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Have a goal for your garage sale.
“The first thing people want to think about is thewhy,” Porter says.
Credit: Daniel Grill/Getty Images
Knowing why you’re holding a garage sale can help you stay focused and motivated.
But the simple sale turned into 17 years of running an epic event each summer with several friends.
“We all make money, which ultimately makes a bigger and better sale.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
It’s a win-win,” Quimby says.
“We also get to let go of stuff, make some moolah, andhave less clutter at home.
I use the money I make to go toward our vacation.”
Credit:BHG / Meg MacDonald
Check out the competition.
Take the time to walk through other local sales before you hold your own.
Fridays and Saturdays are generally the best days for a garage sale.
Credit:BHG / Meg MacDonald
Set the date at least a month out to allow time to gather and price sale items.
Sort garage sale items into categories, such askids' gear,kitchenware,linens, and workout gear.
This will simplify your setup.
Tip:Keep a bin in your closet or garage labeled Yard Sale.
Anytime you find an item or run across something you no longer use, toss it in.
When the first bin fills up, start a new one!
BHG / Meg MacDonald
5.
Price as you gather items.
Don’t plan on pricing the night before the sale.
You’ll be too stressed and tired to make good choices.
Instead, price items as you gather them.
“Pricing takes forever.
Porter also recommends thinking like your customers.
“People who are coming to a garage sale want to bargain hunt,” Porter says.
“They’re expecting everything to be at a deep discount.
Minimize expenses by choosing low-cost tags.
Pick up stickers from a discount store or use masking tape and a permanent marker.
Write up a pricing sheet for clothes.
Put together a clothing price sheet so you don’t have to price each piece separately.
Place price sheets in clear sheet protectors and post several around the clothing.
For easy reference, you’re free to also tape a price sheet next to the cash-out area.
Advertise your garage sale strategically.
Start posting online ads and hanging flyers a week or two before your sale.
Call it something catchy but simple, such as “Shannon’s Yard Spectacular!”
or “Block Sale Bonanza!”
so your sale stands out.
Always include your full address, the days of the sale, and the times.
Quimby also never pays to advertise her sales since there are so many free online options.
Eye-catching photos = more foot traffic.
Post physical garage sale signs.
Drive past them to verify their readability.
Some communities have regulations about how and where to post signs, so research this before you get going.
and “This Way!”
Quimby says this entices neighbors to check out your sale because they’ll feel part of a scavenger hunt.
Have all the essentials ready.
The week before your garage sale, gather necessities and stash them together.
Arrange to borrow lots of tables, including one for the cash-out area.
Have an extension cord, lightbulbs, andbatterieson hand so people can test whether the items work.
Here are some other items Quimby suggests:
12.
Prepare digital tools if needed.
Be sure to have a working hot spot, especially if your Wi-Fi can get iffy.
Download an app to record sales, which can be especially helpful for group sales.
Set up the day before.
Give yourself a day ahead of the garage sale to set up.
Porter recommends setting up your sale like it’s a fun shopping experience.
Use books or sturdy shallow boxes as risers on tables to add varying heights and more focal points.
Quimby sets up different “rooms.”
For example, she places all thekitchenor living room items together.
Within these zones, arrange coordinated vignettes that resemble a store display window.
If people can see the items easily, they’re inspired to buy more.
you’re free to also designate a kids' section.
This is where you want to put things down low so they’re at kid height.
14. confirm everything is in good condition.
All sale items should be clean, unwrinkled, and in good condition.
Pump air into tires and balls, and install working batteries in anything that needs them.
Hang clothes so they’re easy to see.
Take the time todisplay clothesin complete outfitsthey’remore likely to sell.
Showcase jewelry and eyewear.
Set up an area for small items likejewelry, sunglasses, and readers next to the cash-out table.
Pin jewelry on a cork bulletin board or use hooks to hang pieces on a window screen.
Organize by style so more formal or kid-friendly pieces are grouped together.
Always keep earrings together.
Group linens in sets.
Bundlesheets and pillowcasesinto sets and label them with their sizes (twin, queen, etc.).
Group napkins together and lay them beside tablecloths, so people can easily pair things.
Combinetowelsinto sets that include a washcloth, hand towel, and bath towel.
Wrap all bundles neatly together using twine or string.
Sell drinks and individually packaged treats at checkout.
Set up alemonade standor stock coolers and buckets full of ice to sell drinks at the checkout.
Small snacks can also be an easy way to boost profits.
“Our friend had a baking business, so she broughtindividually wrapped cookiesand sold them for $1 apiece.
Each day she sold out in an hour and a half,” Quimby says.
Be prepared for negotiations.
Use your intel from the competition to help price items fairly, butbe prepared to negotiate.
Before the sale, determine the lowest price you’re willing to accept, Porter says.
Think twice about allowing holds.
Holds create a hassle, Quimby says.
That way, they’re incentivized to return by the end of the sale.
Plan for an after-sale pickup.
Set up a donation pickupat the end of your garage sale to get rid of anything that remains.
“Nothing that went into the sale should go back into your house,” Porter says.
Some charities require a month’s notice to schedule one, so plan ahead.
This is also a great window to arrange times to return any borrowed tables.
As the experts note, preparation is the key to maximizing sales and having a stress-free experience.
Set yourself up for success, but don’t forget to have a little fun.
Play some music, set up some snacks, and create a welcoming vibe for the day.
