how do i host a garage sale

How to Host a Successful Garage Sale

• 1. Hold a Themed Sale. J.D. ...
• 2. Schedule It Right. Weekend mornings are the traditional time for garage sales, so consider a different time to have less competition.
• 3. Team Up With Your Neighbors. ...
• 4. Advertise! ...
• 6. Be Prepared. ...
• 7. Make It Look Like a Store. ...
8. Price It Right, and Offer Deals. ...
9. Get Comfortable. ...
10. Make It a Party. ...
11. Be Safe. ...

Full Answer

How do I start a successful garage sale?

How to Have a Successful Garage Sale – Ultimate Guide. 1 Step 1: Plan Your Sale. Begin planning your garage sale weeks, if not months, before you greet your first customer. 2 Step 2: Promote Your Sale. 3 Step 3: Prep for Sale Day. 4 Step 4: Host Your Sale. 5 Final Word.

Is it a lot of work to host a garage sale?

If you’ve never hosted a garage sale before, set your expectations now: It’s going to be a lot of work. These garage sale tips will help, but they won’t change the fact that between now and your sale day, you’ll spend hours organizing your items, setting prices, writing ad copy, and picking up supplies.

How do I organize a garage sale table?

Arrange your tables so items are neatly displayed with enough room between items to allow people to comfortably inspect them. Instead of folding clothes on tables, hang them from a clothesline strung from trees or from your garage ceiling near the door.

What do you put on a garage sale ad?

Keep your ad short and pointed, and list your biggest ticket items first. The most popular garage sale items include furniture, kids’ toys, and collectibles. Don’t forget to include your address as well as the dates and times your sale will run.

How do you host a successful garage sale?

5 Tips for Getting Garage-Sale ReadyClean out your closet. Sounds simple, but it has to be said. ... Start sorting. Having a garage sale can be a daunting task, so go ahead and do the major work ahead of time. ... Get used to the idea. ... Set a date. ... Stock up on supplies. ... Name your price. ... Make prices visible. ... Bundle items.More items...•

What sells best at a garage sale?

Items That Bring in the Most Money at Garage SalesOld games. Old games are great items to flip for cash. ... Picture frames. Picture frames are a common item sold at garage sales. ... Furniture. Furniture is popular with the DIY crowd. ... Vintage dishes. ... Costume jewelry. ... Fishing rods. ... Artwork. ... Camping gear.More items...•

What should you not sell at a garage sale?

What NOT to Sell at a Garage SaleQuality jewelry, silverware, antiques, collectibles or paintings. ... Better quality clothes. ... Similarly with big furniture items (beds, sofas, etc) and anything over $50. ... Don't sell underwear at a yard sale. ... Don't sell illegal goods, unsafe or recalled goods.

What is the average profit from a garage sale?

You won't get rich on 'garage sale' prices. But, if you want to get enough money to buy a new dishwasher, or TV or as much money as you can for your 'junk' (average profits from a garage sale is $500 – $700) then, keep your goal in mind and read on.

Do I have enough stuff for a garage sale?

Ideally, you should have at least eight to 10 boxes of items you can sell. If you don't have enough items, consider a sale in a specific niche. For example, you could have a garage sale with only children's items or only [office supplies].

How much cash should I have on hand for a garage sale?

Plenty of cash. Get two rolls of quarters, a stack of 50 $1 bills, 10 $5 bills, and 5 $10 bills. Do it two days before the sale so that, if you forget, you can still get the change on the day before.

How do you do a yard sale without tables?

How To Set Up A Garage Sale Without Tables?Use a Trash Can.DIY Yard Sale Tables.Make Use of the Furniture You Do Have.Try Plastic Bins.Use Your Car.Flip Cardboard Boxes Upside Down.Put a Blanket or Tarp Down.Don't Put Clothing on a Table.More items...•

Can you sell socks in a garage sale?

Used undergarments or dirty clothing Things like underwear, bathing suits, socks, and bras shouldn't be sold at a yard sale once they've been used. If they're not used, they should have the original tag or another indication that they've never been worn.

What do you flip at a garage sale?

Flipping Garage Sales: BuyingOld or vintage stuff like vinyl records, film cameras, old video game systems and classic movie posters are a great find. ... New or in demand things like fad/trend items, high-end electronics and high-end power tools. ... Automotive components like hubcaps, chrome bumpers and original parts.More items...•

How do I sell the most items at a yard sale?

7 Ways to Make the Most Money From Garage SalesBe Organized. Too many garage sales are a haphazard collection of stuff. ... Don't Put a Price on Anything. ... Get the Word Out. ... Go Through Your Stuff. ... Start on Thursday or Friday. ... Be Friendly. ... Think About Security. ... Garage Sale Tips.

How do you show yard sale items?

Card tables, TV trays, even upside down cardboard boxes (sturdy ones) and crates work wonders as a means for displaying your items for sale at a garage sale. Similarly, blankets (of various sizes), rugs, sleeping bags, sheets, old bedspreads, even beach towels can be used to display items out on the lawn.

How much do most people make at a yard sale?

