The Yard Sale Starter Kit: Every Supply You Need

Most first-time hosts get to Saturday morning and realize they're missing something essential — masking tape, a Sharpie, $1 bills. Print this list. Set it up Friday night.

Pricing supplies

• Garage-sale price stickers (colored dot stickers if multi-family) — $3 at any office store
• Sharpies, 4-pack — fine-tip for clothing tags, thick for big items
• Masking tape — for items where stickers won't adhere (fabric, dusty surfaces)
• Price guide sheet — printed, taped to the cashbox, so you don't have to think when someone asks "how much?"

Signage

• Neon poster board, 4–6 sheets — $1 each
• Wooden stakes or zip ties for affixing signs to posts/trees on your own property
• A "MAKE AN OFFER" sign for unpriced items
• A "PAYMENTS ACCEPTED" sign with your Venmo / Zelle / Cash App QR codes

Display

• 2–4 folding tables (borrow from neighbors if you don't own them)
• Tablecloths or old sheets — covers ugly tables and makes the items pop
• Garment rack for hanging clothes (clothes pile on a table = doesn't sell)
• Hangers for the rack — go to Goodwill, $0.10 each
• A few boxes for bulk items (books, DVDs)
• A stretch of blanket on the lawn for kids' toys

Cash management

• Cashbox or fanny pack — fanny pack is better because it stays with you
• Starting cash: $40 in this mix — eight $5s, fifteen $1s (~$35 total)
• Calculator — even just the phone one, but quick math at the cashbox prevents errors
• A "Sold" sign or stickers for items waiting to be picked up

Payment-acceptance setup

• Your Venmo / Zelle / Cash App QR codes, printed at letter size, taped at the cashbox
• Phone with Wi-Fi or hotspot to verify payments came through
• A small clipboard to track big-ticket sales if you need to reconcile a multi-family split

Comfort

• Camp chairs — you'll be on your feet for 2 hours, then sitting
• Water bottles for you and any helpers
• Snacks — granola bars, fruit. You will not have time to make a real meal until 1pm.
• Sunscreen and a hat even in mild weather
• A trash bag for boxes you unpack

Other essentials

• Bags or grocery sacks so buyers can carry away small items
• Newspaper or bubble wrap for breakables — buyers love that you wrap their purchase
• A "FREE" box by the curb for things you'd throw out anyway. Doubles as bait that pulls cars in.
• A printed map of your house's bathroom location if you're willing to let buyers use one

Optional but underrated

• Bluetooth speaker with chill music — keeps the vibe friendly
• A second person — at least for the morning rush
• A clip-on fan or umbrella if the forecast looks brutal

Pack everything in a single bin Friday afternoon. Saturday morning is for setup, not shopping for supplies.