I love garage sales. Well, I admit I sometimes find it a little awkward to walk up a driveway with the homeowner watching you approach as you get ready to rifle through all their stuff. But I always get through the tiny bit of anxiety because I love bargains. And garage sales are some of the best places to find them.
But maybe you are on the other side and are thinking about having a yard sale of your own. You could use spending money for your family trip, some extra money to pay off bills, or you just want to clear out clutter – but if you have never put on a sale, it might sound pretty intimidating. A well-run garage sale can be rewarding if you do it right. From pricing strategy, to presentation, to advertising, here are some tips to help you get the most out of your sale:
Pick the right time.
Late spring and early summer are peak sale seasons, and Friday and Saturday mornings will bring in the most traffic. Does your community host a community-wide sale? If so, they usually will do most of the advertising for you.
Advertise, advertise, advertise.
You can advertise in a local newspaper – some people still look there – but at least two days ahead of time, put an ad in any local Facebook Buy, Sell, Trade or Marketplace kind of groups, garage sale or neighborhood groups (like Nextdoor) you may have in your area. Use keywords like baby clothes, tools, or furniture if they are applicable to your sale.
Make lots of easy-to-read signs with clear address, dates, and arrows. Place your signs in high traffic areas and at helpful locations along the way to your sale – and use those arrows! People will not come to your sale if they cannot find it.
Prep for your sale. Start early.
You do not want to be up all night before your sale looking for and pricing your items. If you have some higher dollar items, consider listing them online (like on Marketplace) ahead of time. It gives people a little more time to consider and purchase them. You may want to price them a little higher than what you want because you most likely will be asked to lower your price.
Take an hour each weekend for a few weeks to go through your house and garage to gather what you no longer need or want. The more stuff you are able to put out, the more likely people are to stop at your sale. And do not forget to get change from the bank if you need to and have a calculator handy.
Presentation and organization matter.
Hang as many clothes as you can. Sort folded clothes by gender and size, and make sure they are clean and presentable. Most shoppers will not take the time to look if there is not some kind of organization. Put your large items out near the street so people know you have more than clothes and organize the rest by category (books, kitchen, toys, etc.). As much as possible, keep items off the ground. Keep electronics near an outlet so people can check to see that they work.
Make clear signs for pricing.
Price as many individual items as you are able; most people do not like to have to ask how much things cost. Make your prices fair and match them to your area. You will not sell much if your prices are too high for your shoppers. A good guideline is 10% of retail for most things and you can go up to 50% for new items. If you are doing a half-price day or some kind of discount, try to advertise that on your signs and ads.
Sell treats or goodies.
Shoppers appreciate a snack, and if you have kids, they can help out by being in charge of this.
Some final tips – if you aren’t sure, check on any kind of regulations for your location. Some cities do require a permit. Open early and be friendly and helpful. A positive attitude will not only encourage more sales but will make your day better as well!
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