Declutter Your Life with a Yard Sale

Look around your house. How much of that ‘stuff’ do you really need? Do you really need that set of china you were given 23 years ago as an anniversary gift from your grandmother? What about all those toys you bought for Junior that he played with twice and then discarded? Whether it is spring cleaning or a new house, cleaning out the clutter from your life is a great way to cash in.

A great way to declutter your life (and bring in some bucks!) is to have a yard sale. Here are a few simple tips to selling all that ‘stuff’.

Consider having a block yard sale. Talk to your neighbors and see if they want to join you in your little venture. Explain to them that by combining efforts, you will draw a larger crowd of potential buyers and you will all make out great!

Once you pick a date, start cleaning up the items you will be selling. Nobody wants to buy that bureau with dust all over it. Take the time to make your items sale-friendly. Wash the dishes and run any clothing through the washer.

Buy some price stickers at your local dollar store. Make sure you put a price sticker on all of your items. Buyers get annoyed when they don’t know the price of an item, and you won’t be readily available to tell each and every person how much something costs.

Put ads in your local paper and a simple yard sale sign at the major intersections near your ‘place of business.’ Consider placing a few flyers at your grocery store, school, or church that advertises your upcoming sale.

On the day of the sale, make sure you have enough singles and coins to make change with. If at all possible, keep the sale money on you – in a money belt or fanny pack. If that isn’t possible, assign someone to be in charge of the cash box so it is not left unattended.

Be prepared for bargain hunters; plenty of people will want to haggle with you on the price. Be flexible and don’t be stingy. Remember you want to get rid of this stuff and make a little extra cash. The rule of thumb for selling items at a yard sale is roughly 40 to 60 percent of the original price of the item.