Yard sales are a very popular activity these days. It’s rare to find a weekend without a few sales going, especially in the fall when moderate temperatures make the prospect of spending the morning in the yard more appealing. If you’re thinking of hosting your own yard sale there are a few precautions that you should take before advertising and opening your home. Yard salers may seem like a harmless bunch but you can never be too careful.
Before the sale:
- Don’t include personal information in your ad or signage. Your address is a must but you don’t need to give out your name, phone number, e-mail or other contact info.
- Don’t make yourself a target for thieves. Listing the value of big ticket items in your advertising can be an invitation to the wrong sort of shoppers. In fact, particularly valuable pieces would be better sold through other avenues.
- Secure your items prior to the sale. It’s tempting to set up the night before so that you can be ready to go bright and early but you’ll want to make sure that your items are safe until you’re ready to begin selling.
During the sale:
- Stay sun safe. Even in the fall, the sun’s rays can be dangerous. Wear sunscreen, a hat and seek shade whenever possible. Stay hydrated and remember to eat as well. The thrill of the sale can make you forget how long it has been since you last ate or drank something.
- Lock your doors and don’t allow strangers into your home, regardless of how sweet and innocent they seem. Offer directions to the nearest store/restaurant/etc that offers public restrooms if anyone asks.
- Have a helper. Working a sale alone is just asking for trouble. While we’d like to believe that everyone is honest, that’s not necessarily true. Having at least two people working your sale reduces the chances of someone stealing items while you’re helping another customer. Working in pairs also frees you up to take bathroom breaks or get refreshments as needed.
- If you’re using a cash box you should have a dedicated helper whose sole job is to man it. Unattended cash is a powerful temptation that you should avoid.
- Don’t accept checks from people you don’t know. If the check bounces it can be a huge hassle, if not impossible, to get the funds.
- Keep kids and pets safe. Bargain hunters can be a focused lot. They may not notice small children or pets running around which could be disastrous for all involved.
After the sale:
- Don’t keep large amounts of cash on hand. Get to the bank and deposit your profits as soon as you can.
- Donate unsold items so they aren’t cluttering up your yard, garage, etc.
Get the Most Out of Your Yard Sale | Easy Online Inventory System
Before, during and after your yard sale you need Stockpile. You can maximize your benefits by using our easy online inventory system. If you already have your possessions entered in Stockpile it will be easy to determine which items are fodder for your sale. As you pull items to sell, update their entries in Stockpile. This will save you wasted energy later searching for something that you’ve sold. During the sale you’ll be able to pull up details about items that you are offering which can help you make the sale. Imagine how confident your buyers will feel when you can provide specifics about the age of an item, where it was purchased, whether or not it still has a valid warranty and more. After the yard sale Stockpile easy online inventory system can provide you with valuable details on how successful you were. You’ll be able to see how much you made vs. the number of items sold and decide for yourself whether or not it was worth all the time and energy you expended.
We hope these tips help you stay safe during your yard sale. Please check back with us soon for more yard sale basics.
Buyer Beware: Things to Keep in Mind Before Hitting the Yard Sales
Whoo Hoo! Winning the Yard Sale Game
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