The Great Yard Sale

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By Deborah Clark

Tis the season to be saling; Yard Saling that is. From the Victoria Day Weekend to Labour Day signs sprout up on boulevards and meridians across the country. Every community boasts these heralds of the season. They proclaim a wide range of treasures and treats, sure to tickle a fancy, and at bargain prices. The sales are as varied as the items they sell: individual, multi-family, moving, community, and charity to name a few. They all have one thing in common. They want to make money by getting rid of the things they no longer want or need.

A successful weekend yard sale can reap a small windfall. The following few guidelines will maximize the profits for you.

1. Know the prices for your area. If the normal yard sale prices for clothing is $1.00 per item or set, over pricing will result in low sales. However, if you underprice, the regular salers are still going to try to lower the price they want to pay.
2. Determine the lowest price you are willing to accept for anything in the sale beforehand. If you really want $100 for that used fridge, then mark it at $150 and let the salers dicker down. Make sure everyone helping you is aware of the bottom prices to accept.
3. Advertise your sale well. Construct large, easy to read signs. Post notices in the local grocery stores, drop-in centres, and community clubs, if it allowed. Newspapers have been offering specials; packages of promotional materials, reduced rates or free listings for garage/yard sales.
4. Consider involving other families or streets. If many families or an entire community plans a large sale, there will be a huge increase in buyers. Most salers plan out routes to maximize their opportunities. A large variety of objects available will increase the likelihood of selling more of your own stuff.
5. Label all the items clearly. If more than one family, or if family members are keeping track of individual sales, it is imperative to code the items. Colour coding is the easiest way. Use stickers of even prices in different colours to track the items sold and the final amount. Keep the amounts in a looseleaf binder, a page for each participant.
6. Keep the sale in a confined area. It is very difficult to keep track of what is happening when there are many of people milling around, looking for bargains. Unfortunately, some will want items for nothing at all.

With these simple rules, you can have the best Yard Sale of the season!

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