Surprise Mom with Garden Signs This Mother’s Day

Want to make some extra money? Try your hand at having a yard sale; not only is this a great way to earn, but it is also an effective way to clear out clutter and lighten your load. A successful yard sale is not a difficult endeavor, but it does require some effort, energy, and investment.

Tips for making your yard or rummage sale a big success include:

Signs, signs-everywhere a sign.

If you want a crowd on yard sale day, you need to advertise. Signs are an important part of the process and may be the only way to draw in visitors to your event. Invest in decent, corrugated signs (from an outlet such as Design Four Inc) that you can use again and again; check out vendor samples to find affordable and durable signs that have an evergreen quality.

Set up a decent cash drawer.

Don't get caught without cash to make change when customers come to buy; taking time out and your eyes away from your sale to try and find change can be a costly mistake. Prepare ahead of time, and purchase ones, fives, and plenty of coins to keep in your cash drawer. Use one depository for your money and keep it safe and secured at all times.

Tag your swag.

When customers have to ask for a price on something, it can deter them from buying. Take the time and extra effort to tag all of your items with a price tag if possible. Verbalize to your customers that you are open to negotiation, or haggling, as desired.

Don't forget the permit.

Most municipalities have laws in place that require vendors, including yard sale sellers, to obtain a permit for their event. These are inexpensive and are usually good for more than one sale, so be sure to take care of this prior to your sale. Display this prominently in the event you are asked, and to reassure your customers that you are following the law.

Hone haggling skills.

If you are not someone who enjoys the banter of negotiation, start honing some haggling skills. It is likely that someone arriving at your sale is going to make you an offer below what you are asking for an item; will you accept the offer? Will you regret it later?

Some tips when haggling include these:

• Never be the first one to throw out a number. If your stuff is tagged, this point is moot.
• Make the buyer feel like they are getting something, and you should also feel rewarded by the transaction.
• Always be polite and respectful. Don't get offended or angry; simply decline and move on.

A regularly scheduled yard sale is an excellent supplemental source of income- as well as an effective way of clearing your clutter. Take steps to organize your stuff and market your sale so that you can drive potential buyers to your door. Use these tips to help ensure your sale is worth the effort and a financial success.