Are you still in the process of spring cleaning? Do you have many no longer useful objects to dispose of? Consider having a yard sale at your Greenville NC home to rid yourself of unwanted items, make some money, and recycle at the same time.

According to yard sale “experts,” the most important step in having a yard sale success is advanced planning and preparation. This process includes:

Weeks Before:

  • Check with your municipal government re: the need for a permit and ordinances regulating placement of signs.
  • Accumulate all the belongings you wish to sell in one spot and begin sorting them into categories such as toys, clothing, furniture. Doing this in advance allows time for you to reconsider and retrieve something you really want to keep and helps in writing an effective advertisement.
  • Decide the purpose of your sale. Do you want to make a good deal of money or will you settle for less in order to rid yourself of clutter? If you really desire a money-making project, you might consider advertising on EBay or Craig’s List rather than investing your time in a yard sale.
  • Encourage neighbors of your Greenville NC home to join you or hold their on sale on the same day. Yard sale junkies are more apt to come to a multifamily sale or to an area that gives them more than one opportunity to shop for treasures.
  • Decide on a date and times. Avoid conflicts with holidays and community events. A Also determine the duration of the sale--1 day or 2?
  • Compose ads for your sale and contact newspapers or community newsletter editors and begin making signs. In ads for papers, newsletter, and bulletin boards, give detailed information about the items for sale, e.g., children’s clothes, fishing gear, dining room chairs. Remember, your ad will be one of many, and your goal is to draw as many people as possible..

The Week Before:

  • Plan the layout of your display at your Greenville NC homeboxes. Make sure customers will have room to browse and can easily see all items. Arrange to borrow tables.
  • Price ALL objects (colorful stickers work best). Put prices on top of the items. A general rule of thumb is to price things at about 1/3 of what they would cost new. You can always lower prices later in the day. You might also use general signs to denote prices, such as “All books 25 cents” or “Anything on this table-50 cents”.
  • Get cash to make change. Get rolls of dimes, nickels, quarters; a stack of 25 one dollar bills, and a few fives and tens. Do not use a cashbox! A fanny pack is much more secure.
  • Gather extension cords so that people can test any electronic items.
  • Collect grocery bags and newspaper for wrapping purchases.

The Night Before:

  • Verify that everything is priced.
  • Have tables, table coverings, and cords ready to go.
  • Put up signs in the neighborhood. Avoid attaching them to utility poles.
  • Buy balloons to attract customers and alert them to your location.

The Day Of:

  • Get up with the rooster to set up your display. There will always be bargain hunters who arrive an hour early!
  • Check your display for neatness and ease of browsing. Have you created an environment that beckons treasure seekers?
  • Designate a “spotter” to watch over your items. Unfortunately, yard sales often draw thieves.
  • Be friendly and engage with the shoppers. Greet all comes and be prepared to bargain in a pleasant manner.
  • Relax and enjoy the experience.

The Day After:

  • COUNT YOUR MONEY!
  • Take down all signs.
  • Collect unsold items to give to charity. Do not put them back into your Greenville NC home!
  • Give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done!