There’s nothing like a good yard sale to help turn the extra clutter into extra cash. Whether you plan to host one in the heat of the summer or want to get a head start for fall, we hope this guide will help you with a successful sale!
Pick A Date
The first, and possibly most important, step is to pick a date. Planning 6-8 weeks in advance allows for plenty of time to prepare. Consider holidays, vacations, family activities, and other important events when choosing your date. Fridays and Saturdays tend to be the most popular days for yard sales; however, many have success with sales starting on Thursday and running as late Sunday.
Pick the days and times that reasonably fit into your schedule. Check to see if your city or neighborhood hosts a community yard sale. Local areas that I have seen advertised include: The State Streets, Eagles Landing, St. George, Wamego, Council Grove, Clay Center, Junction City, Fort Riley, Riley, and others. Additionally, if you can join with other households for a multifamily sale, you may have an even better turnout.
Prep Your Items
Use the 4-6 weeks prior to your sale to do a sweep of your home, room by room. Think of areas you may have forgotten about, such as the garage, attic, or storage areas. If you regularly declutter your home you may want to start gathering unneeded items a few months in advance.
Gather Supplies
Keep an eye out for yard sale supplies (signs, stickers, posterboard or cardstock, markers, tape, etc.) at the store. Check Dollar Tree first; items can go quickly in the season, so grab them when you find them! Walmart and Target are also good options for supplies. Other items to secure include: folding tables, tablecloths and blankets, and optionally, rolling garment racks. Ask family, friends, or neighbors to borrow supplies you may not have on hand. If you don’t have access to tables and racks, don’t worry, you can still have a successful sale; blankets on the ground with items displayed neatly work great too!
Advertise Your Yard Sale
The week of your sale you will want to advertise your sale on social media. I have found Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, and Craigslist to be the best. You will want to include details such as address, dates and times, highlighting any large or popular items. You may choose to make a flier ahead (I like the free templates on Canva.) or wait until your items are set up to include photos in your ad.
Organize and Price Items
A day or two before your sale will be time to organize and price your items. If you have a garage with the space, I have found it to be easiest to set up your items first and then go back to price. If you plan to set up in your driveway or yard you will want to price items before setting them out the morning of your sale. Other pricing options can be tagging guns, bulk pricing with signs, or color-coded systems. I have found it easiest to keep pricing to $1 or more; if you have items of lesser value, put those in a free section or group multiple together for one price.
Payment Options
The day of your sale you will want to have cash on hand. One hundred dollars in smaller bills is more than sufficient. A belt bag makes the perfect place to carry cash. I highly advise offering cash free payment options such as PayPal, Venmo, or CashApp. To make payments easier, make signs with your username and/or QR code for each method.
Yard Sale Set Up
As you set up, arrange items like you would see in a store, keeping like items together, with visible pricing. Plan and maintain walkable spaces. Smaller items display better on tables and shelves. Items of high value should be placed in an area that can be easily monitored. Placing large items close to the road will help draw attention to your sale. Books, movies, and music display well in large tubs or boxes. Sort clothing items by size then hang or display neatly on a table or blanket. Test any electronics in advance, offer batteries and extension cords or outlets for testing. Don’t forget remotes and accessories!
The Day of the Sale
Start your sale at the time advertised but also plan for early birds, especially if you are setting up in your driveway or yard. Be friendly and welcoming. Try to greet each guest as they arrive, a simple “hi, let me know if you have questions” is perfect. Offer bags or boxes as needed. Expect haggling, 
keeping your bottom price in mind. Throughout your sale keep items neat and organized, moving and consolidating as needed. This is also a good time to repost on social media with updated photos. You may also attract traffic in the way of messages so if you have some down time in your sale, it’s a good idea to check and respond to any messages. If you notice items don’t seem to be moving, don’t be afraid to lower your prices, have a bag sale or half-price sale. Items you want gone can be placed in a free section towards the street.
After The Sale
After your sale, determine what you want to donate, and what (if any) you plan to store for a future sale or for resell on other formats (marketplace, Poshmark, consignment sales, etc.). Another option is to host an “unsale.” Unsales are especially popular on Buy Nothing or other gifting communities but are best coordinated and advertised ahead of time. If you plan to box up and donate, see our guide here for local donation options. Don’t forget to remove your signs and online advertisements. Once cleanup is complete, sit back, enjoy your profits and a decluttered home!
