101 Tips for a Successful Garage Sale

CLICK HERE to download a complimentary printable garage sale poster

Planning for your Garage Sale

1. Get your neighbors in on the action. The more sales on your block, the better the response.



2. Try not to host a yard sale on a long weekend. Saturdays are the best days for sales.



3. Make sure you give yourself enough time to prepare. You don't want to be disorganized.



4. Plan your garage sale around payday weekends. 1st or 15th of the month works best - people have more money then.



5. Check the forcast as early in advance as possible, rain is a garage sale killer.



6. Consider a pre-sale the Friday night before - its a good way to get rid of some stuff in advance.


Getting your stuff ready to sell

7. Make sure you have a large quanity of desireable items to sell. It will make your sale more worthwhile to the buyers.



8. Be sure that your other family members that may have a claim on certain items are consulted first. Avoid the drama of selling something that may have had value to someone else!



9. Capitalize on the season - feature items in your advertising that are desirable for the time of year.



10. Any kind of antiques are hot-ticket items - and they don't even need to be in great condition.


Prior to the sale

11. Make sure that your neighbourhood doesn't have any restrictions on holding garage sales.



12. Have a garage sale twice a year - once in the spring and once in the fall. Be sure to hold back items that pertain to those seasons. you will get more for the items if they are seasonally desirable.



13. Make sure you have enough tables. Make it easier on the backs of your garage salers - put everything up within reach so they can easily see and touch it.



14. This is a biggie - if items are dirty, wash them. nothing is more unappealing at a garage sale that a dirty item.



15. Tidy up your garage sale area so the drive-bys can easily see what you have for sale, and people coming up aren't asking about items that aren't included in your sale.


Get the word out!

16. Put your garage sale ad in as many advertising outlets as you can - maximize your exposure! Include a list of special items you have for sale that people might be drawn to (e.g. name brand toys, kids clothing, furniture, antiques).



17. Make your own yard sale signs using bright, eyecatching colours - and keep them simple. there is a printable complimentary poster to dowload at the top of this page. use ballo

ons!

18. Make sure you have lots of arrows and signs directing traffic to your house. Don't neglect a single corner or turn!



19. Drive by your own signs to make sure your directions are clear and that your signs are readable.



20. Wait until your garage sale is ready to go before you put out your signage.


Make some money!

21. Garage sales are typically meant to clean-out unwanted or unused items, be sure to price your items with that thought in mind. 



22. Either place items together on tables with the same price-point, or be sure to put a price on every item. It makes your life easier when you don't have to discuss every item that you have.



23. Have volume deals. If you are selling multiples of items, offer discounts for mulit-purchases.



24. If you have lots of clothes for sale, try to hang them up or separate them into types of clothing so it is easier for people to pick out the stuff they would like. Offer fill-a-bag sales to move the clothing.



25. Use colour coded price tagging, or mark tags with initials if hosting a multi-family sale.



26. Be sure that price tags used are easily removable, or will not damage items.



27. If certain small items have little or no value, or require "finessing" to make worthy - put them in a free box, and place it at the front of your sale so that you can make sure they are taken.



28. Keep your price points on most items rather low - a buck or two is excellent - try to keep it under $5. It is possible to price yourself right out of a sale. Make sure to price things to sell.



29. If really desirable items have non-negotiable pricetags, put FIRM on the tag, that way people will know not to haggle the price.




Setting up the sale

30. Organize your sale into sections, put the lowest items closer to the front of the sale - and larger items towards the back. That way people can get a good overview of what you are selling. don't block tables from view with large items.



31. With your table set-ups, be sure to leave enough room for multiple people to browse the items on the tables.



32. Use tarps to set items on your lawn if need be, to prevent items from getting damp or dirty. This will also protect your lawn from foot traffic.



33. Place similar items together, Kitchen, sports, garden, knick-knacks, clothing - that way if people are looking for specific items, they are easily found.



34. Separate your clothes according to size, and type. 



35. Display your best clothing items attractively, and easily visible.



36. If you have any fragile, rare or expensive items, be sure they are displayed on a sturdy table and up high out of reach of kids.



37. Be sure to block off areas that you don't want people to go into or through. Protect areas of your yard that could be damaged.



38. Be sure you are capable of showing people how to work certain items, or to have extension cords handy for electrical items.



39. Have a mirror or private area handy if people want to try on clothing or jewelry.



40. having coffee and doughnuts is a nice touch to your sale.



