Garage Sale Time!!

AS my neighborhood gears up for the annual Neighborhood Garage/Yard/Rummage Sale... I drag out my beloved tips. My last garage sale made around $1,000, of which a little over $400 was mine (after permit and paper ad). My goal this year is to have no more than 4 tubs leftover and make $400. Hope some of my tips help you!

When planning your garage sale, try to see your space through the eyes of the "shopper." Close your eyes and visualize yourself in the grocery store. You need oranges, rice, cereal, and cheese. You probably know where it all is. Imagine a grocery store where all of the items are on a table or shelf with no rhyme or reason, no prices, amidst utter chaos of people. Yikes! Do you want people to feel that way at your garage sale? Probably not...

Start preparing weeks in advance by gathering all your stuff. As ridiculous as it sounds, dump all your sale-worthy clothes into the washer/dryer so they smell fresh and aren't wrinkled. Whether you hang clothes on wire or palastic hangers is irregardless, but DO hang the nicer items (winter jackets, nice dresses, etc).

The week before (at least) begin prepping your area by clearing it out of all non-sale items. If you have lots of things attached to the walls, such as sports equipment and yard tools, try to place them elsewhere for the day of OR hang solid sheets over the walls (neatly) with a piece of paper attached reading: Not For Sale.

Borrow as many tables as you can so you have a place to display all of your items. Whether you borrow from friends or the church, or rent them from the town hall, make sure you have enough. If the tables are all different, or are scarred and dirty, consider getting some plain white tablecloths at the dollar store -- real merchandising tricks! Make all the display units uniform.

Arrange product by like product. Have all kitchen items on one table, tools on another, then jewelry, books, etc. If you have kids items, have it all separate. Having baby items at a yard sale brings out an entirely different crowd of people. Stuffed animals and/or pillows can go in tubs or boxes as long as the boxes are not flimsy, they are not overflowing, and consider putting the box in the middle of one of those tablecloths mentioned above so that when people dig things don't fall into the mud or dirt. Also, put a large (8.5 x 11) piece of paper on the front of the box (front - facing the street) advertising in bold letters what is in the box: PILLOWS or STUFFED ANIMALS.

Baby items should be arranged by size and gender. The most successful sales I have been to (and run) had tubs of the same size and color arranged with baby clothes by size. Each tub had a sign taped to the front and back, on a table in a middle aisle so people could dig from both sides. The were arranged into categories like: ONESIES newborn - 3months; SLEEPERS 6-9 months; PANTS/SHORTS 6-9 months and so on. Outfits, dresses, coats, and exceptionally nice items were all hung up.

To display the hanging items, place a tube (PVC, metal,whatever you have access to) on the step of two ladders, separated just far enough that the ends of the tube lay over each step. Duct tape the tube in place to the step so that no hazards occur, and repeat the process a little lower, so that 2 bars hang between the ladders. Arrange the clothes on hangers, facing the same direction, by gender and size. Use construction paper or card stock taped to clothespins or binder clips between the sizes to indicate sections.

Another big issue is cleanliness. We all know that this is your junk, but did you take care of it? Can customers see the treasure beneath the thick layer of grime? Wipe everything down as you are pricing. Always price items in black marker (Sharpie preferrably) on bright colored stickers, placed on TOP of each item. Please, don't do a table or basket of "Everything $1 on this table." Really? Do YOU remember everything on that table? If something needs to be scrubbed, you decide if its worth the time/energy to scrub. If it doesn't sell what will you do with it? Donate it...?

Leave plenty of room between tables for larger people (we do exist) to pass each other in the aisles. You don't want the space big enough for one, but TWO. Try to have lots of light, and consider hanging/placing a mirror by jewelry and clothes.

Play soft background music away from your $$ station so people can discuss your junk in privacy. Also consider putting in a plug-in or a hidden candle warmer. If you cleaned prior to set-up, it shouldn't smell, thought, right?

Make sure to have lots and lots of change-- generally $100 worth of $1, $5, $10 and a $20 or 2 plus quarters. If you are selling items for less than $0.25 than have that denomination on hand too. Keep your money close such as in an apron or fanny pack.

Have a friend to help so the day goes happier, smoother, and without stress (you're already sleep deprived). Sell sodas/water.

If you don't have a discount club membership (Sam's, BJs, Costco) ask a friend who does to pick up a case of water for you and a variety of soda or juice. You don't have to get fancy, but buy a few items at roughly $0.40 each or less, put them on ice in a cooler and sell them for $0.50 a piece. It's not a huge profit, but its not so overpriced that people won't be glad for it! I advise against coffee because of condiments and the possibilities for burns.

Make sure to take out an ad in the paper, and be specific. Pay the extra $10 to put the ad in bold, or add 3 extra lines. You need to grab attention with it! Also, utilize free resources like community bulletin boards in the grocery store, library, post office, and on craigslist.com.Make signs and put them out the night before/morning of. Get generic arrow signs made of corrugated plasic to put on corners leading up to your house, with your address blocked inside the arrow. One recommendation was to write the address/arrows on paper bags, fill with rock, sand, or gravel, staple shut and place out. Good idea, lots of work. If your town has ordinances against all signs, park your cars on the corner with a sign in the front window!Be prepared for early birds.

If you are concerned about them being underfoot while you set up, consider posting a sign that reads "Those present before 8am are tresspassing. Homeowners not responsible for injuries to trespassers. BEWARE of dogs and toddlers." It brings a laugh but a serious warning.

Count your money!

You will do well if you stay organized. Good luck :) and have fun!


That garage sale was our "Moving across the country, must sell everything" adventure that included 3 other households. We were very organized, and I sold 80% of what I put out, plus made almost $1000 all by myself! What a great way to clear out some "junk!"