When spring appears, the clutter accumulated over winter starts to feel oppressive. What better way to divest than a tag sale? Just as you would prepare your home for sale, when you have a yard sale you need to prepare your “stuff” for sale too. This preparation requires some work, organization and planning, often several weeks in advance. If you’re thinking of selling your home, you will likely be de-cluttering and clearing away things, a particularly good reason for a yard sale. For more hints on how to carry one off take a look at Chris Heiska’s web site www.yardsalequeen.com

Tips from the Pros
Create a list of numbered items with prices. Individual tags can get misplaced but a master list will assure that all the necessary information is available.

Color code tags and stickers so that small items in particular have a tag that reflects a specific price: i.e. blue is 25 cents, green – .50, yellow – $1.00, orange – $5.00. etc.

Pricing things at a quarter of what you paid for them is the advised guideline. Keep in mind that people are looking for real bargains at tag sales.

Put large scale, big ticket items hung with big tags near the front, easily visible from the street. These items attract more attention than little bric-a-brac. The squeal of brakes is a good sign that it’s working.

Create category tables: tools, gadgets, yard items can attract male shoppers; strollers, high chairs, etc., attract the moms. You know what attracts the kids!

Set up tables so that things are neatly displayed. Needless to say everything should be sparkling clean and polished. (This can mean a lot of before-sale work.)

If you’re selling clothing, be sure to hang them so that they’re easier to look through. Use your steamer to quickly get rid of the most persistent wrinkles. (Clothing does not sell all that well. You might prefer to donate it.)

Make it easy for people to read the titles of CD’s, tapes and books. Separate hard cover from paperbacks. If you have a lot of these to sell, do 2 for the price of 1 – a classic way to move more merchandise.

People like to know that electrical appliances and electronics work. Have an extension cord nearby so that these kinds of items can be tested.

Have plenty of paper bags and newspaper to wrap your customer’s finds. A few boxes are probably a good idea as well.

Be sure to have plenty of small bills and coins to make change. A fanny pack works well here.

Advertise, Advertise, Advertise; The Penny Saver, the internet and posted LEGIBLE flyers! BUT, be sure after the sale to remove your flyers otherwise you’re contributing to unsightly litter and probably breaking the law. In addition there are plenty of free internet sites on which to advertise. See the yard sale queen’s site for some suggestions. To keep early birds from adding to the chaos, give your location as the block rather than your specific address, i.e. Main Street between Maple and Elm.

Don’t try and do it alone. You’ll need an assistant for bathroom breaks or for when you’re involved with a customer and besides, it’s more fun when you have company! Oh, and if you decide that you’re not up to all the extra work, I can recommend professional tag sale people who will handle the sale for you!

Whatever you do, don’t try to sell your home on your own! Your need for my help with that far exceeds any guidance I can give you on coping with a tag sale!