Thinking Of Having A Yard Sale?

"One man's junk is another man's treasure" this statement is so true, so If your annual spring cleaning has produced a mountain of unused and unwanted items, you may want to think twice before you simply toss them out. You may want to think about having a yard sale.

Every weekend from May - August you'll find yard sales popping up in neighbourhoods everywhere, along with that come yard sale "junkies." For many people, scouring yard sales for a bargain on a Saturday morning is an art. Why not take advantage of that fact to make some cash off your cast-offs and have fun while you're at it.

The Ontario Real Estate Association and your local REALTOR^® offer the following tips to host a successful yard sale:

First, settle on a date and time for your sale. Weekends are the best for yard sales, and most run from 8 or 9 a.m. until 1 or 2 p.m. You'll also need to set a rain date, usually the next day if your sale is on a Saturday, or the following weekend if your date is Sunday.

Most sellers advertise by posting signs on lamp posts and hydro poles. This is a more effective than you might suspect. Veteran buyers will scout a neighbourhood during the week looking for telltale flyers. Many of your customers will use this method. 

Have someone present at all times. Theft is unlikely, but many sellers have learned the hard way that it does happen. Placing valuable items closer to your sales desk is a good idea.

Running out of change is also a problem that plagues many sales. As most of your transactions will involve small amounts, it never hurts to have $50 or more in small bills and loonies and twoonies at hand. Buyers will often stop at a bank machine before they come, so expect to get a lot of tens and twenties early in the day.

Think like a yard sale buyer
The ability to deliver the kind of goods and services that buyers want is perhaps the most important factor in the success of your sale. There are a number of items that are always in high demand: art, antiques (even distressed pieces), furniture, appliances, electronic equipment, tools, baby items. If you have goods in any of these categories, mention them in your flyer or ad.

Surprisingly, many veteran yard salers are not interested in old clothing. Unless you've got something special to offer, you can expect to turn much of your old wardrobe over to charity.

As to pricing your goods, nothing turns away a potential buyer more than a price that is too high. You can always expect haggling, but most won't even bother if you price an old lamp at $20, when similar items can be had for $5. The best plan of action is to attend a few sales the week before, and find out the going prices.  If you have a lot of items at the same price think of having a $1, $2, $5, table or area this will also makes things easier to price and will attract people to look through like a rummage sale.

How you physically place your goods can also make a big difference. Don't clutter up your yard.  This is a great opportunity to be creative.

Finally, the success of a yard sale is measured not only by the money you have made but by the space you have gained in your home and the great feeling that decluttering your home will bring you.