Known by many names, a garage sale is a quick and easy solution for what might seem like irreparable clutter. When your literal garage is filled to the brim with stuff that just doesn’t have a space in your home anymore, the best way to repurpose those is hosting a good ole yard sale. Not only will it give you a great excuse to get rid of all the old things, you can also declutter your whole house and round up all items in all categories that you no longer have a use of. As the saying goes “the more the merrier”, so the more items you collect, that will translate to more earnings at the end of your sale.
Even in the midst of craigslist, Facebook marketplace and eBay’s fame, when you have a lot to sell, the fastest and easiest way is to just price it and sell it in bulk to any passerby interested. This north-American tradition might seem like a great idea to give new life to old items, but for some it might sound like a nightmare to organize. Whatever reason you might have for wanting to know how to plan and execute a garage sale in the first place, just know that it is as easy as knowing a few tips that will help you host one like a pro seller.
In this article we will cover how to plan and execute a garage sale from the planning stages to what to do at the tag sale itself in order for you to enjoy the process and be stress-free throughout the whole time it takes you to put it together and execute it. Get some pen and paper or bookmark this page so you can reference the tips that work best for your specific needs or the ones you find most useful to apply on your next front-door selling spree.
Planning Stage: gathering the goods.
Before getting any furniture out in your yard, expecting to get $50 for it, you will need to do some preparation steps toward getting there. Start by doing a thorough run down around your house and determine what needs to go and what stays. Take advantage of this opportunity and perform a deep cleaning (this is a great spring cleaning idea too), go through your closet for those old pieces that won’t fit anymore, through your attic and/or basement to clear out any old decorations and wrong purchases you only used twice, stuff stashed under the beds, and so on. Any stray item that has not been used at all in the past six months to a year is a great example of items you might not have a use for any longer.
Once you start cleaning or right after you’re done, take some time to sort your items. First start by deciding what to keep, what to sell and what to get rid of completely. Then move on to sorting the selling items by category or size, you can put them in boxes together so it is easier for you to take them out and display them.
Even if you think that crocheted cushion your aunt gave you as a wedding gift will not sell, go ahead and include it as you never know which items will fit on someone else’s home. If you have large items to sell, like furniture or appliances, you can mark them with a sticker or some tape so you can remember to get them out right before the sale occurs.
If by any means you feel your items aren’t going to create that much boom, will just take up one or two tables or maybe you find it difficult to fly solo on a big neighborhood, you can roll call your friends, family or neighbors, for them to pitch in with some of their items, as multi-family sales tend to create quite a buzz. Create a consignment system if you want to provide hosting space in your yard for their items, this way they only have to deliver them -or arrange for you to pick them up- include the cut you will take from the items sold and list any other additional services like labeling and sorting if you are willing to include those.
Planning stage: promotion and preparations.
If all the goods have been procured, the next step on how to plan and execute a garage sale is to start thinking about the date you would like the activity to take place and think how best to promote it in your circle. If any family member, friend or neighbor is selling some of their items, ask them to spread the word too. You can create simple yet attractive signs and flyers to hang about your community.
Think big.
Promoting is all about how many eyes can see what you’re selling and getting them involved. The best method to achieve this is to use as many platforms as you can. Using conventional and digital channels is also key to attracting worthy shoppers, get one of your flyers to your local newspaper to post in the classified section, the local church or community center bulletin. Online hosting can be done on Facebook marketplace or your neighborhood group if there’s one, as well as many other online sites for selling. Visual aid in the form of signs and balloons to place when the sale is approaching is a great addition to creating that money-making foot traffic.
Preparation Stage.
As the date approaches, think about where you will want to set up the sale and plan around that space, clean and open up the zone (in case it is an actual garage you will be using) to make the installation and organizing of items an easy task. Make a stock and borrow as many tables and chairs as you may need, from family and neighbors participating in the sale, to display the items.
For labeling, you can go as cheap as using a marker on masking tape, or you can opt to invest on label stickers, luckily you can find a roll to buy in bulk at the dollar store. Make sure you place the label in a visible area of the item and write the price amount as legible as possible. It is a great idea to make sure each item is in good condition and looks as nice as it can, so it entices sellers even more.
The day before, organize and set up the space you intend to host the sale in, as you most likely won’t have any time in the morning. Bring out any heavy items or keep them nearby to position once the sale begins. To create an easy exchange, carry a good amount of small bills and get some change ready for any shoppers in a rush.
Hosting.
The morning of the sale, get a head start of, preferably, an hour before the advertised time you setted, to put everything in its place, get any last minute amenity ready like music, mirrors for the shoppers to try on clothes and so on. Remember to place signs nearby your front so any passerby is tempted to take a look and double your profit. As soon as you have any customers over, let them feel welcomed and let them know you can answer any questions if they arise. Remaining seated while giving everyone their time and space to roam about your items is the best way to sell, instead of providing unsolicited insight about the items they see.
At the same time, staying safe while hosting a yard sale is primordial to its success. In this case, keep your front door and any door near the sale locked; try not to let anyone into your house to use the bathroom or drink water, for the later you can dispose of a pitcher with water in the cashier table or if you have set a spot to offer snacks you can include it there.
It may sound simple now that you know how to plan and execute a garage sale, it will surely take a bit of planning and organization, but with the tips provided here you will be enjoying your profits and the end of the day. If by any chance no products get sold, plan accordingly to an additional sale or maybe donate all left over items to your local charity or thrift store, this way you can effectively dispose of all items in one go.
