Yard sales can mean big business especially once winter visitors begin to arrive in October, but there are a few tricks to keep in mind when planning one, said a few residents holding yard sale.

A two-day yard sale on Hungry Horse Drive is pictured Sunday with a few shoppers browsing what is left after the first day. Jayne Hanson/News-Herald Photo.

“Thursday was the biggest day. There was close to 100 people,” said Fran Stockstill, of Corpus Christi, Texas. Stockstill organized a four-day moving sale at a family member’s Havasu home on Sunchaser Lane that proved to be successful after 75 percent of the items for sale were snatched up by shoppers. “We are very happy, very pleased with the turnout of the sale.”

“You need to tell people having a sale to really watch things,” Stockstill said. A valuable handgun and some high-end aftershave from inside the residence were stolen during the sale, she said.

Stockstill explained she and her helpers were allowing shoppers into the residence to look around at furniture. The handgun was removed from inside a trunk in one of the rooms.

The few items left Sunday morning at the Sunchaser Lane moving sale consisted of dishes, wicker baskets, house wares, and a few pieces of furniture. The appliances were the hottest selling items, Stockstill said, however shoppers were asking for collectibles and old books as well.

Another person holding a yard sale agreed.

“My books sold out,” said Merrianne Knickelbine. “(Shoppers) were looking for collectibles, old books, presidential pins and old photographs.”

Knickelbine organized her sale in order to prepare for placing her home on the market.

Home décor, holiday items, seashells and furniture were all included in the yard sale.

Knickelbine’s yard sale organization skills will be put to the test because she has been designated the volunteer organizer for a charity sale in the works at the Eagles Aerie #4299 scheduled Oct. 25.

Knickelbine said gently used, reusable items are being accepted for the upcoming charity sale and donators can call 928-208-1042 for more information.

There was a charity yard sale of a different kind Sunday at a residence on Coconino Drive to raise money for leukemia and lymphoma. The two-day sale proved Saturday was the busiest day, and the yard sale organizer said shoppers were more than generous despite the item price.

“They would buy an item for $2 or $3 dollars and then wouldn’t take their change,” said Charlie Miller, who hosted the sale alongside his daughter Jamie Miller, of Newport, Calif.

Jamie Miller became involved with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training marathon, which is a fundraising program, after he father was diagnosed with cancer.

Jamie said she will participate in the Long Beach, Calif., half-marathon benefiting the charity organization Oct. 11, ironically a few days after the completion of Charlie’s chemotherapy treatments. The local sale Saturday and Sunday was solely to support the cancer society.

You may contact the reporter at jhanson@havasunews.com.