Garage Sale advice?

I have only had a couple of garage sales and it's been a long time since my last one. I'm thinking of having one on my own (not a neighborhood sale) . It would be in a couple of weeks. Does anyone have any tips for me? I heard that you should advertise in the paper or else no one will show.

Looking for any advice

Lol, have never had one, but have some tips that my SIL gave me if I ever did....

Make sure to have a backup plan in case of rain, lol.

Plainly mark prices on things

If at all possible, hang clothes instead of leaving them in boxes

Yes, I would definately advertise in the paper, post signs, etc. The more advertising you have, the more people will come in looking. Set up as much as you can the night before, so that you don't knock yourself out first thing in the morning. Sitting all day with a garage sale can be exhausting. Some people here to them on Friday nights and Saturday mornings. I would never run it past noon on Saturday. People like to get out early for the best bargains. Oh, and many will show up BEFORE you are even ready to open.
Just try to organize everything. Label your prices clearly, decide if you are willing to negotiate. Get change from the bank so you can provide change. A lot of people bring large bills. Hope this helps! Good luck and have fun!

Yep, put out signs and buy a cheap ad in the paper. The ad makes a WORLD of difference.

Spread your stuff out so it looks like you have a LOT of things, put some of the nicer things right up front in plain view of people driving by. Even if they see the ad, if they drive by and don't think you've got enough to bother stopping to look at, they'll just keep going...

Thanks Wonderful tips!!! I just hope I at least break even on the cost of the ad I will absolutely put the good stuff out to the front and spread it out because I don't have a ton of stuff but everyday my "garage sale pile" gets bigger

Thank you

Signs definately! Clearly pointing the way and the date and time. I get lost easy and the bread crumb signs help - plus the date and time. If not - I assume it is an old one and won't follow (been bitten by that too much!)

I'd advertise on Craig's List for your area, Chris, and hang out really bright signs with NICE print the day before.

Signs of the side of the road are really good for advertising and very cheap but it depends on the size of town you live in. If it's a big city then go with an ad in the paper.

Elizabeth took the words out of my mouth, but I'll just elaborate a little about the signs. Good looking signs -- they need to be clear from more than just a couple of feet away, and to show that you have taken care with them (you'll have stuff that I'm at least interested in looking at), but at the same time not OVER-professional looking (you're a private individual, not a professional merchant).

I've never actually done a garage sale, but this was one tip that I read in an article on the subject that really resonated, simply from my experience of being on the buying side.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by crapdiva

Looking for any advice

Click to expand...

First, I recommend having it in your own garage because your neighbors could get angry and confused if you try to have it in theirs. If you don't have a garage, you should make sure to call it a "not a garage sale" or else people will drive past it and think it was the wrong sale. You could also build a garage, but that could get a bit expensive. I think you should definitely have it during the daytime so people can see what they are buying. Once you get all the stuff in the garage ready for selling, don't forget to open the garage door so that people can simply walk in. Also, make sure to mark all prices in U.S. dollars. If someone thinks you marked them in Pesos or Yen, it could get you into trouble. By the way, how many garages do you have available to sell? Just kidding Chwis!!! Good luck with your garage sale!

Originally Posted by sunnicat

Yes, I would definately advertise in the paper, post signs, etc. The more advertising you have, the more people will come in looking. Set up as much as you can the night before, so that you don't knock yourself out first thing in the morning. Sitting all day with a garage sale can be exhausting. Some people here to them on Friday nights and Saturday mornings. I would never run it past noon on Saturday. People like to get out early for the best bargains. Oh, and many will show up BEFORE you are even ready to open.
Just try to organize everything. Label your prices clearly, decide if you are willing to negotiate. Get change from the bank so you can provide change. A lot of people bring large bills. Hope this helps! Good luck and have fun!

Click to expand...

excellent advice!

try to start it early as you can and prepare as much as possible the night before, when my husband lost his job we brought heaps of stuff from garage sales, restored it and sold it for more at our own garage sales or in the paper, we never failed to make at least $200 but once we made $500 which was great because it was out job at the time

goodluck!


felicia

First - invest in a big fat felt tip marker. I hate signs done in ball point.

Check to see if your newspaper has free garage sale signs when you place your ad. Ours does.

To hang clothing, try a rod between two ladders. Also helps in hanging other stuff.

Make sure all electrical items work or provide an extension cord so things can be plugged in.

Plenty of room to park without blocking the street? That said, there will be one or two who will park willy-nilly no matter what. I don't know how many folks park in the drive next to our Lapidary house when we have our sale even though we have a big parking lot 20 feet away!

