What does it take to make a successful garage sale?

Question

Not very experienced with doing or shopping garage sales, I want setup tips and volume and signs, or anything to make it better.

Answer 1

best sales i been to have clothes sorted by size and other items like knick knacks,wall pictures ect.,organized.dont just throw everything on table for people to rummage through most wont bother. and signs are easy just write garage sale on it and post with address or arrows pointing in direction for people to find and be sure sign is large enough for motorist to see

Answer 2

All the other tips are good but also try to make the garage sale fun. Get a couple helium balloons. Have some music playing (not too loud though). Have a friend or two there with you. I don't usually stop at garage sales where there is just one person sitting there staring at me. If it's early try buying a dozen doughnuts and have coffee for sale. If your neighborhood has lots of kids recruit a friend to do fun kid stuff, juggling, face painting, magic. This will draw the parents to look at the sale while the kids are occupied. If your neighboorhood is not very busy try combining your sale with a friend's in a more high traffic area. I did it and it helped. :)

Answer 3

Clothes can be a big hit at garage sales, but only if they are in good condition. For example, a bunch of really old bell-bottom pants that are faded and covered in holes probably won't sell, but a really nice, clean pink sweatshirt that has no holes will probably sell. I suggest you should probably fix the clothes up a bit before you sell them. Sew up the holes, wash and dry all the clothes, replace any missing buttons, etc. You should also put an ad in the classifieds, saying that you have a LOT of clothes, and everything must sell. Good luck with your garage sale :) Hope I helped!

Answer 4

Several things to include advertising in a local paper if you have one. Be sure to give the address, date, and time of the sale. Post signs in the neighborhood giving people notice of the yard sale and using arrows to show them how to get to your house. Make the prices fair and reasonable, and be willing to take offers from people who stop by. Set up using tables if possible. The more organized your merchandise is the better it will sell. AND, above all, BE SURE to have prices affixed to each item so you are not constantly distracted by questions. AND, be sure to have enough cash on hand to give people change when they buy. AND watch carefully your money. DO NOT leave it unattended.

I shop yard sales frequently, and I have one myself once a year/ It's a great way to make your junk other people's treasure.

Good luck!!

Answer 5

You will need as many tables as you can get your hands on. Put similar items together - men's clothes, women's clothes, baby items, toys, etc. Put big ticket items closer to the curb to get people to stop. If you live in a well-traveled area, some signs at your closest main intersections will do the trick. If not, an ad in the paper and additional signs will help. If you can provide any shade, that will keep people comfortable. Get a cooler with cold drinks iced down in it and sell them cheap - also to keep shoppers comfortable. Don't let anyone start loading an item until you have money in hand - some people load it and then offer less money. Have lots of change available. Don't individually price items - put them in $0.25, $1, $2, $5 sections, etc. Pull out those plastic grocery bags that everyone accumulates to bag up purchases. Try to have enough help so that you can keep an eye on your merchandise and your money box. Beware of early birds - people who come before the stated start time and try to browse and purchase items. Stick to your guns and tell them you're not ready to receive shoppers.

That's all, and have fun.

Answer 6

Price everything or almost everything.
Be prepared to accept offers.
Organize items by type.
Hanging clothes helps to sell them. No one likes digging through piles.
Use tables or make tables out of sawhorses and plywood. Nobody wants to bend over and dig through boxes.
Put up lots of signs that are big and easily seen by passers by. Use arrows to point to your street. Don't assume that everyone is going to know where you are by just putting an address on the sign.
Get up at 5 am on the day of your sale and be ready by 7 am, if you are starting at 8 am because that's when the early birds will show up.

Answer 7

My best tip is to put prices on everything. Otherwise you'll be run off your feet trying to tell everyone what the prices are. Some people won't ask and you lose a sale. Other times you say a price off-the-top-of-your-head and realize it was too low so you lose money.
Try this website for more how-to info:
http://www.yardsalequeen.com/
http://organizedhome.com/content-54.html
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_lnb_gutter/text/0,1783,HGTV_3938_12265,FF.html
Have a terrific sale!

Answer 8

LOTS of cheap stuff.
PRICES marked on the goods
Be prepared to bargain
POST advertising in your local supermarket billboards a week or so in advance
JOIN UP with two or three OTHER families or preferably a whole BLOCK for a mega-sale.

Answer 9

To have a successful garage sale you need to spread the wordout to as many people as possible.It's a really good idea to post fliers at your local stores,churches,etc. Well i hope my info helps you and good luck.

Answer 10

put up lots of signs. if no one knows about it no one will come. You even have to market a garage sale if you want people to come, it's simple.