How to Maximize Garage Sale Profit

Garage and yard sales are a great way to make a little extra money by selling items you don’t need, longer use, or have too many of. Garage and yard sales can be profitable if you take time to plan and organize. Learn how to make a lot of money at your garage sale simply by being organized and having a plan.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Evaluate everything in your house room by room. Decide what items you will put in your garage sale. Don’t rule out selling items that you don’t think people will buy. Even include broken or damaged items in your sale. Something you see as junk may have value to someone else. Sometimes people just want parts of an item to use as raw material to make something else or to fix something that is broken. Start the sorting process several months in advance of your garage sale in order to have enough time to collect all of the items you can sell. Take time to gather your inventory. The more items you have to sell, the more money you will make.

2. Store all of your garage sale items in one out-of-the-way place in your home, such as the basement, extra bedroom, or garage. You will need a place to work. When you have gathered everything that you want to sell, sort the items by department, and start pricing your items. The key to a successful garage sale is to price your items low enough to sell, but high enough to make money. Check on the internet for garage sale prices, or compare prices to your local thrift store.

3. Start saving plastic grocery store bags and sturdy cardboard boxes to use at your sale. People will need a way to carry their purchases to their cars.

4. Once you have all of your items collected and priced, set a date for your garage sale. Depending on where you live, most garage sales take place between April and September. Make sure that you have a covered location such as a garage or carport to hold your sale. If you have a covered location, you can have your sale even if it rains. The most die hard garage salers will still attend.

5. Advertising is crucial. This is the most important step in having a profitable garage sale. People can’t buy your items if the don’t know you are selling them. Advertise your garage sale in your community newspaper. Put up signs at local grocery stores. Make signs and posters to display on roads in your area and in your neighborhood. Include big ticket items such as furniture, exercise equipment, or electronics in your ads. You may want to hold your sale for 2 days such as a Friday and a Saturday for higher attendance – and more sales.

6. Plan to set up a concession stand at your sale. Garage sale-ing is hard work and shoppers will be hungry and thirsty - use this to your advantage! Plan to sell coffee and donuts or pastries early in the morning. You can sell grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, pre-made sandwiches, single serving size chips and crackers, baked goods, candy bars, juice boxes, and canned or bottled soft drinks. Keep the beverages in a cooler with ice so they will be irresistibly refreshing. You can buy concession stand items inexpensively at members clubs or at the grocery store. Watch for these food items to go on sale and keep track of how much you spend. Make sure you make a poster with the prices for your concession stand items. Don't forget items like paper napkins, Styrofoam coffee cups, and plenty of ice for the cooler.

7. Line up a few people to help you the day before and the day of the sale. Tell them they can bring their items to sell if they like. You will need help setting up your sale, helping shoppers, handling the money, and cleaning up after the sale.

8. The week before your garage sale, prepare your online ads. Place garage sale ads on Craigslist on the Tuesday preceding your sale. Advertising is crucial to get people to show up. People can't buy your stuff if they don't know you are selling it.

9. The day before the sale, make sure you have your signs posted, your concession stand items ready, and go to the bank and get plenty of change in quarters, one dollar bills, five dollar bills, and larger bills. You don't want to lose a sale because you couldn't make change.

10. Decide who will be in charge of the money and act as cashier. Have a calculator, notepad and pen, and money box. It is a good idea to have a responsible trusted adult handle the money.

11. Provide a place for shoppers to try on clothing. It can be a section in the garage with a curtain. People are more likely to buy clothing if they can try it on.

12. Have a section with free stuff. Freebies are a big draw. Make a large poster and place your free stuff near the street so people will stop to check it out.

13. The day of the garage sale, be willing to negotiate prices with shoppers. You will sell more items if you are flexible. If a customer asks you how much something costs, simply ask him to make an offer. Don’t give all your stuff away, but remember you are having a garage sale to make money. People will come by your sale asking for free stuff when the sale is ending. Avoid giving away items for free, at least charge something.

Resources

• Garage Sale Items to Sell on eBay for Profit
• Thrift Store Items to Sell on eBay for Profit
• Selling Used Clothing on eBay for Profit

[ponchomeg]

on 6/27/2009 Great tips! Thanks! 5*

[Elizabethknows]

on 5/27/2009 you have some awesome tips here about making more with a garage sell thanks :) 5*