Yard Sales: Ditch The Clutter & Earn Some Cash

[caption id="attachment_6181" align="alignleft" width="258" caption="Having A Successful Yard Sale"][/caption]

If the idea of decluttering your home doesn't appeal to you, consider selling those unwanted items in your very own yard sale. Here are some tips for having a successful yard sale:

If Mad Men has taught us anything, it's that a good ad campaign can sell anything. Take that same idea into account when planning your yard sale. Think about your ideal customer and coordinate your mini-campaign around them. Are you selling a bunch of geek-friendly electronics or books? Mention that in the advertisement. Dumping a ton of art? Make sure your posters are artsy so people know that your garage sale is the best garage sale for cool art. Knowing what to put on the ads is just the first part—knowing where to put them is an art onto itself. Here's a step by step guide:

1. Put posters everywhere: Put posters up in your neighborhood, at community centers, and local shops. Basically, anywhere you possibly can. If you're near a college, go to the college and put up signs there. When you're making signs, make sure you put up a few windproof ones so people don't go wandering down the wrong street after a gust of wind pushes your sign a block away.
2. Advertise online: Put a posting on Craigslist, eBayClassifieds, and YardSaleSearch. Don't just post "Cool furniture." The more descriptive you are of your actual merchandise the better chances you have to reel people in. Have an antique Herman Miller chair? Mention that—even it's beaten up and covered in a thick layer of cat hair. The point is to get the right "type" of person to take an interest. Garage sale-aficionados will come regardless of what you have, you need to worry getting the people who actually want the stuff in your yard.

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