10 Garage Sale Tips

Garage Sale Season Begins .....
 

Whether you are participating in a community organized sale or having one of your own, garage sales are a great way to shed rarely used items, earn a little extra money and get to meet your neighbors.  This blog includes some tips on how to prepare to make the day run smoothly and add a little fun.

1.  Go through your home to collect items

Plan ahead and set aside items throughout the year, keeping them in a storage box until garage sale day arrives.  You can also prepare immediately prior to the event, while you are spring cleaning through your house to remove clutter and freshen up your home.

2.  Plan a date that makes sense

Select a date the promises reasonable weather for outdoor shopping.  Check the events calendar to ensure there isn’t a community event that will compete with your sale.  Do not choose a weekend that is known for people exiting the city, such as Easter, or a summer long weekend.   Conversely, if live in a location that gets high traffic for cottage goers, a travel day during those weekends would be ideal.  Don’t be afraid to ask around to find out what’s been successful for other neighbors in your area.

 

Reminder to Cornell ON residents – your community garage sale is on Saturday, June the 1^st, 2013.  For all other readers, come on by and see if something we have could turn out to be the treasure you are seeking!!

3.  Advertise
Try to estimate your expected profit from the sale.  That will help you determine what amount is reasonable to spend on advertising.  Whether you have a small budget or large – advertising is always necessary to maximize success.  There are varied options from advertising on your local website, to newspaper ads, flyers in visible points throughout your community and a sign on your street corner(s) a few days before and on the day of your garage sale.

4.  ‘Showcase’ your merchandise

You will get a limited amount of each shopper’s attention so make it worth their time.  Present your items in an attractive display that will make your items look like they are worth more than the sale down the street where everything is piled in a heap or dumped into a box for people to sift through.  If you are selling candle holders, include inexpensive candles that will show how nice your piece will look in their home.  Ensure that you have ample table space for displays.  Hang clothes on hangers.  Use a portable clothing rack or create one for the day out of a couple of ladders and some broom handles. 

5.  Have a cash box
Few people have the right change for their purchases - so ensure you have a full supply of coins and small bills.  Store them in a secure location in a cash box or belt, if you have one.  A cutlery tray that you can secure in a container will work as a low cost solution.  Ensure that you have a total of all change enclosed prior to the sale so when you do your count at the end, you can subtract the initial float to determine the financial success of your sale. 

 

6.  Put price stickers on all items
Many people will not bother to ask for a price if you have not already stickered your items which means you are at risk of losing sales.  Set prices that you think are reasonable, understanding that people expect bargains at garage sales.  Be prepared to negotiate so sticker at a price you can work with.  It is also nice touch to have shopping bags on hand to help people carry away their purchases.

 

7.  Have a plan for bad weather
Whether you have a covered porch, an enclosed parking area or a tent you can erect at a moment’s notice, it is important to be ready for rain or a wind on garage sale day.   Umbrellas may do the trick if you have a few of the large golf sized ones.  In any case, the show must go on so be prepared.
 

8.  Snack and/or refreshment stand

This is a great way to get the kids involved in the day and practice their entrepreneurial skills.  On a very hot day, they could make a good profit selling bottled water, freezies or other cool refreshments.  This year, my house will be the one with the hotdog and refreshment stand.

 

9.  Friendly competition
Some friendly family competition is also a good way to boost profits, include the whole family and hone everyone’s sales skills.  To borrow an idea from ‘Clean Sweep’ on TLC - allow each member to hold back one item from the sale that they would really rather keep – even if not practical.  At the end of the sale, the person who brought in the most money keeps their item and all others are given away.

10.  Determine what you will do with items that don’t sell

The last thing you want to do is bring items that you haven’t sold back into the house.  You’ll end up keeping them and growing your clutter again.  Research options ahead of time.  There may be a local shelter, or a thrift centre that will accept your items. Some charities may even do pick up of larger items.  You can even try leaving items out at your sale site with a sign saying ‘FREE’ to see if they disappear by the end of the day.

 

Through all of this, the most important thing is to have fun.  Include the kids, if you can.  What a wonderful opportunity for them to take ownership of selling some of their own items.  They’ll learn some lessons about sales and negotiations and perhaps earn some money of their own at the same time.