6 Mistakes Not To Make When Throwing A Yard Sale

There's no better way to declutter than a good old-fashioned yard sale.

No matter the time of year—but perhaps especially in spring and summer when Southerners tend to head outdoors to curate our gardens and spruce up the inside of our homes via a thorough deep cleaning—you may find yourself with the urge to purge unwanted items. Whenever you're dealing with a large pile of castoffs, hosting a good old-fashioned yard sale may be in order.

Do People Still Throw Yard Sales?

Part of the long-standing appeal of having yard sales stems back to the feeling of our belongings and space becoming too cluttered, which leads to the general idea of getting rid of multiple items in one day as a quick solution. Being able to be in charge of where and when you host your sale is also an added bonus. Although clearing out your closet, garage, and attic while putting money in your pocket may be the ultimate goal of a yard sale, it is also great for promoting sustainability and reuse within your community. Seeing as Southerners have always valued both fostering community and taking charge of their own affairs, yard sales make quite the beloved weekend activity—one that is still just as popular today.

However, just because your grandmother hosted yard sales, or you've been to yard sales before, does not guarantee instant success. If you're in the mood to sift through your stuff and open your yard to buyers, here are 6 things to avoid doing at your next yard sale.

Meet Our Expert

• Willow Wright owns Urban Redeux, an antique store in Alexandria, Virginia.

• Brittany Dickson is the Director of Sustainability at Goodwill Industries International in Carrboro, North Carolina.

• Kenz Warfield is the owner and artist at Kreativity by Kenz in Baltimore, Maryland.

Common Yard Sale Mistakes

Keeping It Solo

The more, the merrier doesn't just apply to parties, and inviting friends and neighbors to join your sale is a fabulous way to attract more buyers. As avid thrifters make their Saturday morning plans, they'll tend to prioritize stops that offer more bang for their buck by having multiple sellers. "Consider a joint sale with your neighbors or organize a neighborhood event," suggests Wright. "The more people that can help spread the word, the better."

Forgetting to Spread the Word

Although you can advertise in your local newspaper, many free options exist for listing your sale. Dickson suggests contacting local secondhand groups who already value purchasing pre-owned items. "Everyone from people who work on your town's conservation efforts to people in Buy Nothing groups on Facebook are likely looking for more ways to buy local and take a more circular approach to shopping," she says.

Wright also suggests using free sites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace for self-promotion. The more specific you can get, the better. "Clearly state the start and end time, the address, where people can (and can't) park, and the types of items you'll have available," she recommends. If you're having a group sale, mention that in the title using a term such as multi-family sale. Also, ensure that your day-of signage is noticeable and easily readable.

Being Short on Cash

Yard sales seem to oscillate between moments of chaos and times when your yard is devoid of shoppers. Often, eager bargain hunters will show up as you're unpacking, or you'll have an influx of sales, so it's best to be prepared with cash, an electronic payment method, and shopping bags. "Hit the bank for small bills and consider an electronic payment app like Paypal or Venmo," says Wright. Because most ATMs give out $20 bills, you'll need to make change and have plenty of it throughout the day. Also, download a virtual payment app before the morning of your sale, as you'll need to set up your account and verify your bank information beforehand.

Starting Too Late

Yes, Saturday is a day to sleep in after a hard week of work, but if you start your sale at 10 a.m., you may attract fewer shoppers. Plus, depending on where you live, Southern days can heat up quickly or potential customers may have other activities, such as gatherings and sporting events, calling for attention. Wright advises having everything for your sale priced and staged the night before so you can put items out quickly, especially if people are waiting for your sale to open.

Being Offended by Hagglers

As expected, yard sale customers will often ask for a lower price on an item. Although you may want to stay firm for the first hour or so, be prepared to entertain offers or at least meet somewhere in the middle, especially on high ticket pieces or if someone is buying a large number of items. In Wright's opinion, having cash is better than dealing with leftovers. She reminds us, "Keep your eye on the prize of a cleared-out space at the end of the day."

Pricing Items Too High

One major takeaway that all three of our experts mentioned was pricing. Sure, you may look up an item and see that it's listed for $100 online, but sites like eBay and Amazon market to millions of people daily, whereas you may have 100 people stop by your event. Marking your items to sell is key.

"There seems to be a disconnect between the pricing of said item and reality," says Warfield, who scours yard sales and thrift stores looking for records to turn into art pieces and finds that sellers often overvalue items. If you have something especially valuable, listing on a national site or even Facebook Marketplace may be a better option. "A combination of choosing the best selling method and pricing is the true balance in today's modern age," adds Warfield.

After a day of selling, the last thing you want is to deal with a pile of items. "If you're going through the effort to drag it all outside, you do not want to haul it back inside or make a trip to donate it afterward," advises Wright. Having funds in hand by pricing items reasonably is a much better option.

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