05/29/2022
TIPS / Mountain View Park Yard Sale Instructions
Community Yard Sale: Our community yard sale will be on Saturday, June 4, 2022 from 8 am to 4 pm. This is a great time to clean out your garage, closets and make a little extra money. We need some volunteers to park their cars along the street so that we can place a sign on the windshield with directions. You must pay a $6.00 fee to the City of Upland by Thursday, June 2, 2022 to have a yard sale. You can be cited by the City of Upland for not having a permit. Please contact me, Gene Lindsey ([email protected]) and let me know if you can park your car along the street with a direction sign on the windshield or if you have any questions.
Yard Sale Tips: First, expect people early, even though the yard sale starts at 8:00AM do not be surprised if people arrive much earlier. Have a good idea of the price you want, remember people like to feel they got a deal so you may want to price a little more so you can come down on the price. Having (2) people working together is very helpful for a yard sale.
• Money organizer – You need either a cash box, f***y pack, coin bag, or crossbody purse to hold all of the money. I prefer to use a waist apron with pockets because the money stays with me at all times, and I’m able to separate the bills from the coins in the separate pockets.
• Petty cash – I always start with a minimum $50 five $5s, twenty $1s, and $10 roll of quarters. (If you happen to have a lots of $10s as well, you’ll be glad you did because people usually start their yard sale shopping with fresh 20 dollar bills from the ATM.)
• Price stickers – I make my own price stickers using blue painter’s tape. (This is just one of the many clever uses for blue painters tape that I’ve discovered.) It’s also available in other fun colors (if you’re having a multi-family sale, for example, and want to track everyone’s sales separately). If tape isn’t your thing, they also make pre-printed price stickers and blank removable stickers too.
• Costco boxes – for the sturdiest boxes, I swing by Costco several times in the days before my yard sale. I like shallow boxes with low sides because they’re easier for people to reach into.
• Tables – here are all the things that can be used to make “tables” at your yard sale: card tables, TV trays, cardboard boxes turned upside down, Rubbermaid tubs or crates turned upside down, or 2 of anything with a board placed between ‘em (chairs, ladders, buckets, sawhorses, etc.)
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• Black Sharpie markers – I use the Sharpie king size markers for my yard sale signs and the regular fine point Sharpies for pricing items.
• Clear packing tape – I use this to waterproof my poster board signs. Packing tape is also handy to secure things in place on the day of the yard sale — like a pole to hang clothes from when using a ladder as the base.
• Extension cord – so customers can try out electronics.
• Cleaning supplies – I use cleaning wipes to quickly wipe down items that are dirty & dusty and magic erasers to clean more deeply in all the nooks and crannies.
• Plastic grocery bags – I save these all year long anyway, so by the time my next yard sale rolls around I have a pretty big stash!
• Camping tarps, sheets, blankets, beach towels – use them for any items you choose to display on your lawn.
• Tablecloths, table runners, beach towels – to cover tables that might be old or scratched up. Pretty much any type of table covering makes a better first impression than a non-covered table.
• Clear packing tape – Packing tape is also handy to secure things in place on the day of the yard sale — like a pole to hang clothes from when using a ladder as the base.
• Scissors – you never know when you’re going to need a pair of scissors!
• Odd shaped hangers – if you’re like me, you’ve probably collected a few uniquely-shaped items through the years that could be used to hang items like scarves, ties, belts, coats, dog leashes, etc.
• Ladders and poles – to hang/prop items off the ground.
• Screw-in hooks – as long as your ladder is well-balanced (with all of the items hanging/placed on it), by screwing in a few of these hooks, you’ll have additional space to hang small items (necklaces, jewelry you don’t want kids playing with, etc).
• Notepad & pen – to take names & numbers of people interested in items that have technically sold, but you’re “holding” until they come back with the money. In case the people don’t come back, you’ll want to contact the others who’ve said they are interested in those items.
• Chairs – for yard sale hosts to sit on.
• Trash can – yard sale shoppers often bring water bottles, soda cups, and snacks with them. Having a place for them to leave their trash means they can shop at your sale longer, without their hands being full. Plus, if you re-price items on the spot as much as I do, then you’ll need a place to toss the old price tags!
Make an offer on certain items, cashier area signs, “As Is” signs, parking signs — even SOLD signs if you have to hold an item .
