There’s no better way of getting rid of all that extra stuff piling dirt in your garage than to sell it in a yard sale. The best part is that you can make dozens of extra dollars with a yard sale. Having a yard sale sounds like child’s play, but it’s much harder than you think.
From planning out your sale prices to arranging the logistics, running a yard sale can be a nightmare if you’re not well-prepped. After all that, there’s always the risk that no one shows up to the sale. In that case, all your hard work would be in vain. To avoid that, here are some tips that will make your yard sale a grand success.
Social media is the place we live and the air we breathe. Any information there spreads like wildfire, making it an excellent place for others to know about your upcoming yard sale. But first, you need to narrow down your options. A paid social media campaign just isn’t worth it. I suggest you use Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter because these platforms offer a massive reach for free!
The first order of business is to create a yard sale event on Facebook and invite all your friends. Doing this would notify your circle that you’re hosting a yard sale. Make sure to post the event on your profile to make it official. You should also post it on Facebook groups, especially those related to yard or garage sales.
Next, jump on Instagram and use its story feature to highlight you’re having a yard sale. Don’t forget to add eye-catching pictures of some of the items you’ll be selling. After all, Instagram is all about flashy photoshoots, and that’s bound to catch on sooner or later. Once that’s done, you can hop on Twitter and tweet about your yard sale. A hashtag #yardsale is a must-do here!
Wherever you post about your yard sale, just include all the details, including the yard sale’s date, time, and location. Also, give your contact number so that people can reach out if they have any questions before coming.
Post yard sale signs around your neighborhood
It may seem old-fashioned, but yard sale signs are still a great way to tell people about your yard sale. Buy poster board or yard sign blanks from any home improvement store and write your yard sale details in big, bold letters. You can even get creative with it to make your yard sale signs stand out!
Every yard sale host knows that most people who would show up would be from the neighborhood simply because it’s near them. You can’t expect someone who lives four hours away to come, can you? That’s why promoting the event in your neighborhood is the best shot you have. Post your garage sale flyers around the neighborhood a few days before the yard sale. Make sure to place them in high-traffic areas like marts, parks, office elevators, and churches so people will see them. You can also ask your friends and family to help out.
Put an ad on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace (or both!)
These days, most people start their yard sale searches online – so why not put yours there too? Posting an ad on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace is free, so it’s a great way to get the yard sale word out. Just be sure to include all the details and plenty of photos!
You can also get creative with your yard sale ads. For example, if you have a lot of clothes to sell, you could make a graphic that says “Clothes Galore!” and post it on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. The more catchy and interesting your yard sale ad is, the more likely people will click on it. I suggest using one of these creative yard sale flyer templates, which will surely capture a sizable audience!
Sign up on yard sale sites
Apart from social media and online classified sites like Craigslist, did you know there are so many sites and mobile apps dedicated to yard sales? All you need to do is sign up on them and list your yard sale. This way, people who are interested in yard sales – which, let’s be honest, is most people – can find your yard sale with just a few clicks.
The great thing about using these sites and apps is that they have millions of users, so your yard sale is sure to get some attention. And the best part? Most of these sites and apps are free to use! Try out yardsales.net, Garage Sales Tracker, and Yard Sale Search, to name a few.
A final reminder
You can make a yard sale as flashy as you want but remember that it’s about making a quick buck selling stuff that you don’t need. It doesn’t need to be expensive, and if it is, you’re missing the point. If you’re doing this for the first time, it always helps to ask around someone who has held a yard sale before and is willing to help you out from top to bottom. There’s little that can go wrong if you do that.
Qasim Haider
Qasim is a senior editor at PosterMyWall. Qasim is a reader and writer during and after work, and likes to explore a wide range of topics and niches. Outside of work, he likes to meditate, listen to good music and journal.
