sale. Scheduling your sale on the first weekend of the month when many people get paid can also increase turnout and profits. When choosing a sale date, schedule it at least one month out to allow the necessary time for collecting, sorting, and pricing items and advertising the sale. Tip: Since it's difficult to predict the weather in advance, be prepared for rain with tents, tarps, or umbrellas to avoid canceling the sale.

4. Gather Sale Essentials
   At least a week before the sale, make sure you have all the necessary essentials for a successful event. This includes:

• Display tables

• Hanging rods for clothes

• Paper or plastic bags

• A calculator and receipt book

• Pens and scissors

• Sold tags

5. Advertise the Sale
   You have to advertise if you want a successful yard sale. A few days before the sale, advertise your sale by hanging weatherproof signs or flyers, posting online ads, and posting on social media. Make sure you identify the items for sale, especially sought-after items like toys, electronics, tools, and collectibles. Signs and online ads should always look the same and include the yard sale dates, times, and property address.

If you're considering buying or selling a home in Georgetown, contact us for available homes and pricing that suits your lifestyle.