by Veronica Bowman

Created on: September 17, 2009   Last Updated: September 20, 2009

A yard sale is a good way to make some extra money. However, you have to put some work and effort into your yard sale in order to have a successful sale.

You absolutely must advertise your sale. Put up signs directing people to your sale. Make sure the signs are bright and the writing is bold and easy to read. Advertise in your local newspaper. Tell family and friends and ask them to pass the word along. Advertise your sale with a good drawing card. List something you have to sell that you know people will be interested in.

Before the day of your sale make sure the area where the items will be displayed is free of debris. Don't put your yard sale items in precarious places. You want to reduce the chances of anyone falling while shopping at your sale.

Make as much space as possible available for parking. If you have a circle drive, keep it open to make it easy in and easy out for your shoppers. If you don't have a circle drive but can make a space available for guest to turn around rather than back into a highway that would be good.

Have plenty of small bills and change available on the day of your yard sale. Regular yard sale shoppers usually arrive with small bills and change in their pocket but there are some people who arrive with $10 or $20 bills and you stand a chance of them walking away from an item if you are short of change.

Your sale will be more successful if you organize the items in a general way. Set up areas for clothes, shoes, toys, books, tools, household items and whatever else you have to sell. Place as many items as possible on tables, not on the ground or under the table where it may be difficult for some people to reach the items. Hanging your clothes rather than having them folded makes it easier for people to see what you have to sell. Place an attention grabber in the most visible place in order to get people to stop so they will shop.

Put prices on the items. You may lose a sale simply because the person looking at an item wouldn't ask the price. Even if you know you will negotiate on prices, at least put a starting amount on each item.

It will be easier on you if you have someone who can assist you that day. Perhaps you could have a combined yard sale with a family member or neighbor. When you have several people shopping at once it is a little difficult to keep up with collecting money and answering questions. Having a helper is a bonus.

As the day progresses you may want to reduce prices or be more willing to negotiate. Most likely you don't want to have to figure out what to do with the items that don't sell. Offer to group several items together for one price to make a sale.

Be patient. Wear your best smile. People can ask some odd or annoying questions at a yard sale. They may relentlessly try to wear you down on a price. As difficult as it may be, you need to keep a smile on your face and an enthusiastic attitude. Encourage sales. Watch people. See what they're most interested in and give them your best sales pitch.

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