41. Have a garbage can available.



42. Post a sign that says "All Sales Final."


During the Garage Sale

43. Keep the house locked.



44. Make sure everything is ready to go when your sale is scheduled to start.



45. Keep pets inside during the sale.



46. BIG TIP - Make sure you have enough small change to make it through the day.



47. Greet people that approach. Don't hover, but don't ignore them either.



48. Accept cash only. If someone doesn't have enough cash on them, offer to hold the item for them for a short period of time.



49. Keep your money safe and on you at all times. Use a server belt or some type of money belt and have it stocked with small change. then you can make sales right where you are.



50. Have bags or boxes handy for people to carry their items in.



51. Have newsprint handy for wrapping fragile items.



52. Throw in an item to make the sale!



53. if you can, keep track of items sold, especially where multi family sales are taking place. keep the tags to work out the money at the end of the day.



54. Have a calculator handy

55. re-organize areas where items are sold - keep tables looking full and stocked. if need be, move items over to another table and remove the empty table.



56. Drop your prices by noon-hour. liquidate what's left.



57. If someone is returning to collect an item they have already paid for, be sure to put it aside where it won't get accidentally mixed back into the sale.



58. If someone makes an offer on an item that you aren't ready to come down on, offer to take their name and number in case you don't sell it during the yard sale.



59. Recruit family members to assist you during busy times.

60. Bottled water is a hot ticket item anywhere - have some handy in a cooler - especially if it is a hot day.



61. Say "thank you" to all the garage salers that attend your sale.


After the Sale

62. Sell what's left online in the HQ Classified section.



63. Donate the rest.


AVOID THIS...

64. Don't lie about products in order to make the sale. Bad Karma!



65. Don't tell people not to touch stuff. people need to look things over carefully before they buy.



66. Don't overvalue your own stuff. if you don't want it, there is the great possibility that other people don't want it either. price it accordingly to attract the people who DO want it!



67. Don't sell items that are broken, unless it has great value and has all the elements to fix the item included.



68. Don't haggle too hard on maintaining your prices. Your are here to sell, work with your buyers.



69. Don't say "Well, i could get $50 bucks for this on Ebay..." if you could, you would. Sell it at garage sale prices.



70. Don't expect people to ask for prices.



71. Don't let them inside your home to test an item or use the bathroom.



72. Don't try to sell other people's stuff for them.



73. Don't pull something out unless you want to sell it.



74. Don't group too much stuff in boxes.



75. Don't expect to sell collectibles, specialty items, or high-end electronics and furniture at a premium. People want a bargain.



76. Don't sell items that are past their life expectancy.



77. Don't spend a lot of money on signs.



78. Don't smoke.



79. Don't talk about how much money you are making.



80. Don't sell used cosmetics or lingerie. Gross.



81. Don't accept checks from strangers.



82. Don't take people's comments about your stuff personally.

83. Don't fight with your neighbours over 




Buyer Tips! Hooray!


Before the sale

84. Use the HQ Garage Sal

e Finder to scope out where the sales are and plan your route with the google maps.

85. Arrange for a friend to go with you. It's always more fun!



86. Look for block or neighborhood sales. You can park your car and walk to several at once.


The morning of....

87. Pack snacks and drinks in the car to avoid any unnecessary stops.



88. Wear comfortable shoes.



89. Carry cash in small bills.



90. Keep a list of things you are looking for that you know you need or want.



91. Bring a bag to carry your purchases.



92. If you have an expensive car, use a different one for garage sales. If you drive up in an expensive car, or wearing flashy jewelry and expensive clothes, you may not be able to negotiate very well.


At the sale....

93. Shop early for the best selection. Don't wait until Saturday. If the sale starts Thursday, go that day.



94. Don't show up earlier than the established times of the sale.



95. Supervise your children while shopping.



96. Make fast decisions. If you need to think about it, you probably don't need it. It's ok to NOT buy something at a yard sale.



97. Inspect your treasures and make sure they work and don't have marks or chips or other blemishes.



98. When taking your kids, have them actually pay for their items. They often will get a discounted price and it gives kids practice with handling money.



99. If you buy something too big to take with you, have the seller write a receipt and sign it. Write down the seller's address. Put a sold tag on your purchase, including your phone number in case the seller needs to reach you.



After you get home....

100. Take off the price tags off. Most times the longer a sticker stays on an item, the harder it is to remove.



101. Clean everything you bought. enjoy your purchases!