Things You'll Need:
- pricing labels or tags, color coded if applicable
- cash box or drawer (with lock)
- plenty of banquet style or patio tables
- clothes racks or clothes baskets for each size and gender
- signs, signs, everywhere signs!
- free water (garbage can nearby)
- a friendly, negotiating attitude
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Step 1
The only difference in a yard sale and a garage sale is the wording, for the most part. Garage sales usually have most of their items inside a garage, but even then there will probably be items also outside. Those who frequent garage sales or yard sales are likely to only distinguish between them if the weather is rainy and/or cold. But weather is a huge consideration in either case, because your overall turn out will be much smaller in unfavorable weather conditions, irregardless of whether you're holding a garage or yard sale. Even die-hard yard salers have their limits when it comes to bad weather. Plan your sale around an extended forecast that will draw as many people as possible. If the forecast falls through, either be prepared for a complete inside garage sale or take up your signs and post a postponement date on the outside of your garage door, "due to bad weather." Make that decisions based upon your ability to store the items until a later date and your upcoming weekend schedules.
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Step 2
Make no mistake, avid garage salers are very skilled at browsing for finds and negotiating the very best price. When planning your sale, prepare your items with the same philosophy you'd apply to selling a car or riding mower. Clean it up, make sure it works and if it has any problems be sure you post its condition on the item or tell interested buyers. Items that have mechanical problems are not necessarily throw-aways. Many people buy electronics, yard equipment, phones, etc., that aren't operating properly because they have the skills to repair them. These items should be fully negotiable. After all, you're not using them because they aren't working correctly, so if you can get something for them it beats trashing them.
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Step 3
Organizing your sale is tremendously important. Garage sales that have everything thrown out in a mix of unlike items, no pricing, and a lack of overall effort are the ones that will have you buying those two pizzas with the profits. Take the time to set up tables and have like items grouped together. Kitchen and dining items should be together, books should be organized in clean, easy accessible bins or crates, tools and sporting goods should be grouped together and they should be cleaned off as much as is practical. A tennis racquet hidden under a stack of blankets is not the best way to sell the racquet to a potential sports fan.
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Step 4
Use color coded stickers if you're having a multi-family garage sale or if you're separating profits for individuals in your family. Keep a log with a sticker of each color at the top of the columns, one column for each person's earnings. If you have a bulk price on certain items, make sure it is clearly marked. For example, if all hardback books are $2, put a sign to that affect on the crate of books, and put a blank color coded sticker on each book to indicate who gets the money should it sell. As your sale progresses, items will become a bit disheveled and moved around. Take a few minutes and reorganize items when there is a lull in traffic, or take turns reorganizing items with others helping you with the sale. Remember, buyers like to quickly move to areas of their interest and they like items to be priced, clean and organized. If your garage sale is too much like work to them, they're likely to move along to the next one.
Comments
Flybyknight said
on 3/26/2009 Nice Article. Very Informative. 5*