End of Summer and Want to Sell Your Home? Have a Tag Sale!

Their approach to the end of summer is different for many people. Some scramble to fit in a last-minute vacation, while others are picking up the kids from camp and going school shopping. August and September are months filled with busy times—Labor Day weekend, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and the start of school.

If you are thinking about selling your house, the pressure is really on. What can you do to help get more organized and de-cluttered?

Why, have a tag sale, of course.

Even if you are not selling, there is something about the change of seasons that makes people want to get organized. It may finally be time to get rid of all that junk that has been accumulating in the guest room or garage, and selling can be a good way to get unwanted stuff out and make a little money.

A yard sale does require some work before, during and after, but having more space and organizing your home makes it worth it.

PREPARATION

Pick a staging area where things to sell can be collected and kept. It may be the guest room or the garage, but it needs to be a space large enough to hold the stuff and allow some work space for grouping and pricing. A good plan is to have several empty boxes and mark them with prices, like the $1 box and the $.50 box. As things to sell accumulate, put them directly in the box corresponding to the potential price of the item. Remember, price things to go rather than focusing on what they actually cost, it's easier psychologically that way. (Pull out the tissues if you have to.)

Clean things up as you come across them because objects in good shape will sell faster than dusty or dirty items. Also, consider grouping small items in bags to sell for one price, like a bag of small toys for a dollar, rather than trying to sell them separately. Collect plastic bags and even asks friends to donate their plastic shopping bags so there will be plenty on hand for the day of the sale. Have plenty of newspaper on hand for wrapping breakables.

When thinking about how to advertise, the obvious choices are online and signs. Craigslist is a very popular site (not to mention free).  You should also consider Patch.com and other local sites.

Also make signs to place around your community. Scarsdale has a rule against using signs on any public property, but you may place a sign on your own property. You might also try using balloons to attract more attention. The importance of good signage cannot be too heavily stressed. Take advantage of sale days with other events in your area, or have a group sale with neighbors. Bigger sales and good signs, clearly visible and easy to read from a car, attract more buyers.

Also check with your town to see if they might require a permit for you to conduct a sale. Eastchester requires such a permit, which costs around $15.

Having a yard sale is a great way to get the whole family involved. Have them help you price items and organize them into piles.

It is recommended that big-ticket items, such as table sets or couches, should be placed up front. Group like items together and display things in an attractive manner on tables, rather than piling a bunch of stuff on the ground.

At least a day before the sale, make sure you have enough coins and bills available to make change for customers. Other supplies that will be needed are stickers or tags for pricing and an extension cord so customers can test any electronics.

Have a calculator handy for adding up the sales and feel free to enjoy the day, mingling with customers and rearranging tables as items sell.

Afterwards be sure to donate any leftover items to a local charity—that way they won't end up cluttering the guest room again. A yard sale is work, but at the end of the day there will be less junk and some money for going out to dinner.

TO-DO LIST:

#1 Get the word out - First, post an ad on Craigslist, with pictures of some of the big-ticket items, a few days before the actual event. Describe your items in detail. Next, you might consider placing an ad in the Scarsdale Inquirer, Patch.com and the Journal News. Finally, don't forget about creating some big, bright signs with bold black lettering at a nearby intersection (if you are allowed) and at the bottom of your driveway.

#2 Buy a permit, if necessary - Many towns require you to purchase a garage sale permit. Check at your town hall for your local laws.

#3 Have your money in order - Before you start selling, be sure to have plenty of change for your customers. During the sale, keep the cash box inside your house, so your earnings are safe and out of sight.

#4 Price to sell - Face it, people don't go to tag sales to pay top dollar. Price your items reasonably so that they sell. If you see something that has lasted all day, consider reducing the price. Typically, more expensive items like furniture and electronics are sold for a third of their original price.

#5 Keep early birds at bay - If you post an ad for an 8am start, expect the die-hard buyers to show up at dawn. To ward off these early birds, warn them ahead of time in your advertising and signage.

#6 Consider serving refreshments, especially on a hot day - There's something about free lemonade and cookies that put people in a buying mode!

#7 Organize a free pile - If clearing clutter is your main priority, give some stuff away for free. As the hours tick by, place more and more unsold items in the freebie bin. If children show interest in a cheap item, let them have it. Chances are their grateful parents will buy something small in return.

#8 Don't take it personally - Tag sales can bring out the worst in people. Hagglers often offend with their low-ball offers and rude demeanor. But while an item may have sentimental value to you, buyers may simply see it as second-hand junk. If you're unhappy with someone's offer, don't take it personally, just don't sell to them.

#9 Stay open 'til the bitter end - You never know who will show up in the final minutes of a yard sale. You might just sell that ancient Playstation 2 to a last minute buyer.

#10 Donate the rest to charity - At the end of the day, hopefully you made a little bit of money. Now it's time to give back. Charities like Salvation Army and Goodwill have convenient drop-off boxes or pickup services. If you have furniture left over, there are charities in Westchester that will pick them up.

Now smile! You've cleaned out your house and made more room. You will feel so much better, especially at having made a bit of money, and perhaps even helping the needy in the process.

And don't forget, if this seems like way too much work to do, you can always hire a service to do it for you!