How to make money at a Garage Sale

Learn how to successfully organize a garage sale and earn extra money while cleaning out your closets.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• marker
• poster boards
• tape
• tables
• price stickers

1. First, you need to organize your items. Begin by going through your closets, attic and your garage and set aside items that you can live without. Be honest with yourself! If you have not used an item in two years, chances are you don't really need it. While you are organizing your items, go ahead and price them. Use pricing stickers and place on your items.

2. Set up your items in your garage or yard so that they are easy to browse through. Group like items together, for example: keep all electronics grouped together on one table. Place smaller items on tables and larger items can be kept on the ground. Organize your tables and items so that shoppers can easily walk around and shop. Create a pathway for your shoppers.

3. Advertise your sale! Use online tools to advertise your garage sale such as craigslist and gsalr.com. Also, you can contact your local paper and place a classified ad. Create signs to place around the neighborhood to advertise your sale. Get a few poster boards and make some signs advertising the date and time of your sale as well as your address. Put your signs up about a day before your sale. Make sure to add some directional arrows on your signs so shoppers can locate your sale. Also, you will want to have money to make change with on the day of your sale. Visit the bank the day before and get some singles, fives and even some quarters to have on hand.

4. Day of the sale: start early! Many garage salers like to shop early for the best deals so be sure to have everything ready for them. Greet your shoppers and offer any information on your items that might be helpful, such as, "That DVD player comes with all the cords and has the remote!". Be willing to bargain with your shoppers. Even though an item may have personal value to you, it doesn't mean it is worth more to someone else. You can combine like items to ask for more money. For example, if a shopper offers you only $10 for your printer you can throw in a box of computer paper to make the deal $20 for both.

Tips & Warnings

• Display big ticket items close to the street to entice shoppers!
• Have enough signs in the neighborhood to make it easy to find your sale. Tape your poster board signs to light poles or write on a cardboard box and place on street corners.
• Keep parking spots available for your shoppers. Move your own vehicles down the street or at a friends house to leave driveway space or street parking for your shoppers.

[b1gguy]

on 11/23/2009 My last garage sale flopped, will have to try these next time! Thanks

[newstime1999]

on 9/4/2009 Thanks for the information. Last tip is good about grouping items to earn more on the sale. Thanks!

[sweethoney7922]

on 9/3/2009 Thanks !! I had planned a garage sale for this weekend much needed tips:)

[mcgann141]

on 9/3/2009 Great advice! Thanks for the tips. 5*

[crosswised]

on 8/28/2009 Great information on making money from a garage sale! I haven't done one for a while, but my garage is filling up, so it's time! Rated 5*