Free yard sale guide
How to run a yard sale, step by step
Whether it's one driveway or the whole neighborhood, these steps cover what to do before, during and after the sale.
Plan a community yard sale; no account needed to try it.
Running a different kind of gathering? See the community event planning guide or how to plan a block party.
1. Pick a date and check local rules
Saturdays in spring and early fall draw the most shoppers. Start early (7–8am) and plan to wrap up by early afternoon. Some towns or HOAs have sign or sale rules worth a quick check.
How Woodsey helps: Permit information is optional on Woodsey; you can create your sale without it.
2. Sort and gather your items
Go room by room and set aside anything you haven't used in a year. Clean items up, test anything electronic, and group things by category: kids, kitchen, tools, furniture, books.
How Woodsey helps: Sellers on a community map can list their categories so shoppers know where to head first.
3. Price simply
Use round numbers and sticker every item or table ("everything $1"). Plan on roughly a quarter to a third of the retail price for good used items, and expect haggling. Bring small bills and coins, and consider accepting phone payments.
How Woodsey helps: Woodsey never handles sale money; buyers pay sellers directly.
4. Get the word out
Make large, readable signs with arrows and the date, posted at nearby intersections a day or two ahead. Post in the neighborhood groups and online listings people already use.
How Woodsey helps: Woodsey prints QR-code flyers and signs that open your event page and map.
5. Set up the day before
Borrow tables, set out a tarp or blankets, hang clothes on a rack, and put the eye-catching items near the street. Keep a cash box, bags and an extension cord for testing electronics.
How Woodsey helps: The planner's starter checklist covers setup supplies so nothing gets forgotten.
6. Make it a community-wide sale
More sales on one street means more shoppers for everyone. Invite neighbors, agree on one date and hours, and give shoppers a single map of every participating home.
How Woodsey helps: Sellers opt in, the organizer approves each stop, and sellers can show an approximate location and mark their sale open or closed.
7. Wrap up
Cut prices in the last hour, then box what's left for donation and take down every sign you put up. Note what sold well for next time.
How Woodsey helps: A short recap helps you run an even better sale next season.
Common questions
- What day is best for a yard sale?
- Saturday mornings usually draw the most people. Friday-and-Saturday sales work well for bigger community events.
- How do I organize a community yard sale?
- Pick one date, invite neighbors to sign up as sellers, collect their hours and categories, and share one map and one set of signs. Woodsey's planner walks you through it for free.
- Do I need a permit?
- Some towns require one and many don't. It's worth a quick check, but it isn't needed to plan your sale on Woodsey.
Ready to start?
Answer a few questions and get a private draft with a starter checklist. Free, and you choose when to publish.
Organizers are responsible for local rules and safety. Read Woodsey's trust and privacy approach.