Spring is right around the corner and it’s a great time to have a garage sale because the weather is beautiful. Not to mention, many people like to do some Spring Cleaning which lends itself to clearing out items you no longer need or want. A garage sale is an excellent way to purge some of your things and end up with some extra cash in your pocketbook.
A successful garage sale will take more than just putting a price sticker on each of your items and setting them out in your driveway. Planning and organization should be on the top of your list. It’s what makes a garage sale successful. Here are a few other tips that can be implemented as well:
1. Make Eye-Catching Signs
Clear and obvious signs are the most important step in getting people to visit your garage sale. Use brightly colored poster board with a large arrow for each sign. Visible signs will help people make the correct turns to get to your sale. Additionally, it’s a good idea to make your signs double sided so they can be seen from either side of the road. Also, make sure you post signs at multiple entrances to your neighborhood. If you want to take your advertising a step further, promote your garage sale prior to the actual date of the sale in the Pennysaver.
2. Have a Variety of Items
Many people will drive by a garage sale where there are only a few items displayed. Also, it is important to have an assortment of items to sell. If you only have a few things, invite some neighbors or friends to sell some of their stuff, which will help add some variety and draw customers to your sale. Most people have extra stuff lying around that they would like to get rid of, but they might not have the time or energy to have their own garage sale.
3. Staging your Sale
Make sure similar items are displayed with one another. Think of your sale as a miniature department store. You might have departments for shoes, clothing, tools, furniture, sporting goods, books, toys and electronics. Organize like items together so customers can easily browse what you have available. Allow enough space for your customers to move through and peruse the merchandise. A clothing rack or horizontal ladder is a good place to hang adult clothes.
4. Keep it Clean
Use tables to keep most of your items off of the ground. Borrowing tables from family, friends, or neighbors is a good idea if you don’t have enough. In a pinch, a couple saw horses and a piece of wood can create a makeshift table. Children’s toys are okay to place on a tarp or sheet because that makes them at eye level for kids. Be creative and cover plastic tubs or boxes with sheets to make smaller tables.
5. Pricing your Merchandise
I have had more success with not putting a price on every single item at my garage sales. I keep an open-mind, and when someone asks how much something is, I give them a fair price. The price could become lower the longer I sit on my driveway, because eventually I’m going to donate what I have left. I have also had success with creating labels for similar items such as clothing or books. For example, all shirts are one dollar and all books are a quarter. On the flip side, putting a price on each item will limit the number of customers asking how much something costs.
6. Have a Realistic Mindset
Keep in mind that you are trying to get rid of stuff. Of course you will want to make money, but don’t overvalue your things because they might not sell at all. It’s a better idea to sell a lot of your items at lower prices than only sell a few higher priced items. If you are within the last hour of your garage sale, consider slashing your prices so you have fewer items to clean up.
7. Think About Logistics
It is a good idea to have an available electrical outlet for customers who would like to test out any electrical items. Of course, have a cash box that is stocked with plenty of change and some bags or boxes available nearby for items to be carried away. If you are displaying clothes, decide whether you will keep or give away the hangers and have a place to put them if you are keeping them. Also, wearing an apron will help buyers know who to pay or negotiate with.
At the end of your sale, be ready to let go of any items that didn’t sell. Do not bring anything back into your home. Instead, donate the leftover items to a charitable organization or arrange to have them picked up. You will most likely appreciate the extra space in your home and the money in your pocket.
