How to Hold a Profitable Garage Sale

The secret to a profitable garage sale is ample preparation and a good team. Do the prep work in advance, and you can relax and be friendly on the big day to enjoy happy customers and pleasing profits.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ledger Books
• Calculators
• Boxes
• Tables
• Newspapers
• Classified Ads
• Pencils
• Cash Boxes
• Pencils
• Price Tags
• Flyers
• Newspapers
• Pencils
• Flyers
• Calculators
• Volunteers
• Classified ads
• Bags
• Signs
• Price tags
• Clothing racks
• Tables
• Cash boxes
• Ledger books
• Boxes

1. Schedule your garage sale far enough in advance so that you can place a classified ad. Hold your sale on a nonholiday weekend unless you live in a resort town with lots of vacationers. Check the long-range forecast for good weather.

2. Dig through your garage, attic, basement and house for stuff to sell. Include everything you want to get rid of--one person's junk is another's treasure.

3. Spread the word among friends and family. The more you have to sell, the larger the crowd you can draw. Offer to sell their stuff for a 20 percent commission.

4. Scrub, wash, polish, dust and launder anything you plan to sell. If an item needs a simple repair that could greatly improve the price, fix it.

5. Round up volunteers if you expect large crowds. Friends and family may be willing to help for a free meal, the chance to sell their own junk, or just the fun of it.

6. Print up one-page fliers advertising your sale and put them up at local coffee shops, laundries, grocery stores or community centers.

7. Place large, neatly printed signs in your neighborhood the night before or the morning of the sale. Put signs in front of your house as well.

8. Use masking tape and a permanent marker to mark everything with a price. "$1 or less" tables or boxes save time and attract shoppers. Leave room to bargain down when pricing items. Remember that you're trying to get rid of your stuff when you price it. You may have spent a fortune on that Beta VCR, but you'll be lucky to get a quarter for it now.

9. Hang clothes on makeshift racks. Borrow portable tables to display items. Put crowd-pleasers (furniture, tools) up front to entice people. Have a "10 cents" box to encourage further browsing.

10. Set up your cash table near the entrance. Have plenty of small change, a cash box, a calculator, pencil and pen, a ledger book (to inventory commissions), bags and boxes, newspaper to wrap valuables, and a tape measure.

11. Make sure there's plenty of parking; relocate your car if necessary.

12. Be cheerful, get people talking and encourage haggling. Many people are reluctant to haggle but find it's fun once they start.

Tips & Warnings

• Schedule your garage sale with payday in mind, typically the first and 15th of the month. People are more likely to splurge on a treasure with a fat paycheck in their pocket.
• Make sure there's an electrical outlet or heavy-duty extension cord accessible so shoppers can test electrical appliances.
• Give your neighbors a courtesy call beforehand to warn them of your sale. They'll appreciate it, and may even have some stuff to add to the sale.
• Donate whatever is left to a charity that has a pick-up service.
• Some cities require permits for garage sales. Other cities prohibit signage. Check municipal rules in advance to avoid any problems on the day of the sale.
• Protect yourself against theft and fraud. Display small valuables within eyesight. Keep money in a zipped fanny pack if you're bustling about. Keep large sums of money locked in the house. Do not accept personal checks.

[jkaminski]

on 6/20/2009 I am having a rummage next weekend. Thank you so much for all of this great advice. I personally like it when everything is clearly marked. I don't like to haggle with people, so if I see a price I like, then I buy it. Also, it is helpful when people have working batteries in toys. I will not buy it if it seems like it may not work.

[adly]

on 5/23/2009 Have kida parade a sign (safely)...as in carwahes. They love it and so do shoppers.

[kellie1]

on 8/26/2008 If you are starting a consignment business, for sale called: Too Good to be Threw by Kate Holmes. Please e-mail me if interested.

[e-mail]

[nickel730]

on 1/2/2007 An easy way to make some extra cash is to sell soda and bottled water as well. Put your children in charge of the soda table and they will enjoy being able to sell stuff too. Most buyers go to many sales at a time and get thirsty easily. Buying them a soda is also something parents are happy to reward their children with for tagging along to the garage sales. Plus, you can keep and drink for yourself whatever doesn't sell.

on 8/8/2006 Get yourself a chair and a small table for your check out line. This way your customers know where and who to pay, and you don't run yourself ragged all day. Some people use a small box or metal tin for keeping the money, but I have been having sales for over 30 years and have tried many different ways. I recommend, a fanny pack. If you don't own one, buy one! Like bananas, customers always seem to come in bunches. It is easy to get busy or distracted and lose sight of your money. But with a fanny pack you have your money right next to you at all times (for safe keeping) as well as to make change when necessary. I have mistakenly picked up a box that I thought was for sale and it contained the sellers money. How embarrassing! I have also known people who worked very hard for weeks preparing for and having a sale, only to lose all of their money because someone walked off with it while they were distracted. I recommend never having a sale alone. Have at least one friend or relative with you. While most people who frequent sales are extremely nice (I have met some of my best friends this way), there are those who prey on such things. A buddy allows time for comfort breaks without the stress, and smalltalk helps pass the time during the slow periods.