What’s your first thought when your neighbor, friend, or significant other asks you to help organize a garage sale? Maybe it excites you, stresses you out, or even terrifies you a little bit. Maybe you want no part of it at all. Before you say no, ask yourself the following questions:
If you answered yes to any of these questions, a garage sale could be the answer! Consider hosting one this spring or summer to get rid of that extra stuff taking up space in your house. The following tips can help you plan the best garage sale to make it go as smoothly as possible.
A garage sale is a lot of work and takes time to plan, so getting started early can prevent additional stress and last-minute panic. Before you put your garage sale on the calendar, start sorting through items to determine what you need to get rid of and what you want to keep. Throughout the weeks, or even months, leading up to your garage sale, organize items into piles to keep, toss, and sell.
If you live out in the middle of nowhere, or on a street that doesn’t get much traffic, enlist your friends and family to help get the word out! Or, as an alternative, ask them if they would host the garage sale for you. Location is one of the most important factors of a successful garage sale.
Before you begin setting up your sale, clean your garage and the items you’re selling. No one wants to sort through someone else’s mess, so fold all clothing and dust any furniture, books, games, etc.
Make sure you’re prepared to display all of your items by getting tables or shelves into your garage. Then, price the items and set up all of the displays. A few days before the sale, run to the bank and grab some cash – you’ll need small bills and coins to make change. Enlist your friends, kids, or siblings to help you man the tables during the sale, and even ask them to put signs out for you around the neighborhood.
The weekend is the best time for a garage sale, as many people work during the week. Aim to have everything ready to open up bright and early in the morning, and then close in the late afternoon. Try not to open earlier or close later than what you’ve advertised so you don’t miss any potential customers.
Check the weather forecast for the day(s) you want to host your garage sale. Is there a chance of rain or extreme temperatures? If so, try to pick another day or have an alternative plan in place in case you need to reschedule at a moment’s notice.
Marketing your garage sale is going to help you get rid of the stuff you want out of your house. It can be a pain, but enlisting help from family or friends to create signs to hang up around the neighborhood and throughout town can make it easier. List specific dates and times that you’ll be open, and include an arrow to lead them the right direction. Consider tying balloons or streamers to the signs, too, so they attract more attention from passersby, then have the same balloons at the end of the driveway so people know exactly what house to approach.
Consider advertising your garage sale online, too. Places like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or just Facebook in general can be great for getting the word out. Put something in the newspaper, too, and include keywords related to the items you’re selling to catch buyers’ attention. You can even include brands, clothing sizes and a general list of items people can expect to see.
You may have too many shoes or clothes from throughout the years and really want to get rid of them, but make sure you consider if they will really sell. Are they worn out or in bad shape, or do they look almost brand new? If you have extra bricks or lumber from a finished project, don’t overlook them. Building materials like this are actually big sellers at sales like these, as are gardening or lawn care items and sports equipment.
When you have everything you want to sell, you need to price them according to their value. Don’t scare people away with high prices; most people who show up to garage sales are expecting to find items they want that won’t break the bank. If your prices are too high, they may turn around before they even see half the inventory. When deciding what everything should cost, consider what you would pay for it if you found it at a garage sale. If you’re debating between two prices, go with the lower amount. It’s better to sell something more cheaply than not sell it at all.
Exceptional customer service is a must for any type of sale, so make sure you’re friendly and welcoming when people arrive. However, don’t follow them around or bombard them with small talk unless they seem to want that interaction. Typically, people want to meander through the aisles you’ve created, sift through the inventory, and take their time finding just the right treasure.
Feel free to organize the items as the day goes on in order to keep things neat and tidy for each customer who comes to your garage sale. Do this when there are few or no customers in a particular section so you don’t get in their way or make them feel uncomfortable. When your garage sale is over, store any remaining items for your next sale or donate them to a local charity.
For a successful garage sale, your garage should be open and inviting to your potential customers! If your home’s garage door is worn out, damaged, or just old, consider replacing it. Subscribe to our blog for more helpful garage tips!