9 Steps to Hosting a Successful Garage Sale

When the clutter creeps into every cranny and boxes bask in the shady spot your car once inhabited, you know it's time to eliminate.  While I love the enterprising idea of eBay, it seems time consuming and complicated. 

Plus I can't stand the post office lines.  Sometimes a good old-fashioned garage sale can bring in a nice chunk of change without the hassle of online auctions.  But be prepared!  Planning for your sale can send sales sky high just as the lack of prep can sink them.

Step 1: Decide who, what, when, and where.
Plan at least one month in advance to start collecting items and separating them to a garage sale pile.  For maximum success invite the neighbors to participate.  Yes, it may cause a bit more drama and require additional preparation, but hosting a multi-family sale can really boost profits. 

Remember: the early bird catches the worm!  Most hard-core shoppers expect sales to begin early.  7:00am is a good time to start to steer clear of the heat and get some good buyers.  To avoid the languishing afternoon stragglers, make a cut off around lunchtime.  

Step 2: Get the word out.
Scope out the neighborhood papers and thrift ads to post a notice.  If you have a multi-family sale, list it first in capital letters.  Put a few specialty items that would appeal to a wide variety of buyers but also include general categories.  Split the cost of your ad with the neighbors.  

Step 3: Get a permit and investigate signage.
Most larger communities require permits for garage sales and typically set a limit for the number of sales allowed per year.  You must have the permit on site if a trusty city official swings by, so keep it in the cash box.  If you can post signs, buy foam board in a bright color and write with a chisel tip sharpie the address of your sale.  Post two or three more signs (with balloons) to direct traffic.

Step 4: Prepare the goods.
Don't try to sell stuff with dust on it.  Grab a wipe and scour.  No one buys a dirty car just as few people want to pay for a food-encrusted high chair.  At least pretend that you treasure your belongings and paint them in the best light possible.

Step 5: The price is right.
If going in with more than one seller, buy different colored blank stickers to label your items.  Write with a sharpie and include your initials on each label.  Include OBO on larger items you are willing to negotiate.  Keep in mind that you'll have to budge on most bigger ticket things, so you may want to price it slightly higher.

Step 6: Score some change.
People will bring cash (and I don't take checks unless I personally know the buyer--cash only is much safer).  Get $30-40 worth of coins, $5s, and especially $1s for change.  Keep track of sales in a multifamily bonanza by drawing one column per seller on a blank piece of paper.  As items are purchased, put the sellers price sticker under their column.

Step 7: Window dressing.
What makes you give in to buying yet another t-shirt you don't need from The Gap can work in your favor for a garage sale.  Set up card tables and cover them with inexpensive tablecloths of the same bright color to attract buyers.  If you have a huge sale, use different colors for each item category. 

Set things out organized by color to minimize the overwhelming ADD factor that repels people like me from thrift stores and garage sales.  Get some balloons in coordinating colors to attract passersby.  I like to display one or two nice pieces of furniture up front to draw in a crowd.  It also can't hurt to combine a bake sale and lemonade stand to make some extra change.

Step 8: Be bargain ready.  
Be ready to accept lower offers and make flat rate prices for a group of items.  For goods like toys, dishware, and clothing, they can be easier to sell as a group. 

If you're trying to sell an antique, make sure you have an appraised value ahead of time.

Step 9: Clean it up.
Take down the signs immediately after to avoid a fine.  Load up all unwanted goods and cart off to Goodwill or Salvation Army before you have time to procrastinate.  Divide up the proceeds in a multifamily sale and head straight to the bank with your wad of cash!