Keys to Hosting a Successful Yard Sale

Waking up on a Saturday and marking up your belongings with price stickers may be a daunting prospect for some, but you are more than up to the task, especially when armed with the advice below.  Brew a pot of coffee and get ready for an influx of early-bird bargain hunters. Here are a few tips to get you through:

Secrets of Success

Here are a few keys to hosting a high-traffic, effective sale, with help from Ava Seavey’s book Garage Sale Gold. 

Rule 1: Don’t be shy. Get the word out — put an ad in your local paper and tack up signs around your neighborhood, if it’s permitted where you live. Steer clear of Craiglist, but explore more targeted websites such as Yard Sale Search and Garage Sales Tracker. 

Rule No. 2: Tag everything. Some buyers feel uncomfortable negotiating and may appreciate knowing what they’ll need to pay upfront. And most often, they’ll pay what you ask for. Pricing your belongings also allows you to focus on transactions, so you’re not stuck haggling.

Rule No. 3: Counter lowballs. If you’re going to simply give your things away, why not carry them over to Goodwill? 

Rule No. 4: Focus on decluttering. It’s not just about the dollar amount you end up with. A huge part of the success is the feeling of an uncluttered home — and the act of recycling instead of simply trashing.

Sorting Through City Ordinances

Many Texas towns regulate garage sales, so familiarizing yourself with local rules will help you host a lucrative, legal, and liability-free sale. When planning your sale, start by asking these questions:

• Do I need a permit? Dallas permits can be purchased at any public library in the city. San Antonio residents can purchase garage sale permits with their groceries at HEB stores. In Fort Worth, permits are free.
• Where can I display my stickered stuff? In some cities, sellers must keep items off the front lawn, confining sales to the driveway and patio areas.
• How long do I have? El Paso limits sales to two consecutive days; in San Antonio it’s three, and citizens may only host four sales per year per location.
• Are signs allowed? Canyon forbids signs on telephone poles, light poles, or poles on public streets. Fort Worth forbids all signs save one — a single sign on your own property.

Preventing Liability

A simple Saturday yard sale can turn into anything but simple if someone gets injured on your property while shopping. According to attorneys Paul Marable and John Stephens of the Texas Farm Bureau Insurance legal department, liability arising from an occasional garage sale would be covered under most property insurance policies. A typical policy covers both liability protection from resulting claims and the cost of a legal defense in the event of a lawsuit.

Most policies also have medical payments coverage to reimburse visitors for medical bills incurred from injuries on the policyholder’s premises. While this coverage pays without regard to fault, the limits are typically lower.

Keeping Visitors Safe

Consider these proactive measures to ensure a risk-free day:

• Trim tree branches and other shrubbery.
• Seal cracks in the driveway with patching materials or fillers.
• When using ladders to hang items like clothing, make sure to set them on a level surface, and don’t ever set out a ladder that’s broken.
• Arrange toys, books, and other smaller items on tables if possible.
• Rope off any area of your garden or yard with holes, which are an invitation for a twisted ankle or a tumble.
• Set up an entertainment area for young children outfitted with blocks, toys, and maybe even a video. Preventing them from getting bored can limit the likelihood of little ones running into the street or inadvertently bumping into older shoppers and causing them to stumble.

Left with a few unsold items? Check out this guide to donating your household goods to worthy causes.

Coverage and discounts are subject to qualifications and policy terms and may vary by situation.