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Board Member Guide to Hosting a Community Yard Sale

Woman examining blender at a yard sale, with other customers and items surrounding her.

A community yard sale in a homeowners’ association (HOA) is a big event with big rewards. Whether it drives community engagement or community fundraising, an HOA yard sale is a great opportunity to do good for your association. A community yard sale can help build connections while allowing residents to offload unwanted belongings and make some extra cash. Similarly, it can be a way for the community to earn added funds, provided residents are willing to donate items for the sale and volunteer to participate.

Either way, it’s crucial to take the right approach to planning a neighborhood yard sale—one wrong step can put residents at risk of violations, create safety hazards, and disrupt traffic. To host a successful community yard sale in your HOA, follow these tips.

HOA Yard Sale Checklist

Check off these yard sale tips to ensure your association is on top of planning a successful yard sale event: 

Review your governing documents and local laws.

Governing documents outline rules for various aspects of an association, and community yard sales are no exception. Some HOAs may prohibit yard sales, while others may regulate sale dates, location, size, and duration. In addition, some local governments may require you obtain special permission to host your garage sale. Double-check your community’s documents and local laws for yard sale permits and regulations. Some common yard sale limits include:

  • Where sales can be set up in the neighborhood

  • When yard sales can happen

  • The allowed size and scope of the event

  • How long yard sales can last

  • What items are allowed to be sold

  • Whether or not permits are required to sell certain items

Set a date, time, and location.

Spring and summer are the best times for yard sales, as the weather’s optimal and residents are available. Notify residents at least one month before your scheduled community yard sale and outline the rules. That way, they understand what’s allowed and what’s not and can plan and gather their items for the big day. 

Studies have shown that people tend to spend more freely after paydays, so hosting the community yard sale on a Saturday or Sunday may increase profits. If possible, start the event in the early morning and continue until early evening to maximize sales. Depending on your governing documents, setting up tables for a yard sale can happen:

  • On community members’ front yards

  • In resident driveways and garages

  • On community sidewalks

  • In community clubhouse

Read More: “HOA Backyard Rules: What’s Allowed and What’s Not ”

Promote the sale.

A community yard sale is a big event that requires a lot of publicity. However, before you move forward in spreading the word, ensure enough residents plan to participate. Use these channels to advertise the sale:

  • Social media, including sales sites like Facebook Marketplace

  • Your community’s bulletin board

  • The community newsletter

  • The community website

  • Yard sale fliers distributed to the local community

  • Yard sale signs visible inside and outside of the HOA

  • Announcements at board meetings

Communicate what sells and what doesn’t sell.

Shoppers want to find treasures, not junk. Advise residents to toss any broken items or make them available for free. In addition to items that no longer work, here’s what not to sell at a yard sale:

  • Worn-out furniture

  • Personalized items

  • Family heirlooms

  • Recalled products

  • Items that require permits

  • Illegal items, like medicine

  • Excessively dirty items

Instead, here’s what to sell at a yard sale:

  • Clothing

  • Home décor

  • Video games

  • Toys

  • Antique items

  • Dishes

  • Books

  • Costume jewelry

  • Camping gear and other sporting goods

Read More: “Event Planning Secrets for a Successful Community Event”

Garage sale sign with customers passing while holding their purchases.

Offer guidance on pricing.

Provide guidance on pricing that emphasizes listing items in increments convenient for people to pay ($1, $5, $10, etc.) and be prepared to adjust. Visitors may try to negotiate prices or buy multiple items together. Consider grouping similar items initially and offering them in bundles, like books or DVDs. In general, used items should be priced as follows:

  • About 50% of the original price for items in excellent condition

  • No more than 30% of the original price for items in fair condition

  • No more than 10% of the original price for items in poor condition

Map the sale’s route.

If your sale is spread throughout an entire neighborhood, be sure to create a map showing where all the homes involved are located. List the highlights of each sale if you have them. For example, spotlight a hardware and tools sale, a vintage clothing sale, or a seasonal décor sale. Share the map with residents and post it throughout the neighborhood on yard sale day to ease traffic congestion and direct visitors to the right sale spots.

Help organize displays.

When helping set up your HOA yard sale, make sure every seller has their most attractive items easily visible and organized so visitors don’t have to sift through too many piles and clusters. For efficiency, suggest that residents:

  • Hang clothes on portable racks

  • Stack books, CDs, and movies with titles facing out

  • Take appliances out of boxes

Color-coded sticker pricing helps shoppers navigate the sales more efficiently. Recommend that all vendors use the same sticker pricing method to streamline the shopping experience.

Encourage different payment options.

Community yard sales were once cash-only events, but digital payments are the currency of choice today. To make payment easier for customers, encourage sellers to set up accounts and understand how to navigate apps like Zelle, Venmo, and CashApp. Including this guidance in a board meeting is a great way to prepare residents to manage their mini businesses.

Community Events and Happy HOA Living

A community yard sale is a great way for HOA boards to unite residents, offering a positive experience for all involved. To continue promoting connections, boosting neighborhood pride, and building trust, read our ebook, “10 Top Strategies to Maintain Homeowner Happiness.” In it, you’ll learn different ways to implement strategies that emphasize harmony and boost morale.