7 Items to Have on Hand when Holding a Yard Sale ...

1. Change

One of the most important things to have on hand when holding a yard sale is change. Some customers tend to have twenty-dollar bills and if you don't have change, they may become frustrated and decide not to buy anything. Some people like to have large amounts of change on hand, but I like to have $25 in ones, $20 in fives, $20 in tens, and a roll of quarters. In my experience this has been more than enough to get me through a yard sale. One important thing to remember is to always keep your money close to you or even better keep it on you.

2. Drinks

When you have a yard sale, it's important to have drinks with you. If you want to make even more cash, bring along a large cooler and throw in some drinks to sell to customers. If you decide to sell drinks, be sure to sell drinks that the people in your household like in case they don't sell. If not you may be stuck with a ton of beverages that no one will drink. This will also help prevent you from losing any profits.

3. Snacks

When having a yard sale, it may be difficult to leave your post. This is especially true if you're not having your yard sale at your house. If you don't have snacks on hand you may find yourself starving and decide to pack up your yard sale early. Some people like to sell snacks to make extra profit, as well. If you decide to sell food, you will need to find out if a permit is required to do so. If you sell food without a permit, when one is required, you could end up getting a fine.

4. Sunscreen

When you have a yard sale, it's important to apply sunscreen before heading outdoors. It's also important to reapply sunscreen multiple times throughout the day. Remember that even if it's cloudy or cool outside, it's still possible to get a sunburn. At one of the yard sales that my daughter and I had last year, we reapplied sunscreen about every two hours and I still got slightly burned on my face. If you would like extra protection from the sun during your yard sale, consider wearing a hat that will provide some extra shade for your face.

5. A Comfortable Chair

Having a comfortable chair at your yard sale is always a good idea. If you have a lot of customers, you may not get a chance to sit down and may not have any use for the chair. If you don't get a lot of business, you may find yourself wanting to sit down. Your feet may also get tired if you are not used to standing a lot or if you have to stand for a long period of time on uncomfortable ground.

6. Bags

It's always a good idea to have several bags on hand when having a yard sale. One way to make sure that you have enough bags for your customers is to save up the plastic bags that you get from grocery stores for a couple of months. If you don't have enough, many discount dollar stores sell boxes of small garbage bags that work great, too.

7. Price Tags

If you decide to price your yard sale items, it's a good idea to bring along some extra price tags. When you pack up your items, price tags can easily fall off. They can also fall off when being transported to your yard sale site. Price tags also come in handy if you decide to change the price of one of your items once you get to your yard sale. Sometimes people decide to lower the price of an item because it hasn't sold. Others like to reduce the price of their items a few hours before the end of the sale to increase their profits.

If you're planning to have a yard sale soon, I hope some of these tips come in handy for you. What are some of the things that you feel are needed when you have a yard sale? Are there any items that people have with them at yard sales that you feel are unnecessary?