By Kimberly Blaker | Contributor
Is your garage, basement, and closets cluttered with items you’ve kept for a rainy day? It might be time to declutter and pass those belongings on to a new home—someone else’s. Organizing a garage sale is an excellent way to refresh your space, recycle, and earn some extra cash. Consider the following tips to ensure your sale is a success and your home remains clutter-free.
Choosing the Right Location
A garage often serves as the ideal venue for a sale since it provides shelter and requires minimal setup and takedown each day. If your garage is inconveniently located, difficult to access, or filled with valuable items that need to be secured, you can opt for a covered porch, patio, or yard instead. Remember to have plenty of tarps handy to shield your items from rain and for covering them after closing.
Timing Matters
Aim to hold your sale during pleasant weather, ideally when temperatures are between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The best days for sales are commonly Thursday through Sunday, with Fridays and Saturdays attracting the highest foot traffic. Mornings are peak shopping times, so opening your sale by 7:30 or 8:00 a.m. will likely draw in many eager bargain hunters.
Organizing Your Merchandise
Avoid piling your goods on tables or leaving them in boxes as this can deter shoppers. Although some might enjoy rummaging, most prefer a more organized display.
Maximize your clothing display by hanging as much as you can. You can use a laundry pole, a portable wardrobe, or set up a closet rod with hangers supported by brackets or stepladders. For smaller clothing collections, a simple clothesline suffices.
Ensure you have ample table space. If you’re running low, create a makeshift table using a sheet of plywood atop sawhorses or place planks between chairs. Keep items off the floor to enhance visibility.
Carefully fold and stack clothes that can’t be hung, labeling them by size. Organize toys and complete sets so they’re easily noticeable by parents and grandparents. Establish a dedicated ‘men’s table’ for hand tools, gadgets, and home repair supplies. Small items, such as jewelry, should be stored in dividers or egg cartons for easy viewing.
However, for small toys, it’s best to place them in boxes at ground level for children to rummage through. Make sure to label boxes with pricing or allow kids to pick out a small item as a fun surprise.
Ensure you have batteries or access to electricity so shoppers can verify that items are functional.
Condition is Key
The condition of your items significantly affects their sale potential. Clean all clothing and linens, folding or hanging them immediately to prevent wrinkles. Remove dirt and grime from toys, tools, and household items, and repair any broken goods whenever possible.
Pricing Your Items
Avoid overpricing, as this could result in unsold items that you’ll have to pack away again. Check classified ads for the going rates of larger items. Generally, high-quality goods in excellent condition can fetch between 25% to 35% of their original price, while certain tools and equipment may warrant a higher price—up to 50% to 60% depending on their age and state. Most used items typically sell for around 5% to 10% of their retail cost.
Advertising Your Sale
Classified ads in newspapers or listings on platforms like Craigslist are often the most effective methods to promote your sale unless you’re situated on a busy street. Be sure to include your address, nearby major intersections, sale dates and times, as well as a brief description of what you’ll be selling—highlighting major items in particular.
In addition, post flyers on bulletin boards at local grocery stores and laundromats. If permissible, place signs at nearby intersections directing foot traffic your way. Don’t forget to put up bright signs in front of your home, and consider using balloons on your mailbox or tree for additional visibility.
Success Tips
*The larger the sale, the more customers you’re likely to attract. Team up with family, friends, or neighbors to put on a larger sale rather than multiple small ones.
*Consider organizing a community-wide or street-wide sale to draw in visitors from the surrounding neighborhoods.
*Position larger items like furniture or appliances in the driveway to catch the eye of people passing by.
