Yard Sales




Yard Sale Item # 534

 

Hi Puzzlers,

The end of May is fast approaching and you know what that brings don’t you?  The season of the yard sale!  I have to admit I’m addicted to them.  I have been scouring the local free dump store all year looking for wonderful treasures to keep and sell.  You know the old saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”  But this little tradition is also an eco friendly way to find new homes for perfectly good items that would otherwise end up in a land fill.  Below is a plan I developed for hosting a successful annual yard sale. 

*Collect, collect and keep collecting. When you have an item you no longer need or use, store it in a clearly marked “yard sale” box and keep the box in a closest until it is full.  Once it is full move it to the basement, attic or garage for long term storage and repeat as necessary.  I also like to make a list and tape it to the top of the box so I know what is in it.  This will make organizing the sale easier too. 

*Prepare and have a plan, do not wait until the last minute.  Start preparing a few     weeks in advance with a to-do-list.

*Check to make sure that there are no restrictions on having a yard sale in your area or neighborhood.  Do you need to buy a permit?

*Think about how you’ll be displaying your items, do you need extra tables and clothes-racks.  Remember to make your displays look attractive and not overly cluttered.

*Price every item; do not have a table that says everything is a dollar.  I like to purchase the pre-priced stickers in vibrant colors.  The size of the price tag should match the size of the item.  If you are selling a lazy boy recliner use a 3X5 index card.  Also, price these items to sell.  The appeal of a yard sale is to find a deal. When pricing, ask yourself, “Is this a good bargain?” 

*Advertise your sale. Clearly marked signs can make or break your sale.  If you live in a tough to find location make sure to use brightly colored signs and lots of them.  Once you have staked your signs do a drive-by to check how visible they are.  Advertise your sale in the local newspaper and post it daily on Craigslist which is free!

*Have plenty of change and keep back up in the house.  Keep your money secure in a fanny pack and never pull out a wad of cash.  Also keep a calculator handy for totaling merchandise.

*Have plenty of plastic grocery bags; they are perfect to put sold items in.  Also have newspaper available to wrap breakables and fragile items.

*Be ready and waiting for the early birds.  They come can up to an hour early.  I always welcome these people because they want to beat the crowd and have first dibs.  So don’t negotiate a price with these people, stand firm, you have the rest of the day to sell the item.

If you have a yard sale tip please share it with us.

Happy Puzzling!