Turn Rummage Into Cash With Yard-Sale Tips

Yard sales are staples of modern life. We spend a lifetime acquiring junk. And we love our junk. But when our junk outgrows the house, it’s time for a yard sale.

What follows are some pointers gleaned from people who regularly go to - and hold - yard sales. They offer advice on organizing your sale, putting up signs, getting permits, pricing, displaying the merchandise and dealing with the early morning yard-sale “professionals.”

Getting organized: You’ll save yourself some last-minute headaches if you take a year-round approach to garage sales, said Eric Schwab, a 38-year-old Orlando, Fla., salesman and veteran yard-sale thrower. When he cleans the house, he routinely throws stuff into a box in the garage that is reserved strictly for yard sales. Inside the box are price stickers and a marker - so he can mark a price on an item as soon as he tosses it in the box.

A few days before the sale, clean everything that’s going on display. A clean china teacup will probably bring twice as much as a dirty one. “This is my rule: Clean crap brings higher prices,” Schwab said.

Just as retailers make most of their money during a few months of the year, yard sales are seasonal too. Plan your sale for spring or fall, the most popular yard-sale seasons. Summer can be too hot.

Picking a location: If your house is far from the beaten path, we have three words for you: Location, location, location.

The ideal site for a yard sale, according to regulars, is on a major thoroughfare with plenty of parking - or on a side street located just off a major thoroughfare.

Best sellers: You never know what people will buy, but there are some popular yard-sale items. For instance, children’s clothes sell very well, although adult clothing doesn’t. Furniture often sells because there are always young people setting up their first apartments - and desperately in need of furniture. Dishes are popular too - for people starting out or antiques dealers looking for bargain-basement china or collectibles. Kids’ toys are also sure sellers.

Pricing and displaying: Not sure how much to charge for some items? Do some homework beforehand. Ask friends who are garage-sale veterans if your prices sound reasonable.

Remember, yard-sale shoppers are looking for bargains. And you, allegedly, are trying to get rid of junk. If your prices are too high, you’ll never unload it.

Some yard-sale veterans suggest that you mark popular items - such as furniture - at 25 percent of what you paid for it. For instance, a sofa for which you paid $200 might sell for $50 if it’s in good shape.

When pricing, however, leave yourself room for negotiation.