Holding a Yard Sale: A Simple Plan From Sorting to Cash Box
A yard sale is one of the oldest ways to turn things you no longer use into cash. You don’t need an app, a shipping scale or a website. You need a few tables, some price stickers and a sunny morning.
A good sale might bring in enough to cover one month of a smaller bill, like a streaming plan or part of a phone bill. That’s only an estimate. It depends on what you’re selling, the weather and how many people stop by.
Step 1: Check your town’s rules
Some cities require a permit. Boca Raton, Florida, for example, asks for a free permit, allows no more than four sales a year at the same home, and limits hours to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Your town may have no rules at all, or different ones. A quick call to city hall, or a look at your homeowners association rules, settles it.
Step 2: Sort and set aside
- Clean each item and test anything that plugs in.
- Group things like a store would: kitchen, tools, books, linens, holiday decorations.
- Set aside anything that might be worth more online, such as collectibles or good brand-name items, and look those up first.
Step 3: Leave out items that aren’t safe to sell
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says its rules apply to anyone who sells consumer products, including people holding yard sales. It’s illegal to sell recalled products. The agency’s guide also says not to sell old cribs made before June 28, 2011, children’s jackets with drawstrings at the hood or neck, or toys with small parts meant for children under three. You can look up recalls at SaferProducts.gov.
Step 4: Price simply
Round numbers make life easy: 25 cents, $1, $5. Put a sticker on everything so shoppers don’t have to ask. Expect friendly haggling, and decide ahead of time how low you’ll go on bigger items. Many sellers cut prices in the last hour rather than carry things back inside.
Step 5: Handle money with care
- Start with plenty of small bills and coins in a pouch you wear, not a box on the table.
- Look closely at large bills. If you think one is fake, the Secret Service says you can take it to your local police department; your bank may also help.
- If you accept payment apps, wait until the payment shows as received before an item leaves.
- Ask a friend or family member to help, so someone is always at the tables.
A few safety notes
Keep the sale outside and your front door locked. Get help with heavy furniture, and lift with your legs, not your back. Put a chair in the shade and drink water; it’s a long morning.
What about taxes?
Taxes can depend on whether you’re clearing out your own belongings or buying things to resell as a small business. If it becomes a regular business, the IRS self-employment pages explain the basics, and a tax professional can help with your own situation.
More on Replace a Bill
- Selling to Neighbors Safely: Local Pickup and Payment Made Simple
- Selling Through a Consignment Shop: How It Works and What to Ask
