A seller's guide to planning the perfect summer yard sale

With the onset of spring comes balmy weather, flowers sprouting in yards, and yard sales popping up on nearly every street corner.

Yard sales are most popular between April and October when people don't mind being outside. They often coincide with spring cleaning. After cleaning out the garage or attic, rather than put some items back, homeowners try to make a few dollars selling them.

Customers like yard sales because they can find bargains. Big sellers vary with the location. In Cape Girardeau, the best sellers are furniture, antiques, exercise equipment, jewelry, children's clothing and baby items, said Nancy Grand, the Southeast Missourian's classified advertising director.

"Books sell very well," Grand said. "People often go right to the books."

Once the decision has been made to have a yard sale, it takes some planning to make it successful. Most people have yard sales on weekends when customers are off work and likely to be out.

The city of Cape Girardeau does not require a permit or have an ordinance regulating the number of yard sales a household can have.

The next step is to advertise -- in the local newspaper or on bulletin boards in supermarkets or other public places. Grand said it helps to list items of interest in a classified ad as a way of drawing attention to a sale. She also suggests stating the hours of the sale and to include in the ad that no sales will be made prior to the start of the sale. Among yard sale enthusiasts, "early birds," people who show up an hour or so before the sale starts hoping to get first pick of the best items, are not always favorite customers.

People having a yard sale often stake out a small sign at major intersections near their home pointing the way to the sale. Cape Girardeau police say it is illegal to post a notice on any lamp post, utility pole, street sign post or tree. Anyone who does is subject to a municipal court summons.

The day of the sale, sellers should have all their merchandise clean and in good condition and marked clearly with the price. Clothing items should be hung on hangers. Like items should be displayed together. Start the sale with at least $50 in small bills for making change, and keep your money close to you in a fanny pack. A calculator for figuring up purchases is helpful, and it's also helpful to have a stash of plastic bags on hand for customers to carry away their purchases.

"Sometimes it's good to offer water or refreshments," Grand said.

Some yard sale enthusiasts sell coffee or doughnuts to add to the day's profit. Others let their children sell refreshments and keep whatever they make. An adult should supervise young children and not let children make change.

Customers should remember to park their cars so as not to block the street or neighbors' driveways. They should also be courteous and not smoke while shopping.

Items at yard sales usually sell at very low prices, but some customers will try to negotiate even lower. For some negotiating is part of the yard sale experience. If the price is firm, say so.

"You know what your bottom line is," Grand said.

Yard sales are a good way to get rid of items sitting around the house and make a little extra money. Grand suggests that if after the sale is over and a few items are left, try taking out a classified ad to sell them.

"You may get more money," she said.

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Yard Sale Tips:

• Post signs leading to the yard sale. Make them bright and large enough to be read from the street. Be sure to take them down when the sale is over.
• If you have some unwanted items that may be of value, have them appraised. You don't want to find out later than items that sold for pennies were worth much more.
• Don't use color-coded tags to indicate price. It's too easy for customers to switch tags.
• Have enough help on the day of the sale. Many yard sale experts have stories to tell of unattended money boxes and small sale items that have disappeared.
• Do not let shoppers into your house or garage. Know where nearby public restrooms are so shoppers can be directed there instead.
• Have one designated cashier so no prospective buyer can claim he paid someone else.
• Have an assistant walking around like a shopper while watching for shoplifters.
• If you're going to have the family dog outside while the sale is going on, make sure it is on a leash.
• Set up tables far enough away from the street to discourage someone from grabbing items and speeding away in a car.
• Keep a cordless or cell phone with you at all times.
• Have an extension cord handy for customers to test an electrical appliance.
• If someone buys a large item, check inside the item to be sure no unpaid for items have been slipped inside.