How to Have a Successful Garage Sale
Posted on September 3rd, 2015
Garage sales are a great way to make some extra cash if you have enough things you want to get rid of. However, there are smart ways to go about having a garage sale that will help you make more money. The first thing you need to do is determine if you have enough to sell; if you don’t think you will, either contact other people in your neighborhood to try to have a joint sale or wait a year and see what else you will be willing to sell. Once you decide to have a sale, set a date. That way, you can plan around it; create a Facebook event, place a free advertisement on Craigslist, and tell friends and family about it. Getting the word out is of the utmost importance-if no one knows about the sale, no one will come! Create posters with minimal wording, yet large lettering and place them around the neighborhood. People who are driving will see the signs and hopefully stop in!
Aside from advertising and the date, the physical sale needs to attract people. Categorize all the items, such as clothes, holiday, books, etc., and organize them accordingly. Place everything on tables or on clothing racks as people are much more likely to buy something that is at their level. In addition to organizing your set up, clean everything you are selling. Wash the clothes, wipe down any toys, and wash the dishes you plan on selling. No one wants to buy dirty glassware!
Finally, pricing is hugely important. You don’t want to price too high because no one will buy the items; however, you don’t want to price something someone would buy for $2.00 for $0.25. To make pricing easier, you can typically group many things together. For example, price books at a quarter or fifty cents, shoes as a dollar per pair, and kids toys for a quarter. The main point is that everything needs to be priced-people are much more likely to buy something when the price is available. During the actual sale, be sure to have plastic bags and plenty of change available. By following these tips, you’ll be able to have a great garage sale and empty out a lot of clutter in your home and garage!
