Wouldn't it be nice if there were no obstacles to your walk though the garage, no clutter on the work bench, and no junk spilling out of the closets? If you haven't done it for a while, now is the time to make a clean sweep. On a fair weather weekend you can parlay your cast-offs into cash! In this article I will share some of my tips for having a successful garage sale.
Step 1: Create a plan.
Give yourself plenty of time to get your "inventory" ready. 1 - 2 weeks of planning is ideal. That allows time for active preparation, and time to relax so you're not drained before the big day.
Create a plan for identifying items to sell. Jewelry, collectables, large and small appliances, furniture, garden tools, hand and power tools, electronics, toys, games, books, baking and cooking utensils, baby items, clothing, camping stuff, fishing poles and fishing reels are things folks are looking for.
Get a box and start in one area of the house, yard, or garage. Collect and box your items there before moving on to a new area. Labeling the contents of your boxes will help you later to set up a well organized display.
Step 2: Get organized.
Get the neighborhood involved. An organized community garage sale will drive more buyers to your sale. Not only is it profitable, but you will have fun with neighborhood friends and meet new ones. The easiest way to organize a block sale is in person. Word of mouth will spread and soon everyone will want to participate. Those who don't sell, may shop!
Evite is a great free email tool you can use to invite your neighbors' involvement and for them to respond. Remember to provide the date, and start and end times. Provide your phone number and invite them to help with planning and making or placing signs.
Posting or leaving flyers will get the word out too.
Step 3: Time it right.
Timing is important. Saturday is the most popular day for garage sales. Set your hours between 8:00 am and 2:00 pm for maximum traffic. Remember early birds will show up well before your advertised start time. The date is equally as important. Choose a date when you expect folks to be in town. If there's already an Saturday event planned near your home, capitalize on that date.
Strategically placed signs will drive folks to your house.
Step 4: Spread the word.
Advertising is key to a successful day. I prefer listing my garage sales on Craigslist (see resources) to buying adds in the newspaper. Craigslist is free and a must-have for garage sale junkies. It's quick and easy to open a free account. If yours is a neighborhood or community sale, be sure to post that in the listing title. Adding a Google map of your address is also useful.
Step 5: Get set-up.
Allow yourself plenty of time for set-up. You don't want to be running into the house or unpacking boxes when buyers are arriving. You don't want to loose any potential sales!
Step 6. Work it.
Expect and welcome haggling on prices. Your buyers are looking for a bargain. They like when you shave off 25 cents or a dollar. Offer discounts for multiple purchases.
When it nears closing time, pull out all the stops and offer deep discounts. Remember, you'll be stuck with whatever doesn't sell! And always consider donating what's left to your favorite thrift shop or charitable organization.
Things You'll Need:
- 1 - 2 weeks to get ready for the big day.
- Colorful stick-on labels for pricing your items.Cardboard, permanent marker, and tape for your signs.
- Eye-catchers like balloons, banners, and flags.
- Shopping bags.
- Lots of change and dollar bills.
- Neighbor involvement to increase local traffic to your event.
- Access to Craigslist to advertising the big day.
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