You stand to make some decent pocket money. According to the New York Times, if you put some thought and planning into your garage sale, you can net between $500 and $1000. You might think Saturday and Sundays are the best days for sales, since most people don't work on the weekends.

How to sell a garage sale?

1. Obtain a permit if it's required in your area. Check with your city or homeowner's association to find out if you need a permit to have a garage sale. Many cities place restrictions on garage sales, dictating where you can place advertisement signs when you can sell, and how often you can hold a sale.

What are garage sale shoppers looking for?

Garage sale shoppers are looking for bargains. If you don’t want to have to pack everything back into your house at the end of the day, then you've got to give people the low prices they’re looking for. Some people won't pay more than 10% of the retail price when they go to garage sales.

What time is the yard sale at 1515 Whiskery Way?

Give the date and time of the sale, the location and, if you have room, list some items for sale. The signs can be as simple as "Garage Sale: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m on Saturday at 1515 Whiskery Way", or "Yard Sale Saturday: 1515 Whiskery Way" with an arrow pointing down the street toward your house.

When do you know when someone is going to come across your garage sale?

You never know when someone's going to come across your sale, even if traffic has died down. This is especially relevant if you've set a specific window for your garage sale, such as 9 am to 3 pm, and even more so if you've posted the times for the sale online or in the paper.

What to do if you don't have sticker labels?

If you don't have sticker labels, you can also use small pieces of masking tape, or make your own stickers.

When is the best time to sell stock?

A two-day garage sale is usually enough to sell out most of your stock, and summer weekends—especially Fridays and Saturdays— are the best times. Choose a day when a lot of potential buyers will be out and about. Most yard sales start early in the morning as early as 8 a.m. and can end late in the evening.

Where to put signs before a house sale?

You can tape signs to telephone poles, lamp posts, trees, and stop-sign poles. Put a sign at the entrance to your neighbourhood, or in front of your house.

How to donate what's left at a thrift store?

Donate what’s left. At the end of your sale, (after you’ve taken down your signs) load up your vehicle and drive straight to the thrift store to donate any unsold items. In the U.S., you can receive a receipt for donated items and use it as a tax write-off.

Can you sell with someone?

If you can sell with someone, you can both answer questions about items together, rearrange items during times of no customers , and give each other a chance to use the restroom. One of you can also watch your sale while you set up signs early in the morning and help you take signs down when the sale is done.

Do online yard sales have competition?

Online sales also have competition going for them. “During in-person yard sales, you’re dependent on impulse purchases by strangers to make money, and the buyer sees the other competition, if any,” says Colameta. “So the buyer has a huge negotiation advantage with price.

Is it good to sell one item at a time?

Selling one item at a time, by contrast, can feel manageable. As for when to post your items, “Midweek is often a good time,” says Colameta. “Over the weekend, your post might get lost among all the others.”.

What to do if you have never hosted a garage sale?

These garage sale tips will help, but they won’t change the fact that between now and your sale day, you’ll spend hours organizing your items, setting prices, writing ad copy, and picking up supplies.

How to get ready for a garage sale?

Get Ready. Give yourself at least an hour before the garage sale starts to set everything out and put up signs . You’ll need at least one helper to move everything safely. You’ll also need to set up your change station, preferably in a shaded area with a sturdy table and comfortable chair.

What happens if you have lots left over from a garage sale?

If you have lots left over, expect to spend hours more disposing of unsold inventory. But don’t despair. A successful garage sale will leave you with a less cluttered, better-organized home — and a wad of extra cash to spend or save as you wish.

When is garage sale season?

Seasonality. In many parts of the country, garage sale season runs from early spring through early summer. Fall is a good second choice for sellers targeting early holiday shoppers. Whenever you plan it for, avoid scheduling your sale when it’s likely to be sweltering. Competing or Complementary Events.

Is it easy to throw a garage sale?

Throwing a garage sale is no easy feat. If you don’t plan and execute the event properly, there’s a very real chance it will pass more or less unnoticed, leaving you with a bit less cash, a lot less self-respect, and a mountain of unsold inventory to unload.

Do you count classifieds out?

Newspaper classifieds aren’t what they used to be, but don’t count them out . If your hometown still has a well-read local newspaper or thriving community publication — especially if it’s free and delivered automatically to every residential address in the area — you can bet deal-hunters use its classifieds section to sniff out local garage sales.

Do garage sale buyers use cold cash?

Mobile payment technology is ubiquitous these days, but some garage sale buyers still prefer cold cash. That means you’ll need plenty of change in your cash box to break $20s and $50s early in the day.

Where to put money holder and chair?

Make a place for you to put your money holder and chair for yourself. Put the boxes on the ground beside the tables and/or blankets.

How to make a money holder for yourself?

Make a place for you to put your money holder and chair for yourself. Put the boxes on the ground beside the tables and/or blankets. Label how much the items inside it costs by using a marker to write on the box. Make sure people can see them. Put the items on the tables, blankets, and in the boxes.

How to put clothes on a driveway?

1. Find some tables, blankets, or empty boxes. With the tables you can set them in your driveway and put your items on them. Boxes can contain free items or items all costing the same. Blankets can be used to put clothes/shoes on them.