Tag sale prep: a 7-day countdown
What to do each day the week before a yard sale or a town-wide tag sale weekend.
A good tag sale is mostly decided before the first car pulls up. Here's a simple countdown for a home sale, whether you're on your own or part of a town-wide weekend.
7 days out
- If your town runs a town-wide sale, check the official page for registration, fees and deadlines. Many towns close sign-ups a week or more early.
- Check any local rules on tag sale permits and signs.
- Pick a rain plan: a garage, a carport, or a backup date.
5–6 days out
- Walk the house room by room with three boxes: sell, donate, trash.
- Test anything electric and note it on the tag. "Works" sells better than "untested."
3–4 days out
- Price everything. Round to easy amounts so you aren't making change all day.
- Group small items into boxes with one price per box.
- Make hold and sold cards for big items.
2 days out
- Get small bills and coins for your cash box. Decide whether you'll take app payments and make a sign.
- Write your listing or post: date, hours, address, a few headline items, and "no early birds" if you mean it.
The day before
- Put up signs only where allowed. Use big, simple arrows and few words.
- Set up tables in the garage if you can, so morning setup is just rolling out.
Sale day
- Keep the cash on you, not on a table.
- Put the best items near the street so drivers stop.
- Two hours before close, start markdowns. The last hour, make bag deals.
After
Take signs down the same day. Load leftovers straight into the car for donation so they don't move back inside. Write down what sold fast and what you priced too high for next time.