What's the best way to ensure a successful garage sale?

Question

We're planning ours for next weekend to get rid of some clutter. :)

Answer 1

lots of ads around the neighborhood, as well as make sure your loot is visible from the road, so people can see and will be more willing to walk up. Keep close to the sidewalk, make it easy for people to come by.

The best way is when a neighborhood pitches in together and does a big garage sale on the same weekend, you are more likely to get a lot of traffic if people know they have a lot of places to walk past, instead of just one.

Answer 2

Have it as early as possible and advertise a few days before. EXPECT people to come an hour before you open for business so they can browse and get the best pick.

1) SIGNAGE---I never advertised only put out simple but large signage easily viewed from a main highway. The signage consisted of a 1/4 piece of flourescent green posterboard stapled to 2 posts (one on either end). The message simply read "yard sale -8am to ?" in big bold letters with a large bold arrow pointing in the direction they needed to travel. Put the signs up the night before and make sure you take them down the same day. Unless you are having it all weekend.

2) PRICING--- Make sure you have all items tagged with a price you'd like to get for the item (not the bottom line) you should then be willing to take less for it. Be willing to go lower than you thought you would. Price items to go and don't get sentimental. You want to get rid of the stuff not make THE best amount for it.
The customer likes to think they got a better bargain for an item and would be willing to look around for more such bargains.

3) MARKETING--Put some of the best looking things along side the driveway so they can be seen from the road. You will draw more passers-by that way. Also, display some of your prettiest items on clothes hangers or draped on a line or set up at a table so everyone can see them easily. The better you display the items the easier it is to get rid of them. KEEP rearranging things so that it is more attractive. When you sell down a table condense the items of 2 tables to only 1 nicely viewed table. NO ONE likes to pick over the leftovers and it won't seem as if they are leftovers that way. Much of the garage saleing done is impulse buying. Make everything easily viewable --most people do not like rummaging through boxes to find anything.

4) CLOSE WITH A BAG SALE--- Make sure if you advertise you add that at the end of the day you are having a $2.00 bag sale. Meaning anything you can fit into the bag would only cost $2.00

5) last but certainly not least MONEY--- make certain you can make change for the entire length of time you would be open for business. Accept cash only do not take checks unless you are familiar with the customer. Checks get lost, bounced and forgotten to be deposited. Cash is safer. Make sure you deposit your money into the bank as soon as possible. Would be theives know you have just had a garage sale the same way your customers did and may target you.

Blessings to you in your endeavor!

Answer 3

Probably too late to advertise in newspaper. Flourescent posterboard, is highly visible. Clear lettering, is a must. Arrows pointing toward your sale helps too. Attach your signs to discarded realty sign frames, with clear packing tape. I've had the same signs for 3 yrs. and they don't take up much space. Place signs at intersections where there is a lot of traffic, yet close to sale. Signs should be three feet off the road.
Most important of all, greet your shoppers with a smile and say hello, good morning, good afternoon, that puts them in a good mood, and willing to make a purchase.
There are always a few who want to get a bargain and will ask if you will come down in price. Have a price that you are willing to accept and price your items just a touch higher than that so you can satisfy those who want to bargain.
NOTE: Most towns require you to have a permit to run a garage sale. They don't cost much, maybe a couple dollars.

Answer 4

Lots and lots of advertising is the key for a successful garage sale. Make up flyers and post them in grocery stores and other places where people can see them. Put an ad in the paper and advertise the times and days of your sale. Tell all your friends and family members about the sale.

At the actual sale have big signs with balloons on the sign to show where the sale is.

Good luck to you and I hope you create a good garage sale!

Answer 5

Never sell anything before the sale is advertised to start. I sold a neighbor a roll away bed the nite before. And I had my *** chewed for half an hour in front of all these people at my sale. Telling me if I were to advice and item it is to be there when the sale starts. And what I did was illegal. Ya she had a point. But this is what is funny. Someone at the sale looking around heard her and said I have a roll away bed I do not need you can bye. She told the women I dont want or need a rollaway bed.
One year just to be a ***** we had advertised the sale to start at eight. we had people there before seven. we kept the garage doors closed cause we new people would be coming. and i made huge signs and hung the night before. no early sales. sale starts promptly at 8 am.

Answer 6

Dust, wash, and find all pieces to things,tie shoes, hang as many clothes as possible or you will be folding and fixing them all day. Try to organize and put kids clothes separate form the ladies and mens. Put up a sign for the sizes of the clothes over the clothes. Neatness, orderliness, lots of change,a bright sign in the yard and a smile will take you along way.Some cities require permits so ck it out before the sale. Advertise locally in the paper, stores, posts,etc.with identical signs so folks will notice and remember your sale.Tell your kids teacher especially if you have age appropriate books. Teachers will buy them for their classrooms. Invite neighbors and be neighborly by keeping buyers off of the neighbors property. Have fun! The last one I did made over $1000. in one day! And we live in a very small town.If you are ready to quit after one day, do bag sales at about 3 pm and let the customers put what they can into a certain size bag for $!,2 or $3 just to get rid of it. or call a charity and they will usually pick it up.You can also get a tax break for donating. You get so much per large bag, I believe.

Answer 7

Good luck with your garage sale. I've found a well traveled neighborhood, advertising, good displays and word of mouth before hand works wonders. Plan and execute with a smile. Make it fun so everyone enjoys!

Answer 8

You can always ask friends and neighbors if they want to add
something , then advertise Giant garage sale or Large family sale or neighborhood sale (if you get enough people)
something like that

Answer 9

go to www.realsimple.com , the magazine, there was a really good article in there and it's probably on their website. My sister did a garage sale and used a lot of their tips and she made a couple hundred dollars. good luck!

Answer 10

You could post your ad in a newspaper, but they are a bit costly (and old school).

A site i've found helpful for finding and advertising sales is:

http://www.yardhopper.com

good luck!