Condsider a lobotomy... (Egads. I've been reading too many posts by Ryan! )

About advertising:

1. People will show up way before you are ready to start (so if you do advertise, post the time an hour later than you really intend to start).
2. One reason why I don't like to place ads: If it rains or if something comes up where you can't start your sale or hold it at all, people will be bound to show up and be really rude (this happened to me - it was raining, I didn't bother to set up, and people still came in droves! I also had people show up at my house 2 hours early when I was still in my P.J.s!
3. If you live in a busy area (near a main street), you can just put some signs out the day of your sale. I made a menu board type sign that says "Yard Sale" and I place it at the end of my street (there's a lot of traffic on the street that connects to mine).
4. You can also see if any of your neighbors would consider having one on the same day - you can share the expense of the ad.

More tips:
Price items a little more than the amount you would like to receive (people like to barter and this gives you some wiggle room)
Have a "free box" to toss things into that you don't think will sell
Clothing can be a gamble, unless you have desirable things (still in style, or children's garments). It helps to organize by size/gender (people will mess up your piles no matter what though!). It also helps to sell clothes that are currently in season. Make sure everything is clearly labeled with prices (I use safety pins and the tags with strings (can loop through button holes too) - and don't ask too much (people expect you to give them away!).

Make sure your items are clean.
It helps to organize; dishes, clothing, toys, etc.
Place big items (furniture, bikes, etc) out in front to attract more passerbys
Keep expensive items (jewelry for example) close by
Keep an eye on your cash (you can use a fanny pack so that you can walk about and not worry about someone walking away with your money).
Have lots of ones, and some $5's & $10's.

It helps to have someone helping you. It's hard to answer questions, tally up items, keep an eye on sticky fingers, and if you have to take a bathroom break it's really rough going it alone!!

If it's sunny where you live, make sure you have a shady spot to sit in or you will fade quickly - and stay hydrated!

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Hydroaxe

First, I recommend having it in your own garage because your neighbors could get angry and confused if you try to have it in theirs. If you don't have a garage, you should make sure to call it a "not a garage sale" or else people will drive past it and think it was the wrong sale. You could also build a garage, but that could get a bit expensive. I think you should definitely have it during the daytime so people can see what they are buying. Once you get all the stuff in the garage ready for selling, don't forget to open the garage door so that people can simply walk in. Also, make sure to mark all prices in U.S. dollars. If someone thinks you marked them in Pesos or Yen, it could get you into trouble. By the way, how many garages do you have available to sell? Just kidding Chwis!!!

Good luck with your garage sale!

Click to expand...

Thanks for the morning laugh...
(p.s. Yes everyone who lives in Ryan's city is as funny as Ryan or at the very least, funny looking or looking funny...usually at Ryan)
And we don't have garage sales here. See above for how confusing the rules are.

Originally Posted by Hydroaxe

First, I recommend having it in your own garage because your neighbors could get angry and confused if you try to have it in theirs. If you don't have a garage, you should make sure to call it a "not a garage sale" or else people will drive past it and think it was the wrong sale. You could also build a garage, but that could get a bit expensive. I think you should definitely have it during the daytime so people can see what they are buying. Once you get all the stuff in the garage ready for selling, don't forget to open the garage door so that people can simply walk in. Also, make sure to mark all prices in U.S. dollars. If someone thinks you marked them in Pesos or Yen, it could get you into trouble. By the way, how many garages do you have available to sell? Just kidding Chwis!!!

Good luck with your garage sale!

Click to expand...

Ryan - I am coming to your place to have my sale. Winnipeg has a higher population and therefore I might have a better chance of getting rid of my crap. The great thing is , I can just leave the stuff that doesn't sell at your house Don't worry , I will take into account the exchange rate for Canadian dollars It will take approximately 15 hours to reach your place, so we will be arriving at 3:48am your time, next Saturday, O.K.???


Excellent advice everyone! I think I will go to the store this week to get some poster board for signs this week. I am definitely going to put an hour later in my ad because I will be mad if they show up and I'm in my jammies

I haven't had garage sale but my plant sale.
Make LOTS OF SIGNS. Put them up the day before if possible. Put like balloons or big sign by your driveway. I put my phone # in newspaper ad but that's because I live in the country. Don't get to wordy in the ad but mention any special stuff.
Have at least $50-$75 in ones about $50 in 5's and $50 in $10's. Never fails one of the 1st people to come will have a $50!! Decide if you will be accepting checks.
Consider dropping prices later in the afternoon to move the merchandise.
Good luck!!