How to Organize and Run a Yard/Garage Sale

Have things you don't need? Need quick cash? This is they way to do it!

Method 1
Method 1 of 7:

Getting Everything You Need

  1. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 1
    1
    Find some tables, blankets, or empty boxes. With the tables you can set them in your driveway and put your items on them. Boxes can contain free items or items all costing the same. Blankets can be used to put clothes/shoes on them.
  2. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 2
    2
    Get price labels or tape to write on. With pricing labels you don't have to write all the prices down. If you can't find any just buy a large roll of duct tape or white/blue tape and write prices on it with a marker.
    Advertisement
  3. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 3
    3
    Get a sign That says you have a yard sale and an arrow pointing down the direction it's in. If you can't find any you can make your own with cardboard, a stick, and duct tape.
    • Use duct tape to tape stick to the back
    • Make letters and arrow with duct tape, or find markers.
  4. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 4
    4
    Buy something to safely lock your money away in. A jewelry box with a lock, a cash box, or anything else can work if you don't have the money to buy anything.
  5. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 5
    5
    Have a few chairs around to sit on. If you have somewhere to sit down you won't get as tired.
    6. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 7:

The Day To Be Held

  1. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 6
    1
    Pick a day and time that works well.
    • day with no rain!
    • a weekend
    • from morning to afternoon (more time to let people buy your stuff)
    • not too hot, not too cold. (if it's hot sell drinks also.... more money)
  2. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 7
    2
    Put the date and time on your sign. So people can know in advance.
    3. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 7:

Letting People Know

  1. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 8
    1
    Use Facebook. Post a status about it. Say when it is and the address,and ask your friends to tell their friends as well.
  2. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 9
    2
    Put your sign up at an intersection near your neighborhood. If you do this make sure it has your address on it and the date and time!
    3. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 7:

Pricing

  1. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 10
    1
    Decide all what you're selling.
  2. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 11
    2
    Inspect the items. If they're in good condition and cost a lot make the price higher. If they're in bad condition make the price low or free
    3. Advertisement
Method 5
Method 5 of 7:

Set Up

  1. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 12
    1
    Put up the tables in your driveway so that people have a space to walk and look at everything. The more space the better.
  2. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 13
    2
    Put some large blankets in the front yard. If you have them near the tables people won't have space to look.
  3. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 14
    3
    Make a place for you to put your money holder and chair for yourself.
    • a small fold up table and chair will work
  4. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 15
    4
    Put the boxes on the ground beside the tables and/or blankets. Label how much the items inside it costs by using a marker to write on the box. Make sure people can see them.
  5. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 16
    5
    Put the items on the tables, blankets, and in the boxes.
    • books go with books, shoes go with shoes. Put everything that is the same close to each other so it's easier to find others
    • double check everything is priced
    6. Advertisement
Method 6
Method 6 of 7:

Running The Yard Sale

  1. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 17
    1
    Make sure no one is stealing anything. It's against the law, and you lose money.
  2. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 18
    2
    Be kind to the people buying things. If they have a question then answer it. If they're being rude or disruptive then ask them to leave nicely.
  3. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 19
    3
    Have a calculator with you if you aren't good with change. You'll need it if you're bad at math; some people will get mad if they're short of change or will try to make you think you didn't give them the right amount when you did.
  4. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 20
    4
    If someone looks like they're having trouble ask them if they need help. Being kind may help you with sales.
    5. Advertisement
Method 7
Method 7 of 7:

Afterwards

  1. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 21
    1
    Gather the unsold items in empty boxes. You can hold another yard sale or donate them. Put them in your garage (another yard sale) or car (donation).
  2. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 22
    2
    Put up the tables and chairs.
  3. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 23
    3
    Fold up your blankets.
  4. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 24
    4
    Get rid of the boxes. If they're recyclable then recycle them, please.
  5. Image titled Organize and Run a Yard_Garage Sale Step 25
    5
    Get your money and count it.
    6. Advertisement

Community Q&A

  • Question
    How do I figure how to price items?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Ask yourself what you would pay for it at someone else's sale and add a few dollars to it, so you can drop the price a bit if people want to haggle.
  • Question
    Should I go through all of my stuff the day before the sale?
    C Grace
    C Grace
    Community Answer
    That seems like a stressful idea, leaving it to the last minute. Start collecting stuff for the sale days or even weeks ahead. The day before the sale, sort and price everything, and decide how you are going to display it all.
  • Question
    New towel sets. How much should I ask?
    C Grace
    C Grace
    Community Answer
    That is up to you to decide; it depends on how much you paid for them. The goal of a yard sale is to get rid of stuff, so if you have priced them too high, you should let your customers talk you down to a price they are willing to pay.
Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Price Yard Sale Items
How to
Price Yard Sale Items
Have a Garage Sale
How to
Have a Garage Sale
Sell Your Hair
How to
Sell Your Hair
Find out How Much Something Is Worth
How to
Find out How Much Something Is Worth
Sell PuppiesHow to Sell Puppies
Sell Breast Milk
How to
Sell Breast Milk
Tell if a Chinese Vase Is Valuable
How to
Tell if a Chinese Vase Is Valuable
Sell Old 45 Records from the 50's
How to
Sell Old 45 Records from the 50's
Calculate the Value of Scrap Gold
How to
Calculate the Value of Scrap Gold
Price a Gold Chain by the Gram
How to
Price a Gold Chain by the Gram
Sell Copper
How to
Sell Copper
Advertise a Garage Sale on Facebook on PC or Mac
How to
Advertise a Garage Sale on Facebook on PC or Mac
Sell a TV
How to
Sell a TV
Make Money by Selling Other People Products
How to
Make Money by Selling Other People Products
Advertisement

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 16,566 times.
24 votes - 91%
Co-authors: 6
Updated: July 19, 2022
Views: 16,566
Categories: Selling
Advertisement