I'm getting ready for my first garage sale. Any good tips?

Answer 1

Make sure everything is extra clean. It makes it look much more desirable. I like to group evrything that is the same price on 1 table. Of course all the nic-nacs that are , say .25 would be in the same place on that table, etc. Make sure every item is marked. Be prepared to bargain with folks, that's a big part of the fun of getting rid of your junk. If someone comes up with a whole pile of stuff from 1 table, give them a better price or some will have an armload of stuff & ask if you will take x amt. for all this, either take their offer or raise it a dollar. Just to see if it'll work. You can always come back down by .50. Take your ph. ice tea (or other drink) etc. out with you. Be sure you have lots of change to start. If you have someone to help you, take a chair & table such as a card table. You'll need it. My husband & I always use fanny packs for our money as then you don't have to worry about someone getting into your cash box. On bigger or more expensive items, don't come down in price right away, wait untill close to the end of your sale. You may take names & ph. numbers of folks who are interested so if the item doesn't sell by then , you can call them. Good luck & enjoy it. ...P.S. Make sure you have called a thrift store ahead of time so when your sale is over, they can come pick up your leftovers. Otherwise, you have to pack & put away all that stuff. Oh...GOOD SIGNS. Too many folks make their writing too small to be read from a car. Make it large & bright so that the address is easy to read from a moving car.

Answer 2

Promote your sale
If you have a community newspaper that is delivered to every household in your area, advertise your garage sale in the paper’s classified section. Otherwise, advertise in the newspaper that is read by the most people in your area.

Put up lots of signs in your neighbourhood a few days before the sale. Make sure the signs are large and, if possible, waterproof. Most newspapers will provide you with a garage sale kit when you advertise with them. This kit usually includes a few signs.

On the day of your sale, put a large sign and a bunch of balloons at the intersection closest to your house.

Important! After your sale, remember to take down all your signs, under certain by-laws, you may get fined for abandoning your signs in certain municipalities..

Be organised
If you get a garage sale kit from the newspsper when you advertise with them, read the list of tips it contains about how to hold a successful sale. Being organized is essential.

If possible, plan to set up your sale items in a covered area so that you can still hold the sale if the weather is bad.

Have each family at a group sale mark all their items with a different colour of dot to prevent mix-ups later.

Make sure every item is priced and laid out in a secure area by at least the night before the sale. You will have no time to do this on the morning of the sale because many buyers come early.

Price your items fairly, but keep in mind that some people will want to bargain, so don’t make your prices too low to begin with.

Answer 3

Try to bundle things together if you are asked to lower a price. If someone says they won't pay $10 for a bowl like that, offer them two bowls for the $10 price. They are happy and you got $10 you wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

If you have a carton of kids book, price them at giveaway prices (or "take one for free") just to draw a crowd.

Drop your prices toward the end of the day.

Watch out for those light fingered visitors and keep your cash box closed and secure.

if you have a bunch of stuff left at the end see if there is a Freecycle branch in your town (look up Freecycle on the Internet) where they will come and pickup all the leftovers so you don't have to think about them again.

Answer 4

sorting your items for sale is better, sort by household items, lines, towels, sheets etc...
sort clothes by size, kid, men's women's baby item sort toys books games etc. to be successful try pricing all items to be sold and display neatly on tables, clothes racks, etc..most people that come to garage sales do not like bending down on the ground [they will leave quickly] and like the prices on the items....
keep candles, records, electrical items, from the sun so they will not melt............have a couple friends over to help and keep you company and watch over the people coming in [believe it or not there are shop lifters at garage sales.........]have a cash box and change and at least 10 dollars to make change..when you get a break from customers, or your friend can help you, take the extra money inside for safety. [keep you 10 ones and change, someone might get the idea to grab the $$ and run] it does happen sometimes.....save plastic bags and paper bags for your customers to take their goodies home.....have fun and make big $$

Answer 5

Assuming you want rid yourself of all the items you're trying to sell - be
flexible. Put your price on all your items - but if you have any big ticket items
like a sofa or t.v. or dining table with chairs, etc.,etc., be willing to bargain
with a potential buyer. It's a lot easier to take a few less dollars in the
morning than be stuck with it in the afternoon when a lot of people know
you want to get rid of it and will offer only pennies for it.

Answer 6

I used to price things for a yard sale in Iowa, that was just the way things worked. Here in CA, unless you're having a multi-family sale, you just haggle, so you can change your prices. We've made good money that way getting rid of my junk. Good luck!

Answer 7

Hi Sunny
The best thing to do is advertise in the paper. Many more people will come.
If you just have a few things , put up some signs all week to let 'em know your having one
Good Luck!

Answer 8

Have at least one big guy there to give the impression that he is your husband/lover so stalkers may be scared off.
Do not have children present as pedophiles are constantly shopping for new victims and they may have an opportunity to abduct yours or to scout the yard,fences to plan a return visit.
Be careful and have fun.

Answer 9

never had a garage sale,but i would set some things in the dollar area,others in 5$,& more expensive in other areas.

use pshcology on people.if people have alot of money they might feel like (i dont need to even look in the poor persons area.) :P

i thought of something else;refreshments might bring in more customers.

Answer 10

make sure you have enough change (i like to keep $50-$100 handy), shopping bags, put a price on everything and be ready for hagglers. if you mark something $1, your gonna get people who only want to pay 50 cents for it. dont be stiff. if youre looking to get rid of it, give it to them for 50 cents. dont mark things too high in general. put up lots of signs directing people so they know you are there. and have fun! :o) i love having yard/garage sales...and going to them too!