Garage Sales: Sell More, Stress Less

Preparing for and having a garage sale at your home is simple when you follow the golden rule; prepare for the sale you would want to attend. Consider everything about your sale, from items available, to signage, atmosphere, and finances. Conducting your sale in a manner you would enjoy buying from will increase your sales. It takes effort, but it is more rewarding. Though every community is different in their sale-ing culture and buyers, these guidelines are virtually universal in increasing sales.

Friends and Family: Holding a sale with a group of friends or relatives divides the cost and workload. Discuss sale requirements such as childcare, food, signage, advertising, set-up/clean-up, and record keeping/finances. Determine how each family will label their items. Keep a list at your cashiering table of the complete names of each seller and their sales tag designations. List any items that that a seller wishes to sell at a firm price. Provide their phone number if they are not attending the sale. If you have decided on a bag sale or half price sale hour, list any items they do not want to sell at reduced prices. Review with all sellers the designations so that anyone who is taking money can give the correct seller credit.

When?! Choosing a date: Some sellers believe that choosing a weekend around the first or the fifteenth of the month will bring in more buyers. Sellers also may choose a spring through early fall month, as late fall and winter months include less favorable weather and several holidays. This will vary upon your local climate and garage sale-ing community. I once held a sale in mid-October, and in the rain at 7:00 A.M, the early birds arrived! Reversely, if you're the only sale in town, you may get crowds.

Consult your local chamber of commerce, events center or newspapers for upcoming community events. If you're in their neighborhood, consider whether that type of event will draw or detract from your sale traffic. And, to love your neighbors, inform them of your sale. Advocate the respect of their property from your buyers. Don't allow anyone to abuse their yard/driveway/mailbox, etc.

Be aware of local newspaper's publishing schedules and due dates. Note on your calendar the due date for advertising in local newspapers. Ask the classified department if they have any Garage Sale specials or for ideas on how best to word your ad. Word your ad using key words that describe the types of items you will be selling.

Another Tip: Several cities now have ordinances regarding garage sales. Some local governments require that you get a permit...or having a garage sale in your apartment or condominium community may be prohibited. Check with these agencies first!

Best Signs, More Customers!: Though there are garage sale kits and pre-made signs available, durable home made signs can work just as well. When you make your own signs, they are unique and they stand out above the others. Around here, we use political signs. They come with a stake, and the paper is usually reversible (or you can staple over it). Printing "Garage Sale" in large, block letters with an arrow works in rural areas and at intersections closer to your home. For signs further away, add your address in clear, block-style print. Larger cardboard boxes or poster board reinforced with sticks (a "t-shape" to hold the four corners) can work as well. Some sellers use sandwich-board type signs with balloons attached. Whatever you use, be sure that it can hold up against the weather. Avoid copying the text of your ad onto your sign. Unless they are walking by, buyers can't read the inventory of your sale.

Signage Safety Tip: Signs must not be nailed or stapled to utility poles or county road signs. (If you do on a week day, the county workers will remove them) Nailing into utility poles (& leaving the nail there) is a safety hazard for future utility repair crews

Can You Be Found?: For best visibility, use a wide-tipped permanent marker or waterproof paint (no pencils/crayons/ballpoints, please!). Block letters help, with arrows large enough to follow from several feet away. Remember, these signs are being read quickly from a distance! Uniformity in your signs helps buyers follow your signs to your sale. If there is more than a mile or two between a sign and your sale, a brightly colored arrow (in the same color/print/paint) helps drivers know they are headed in the right direction. If your home is off the main road by several miles, writing "5 miles" on your sign from the highway may be something to consider. And please, when your sale is over, remove your signs.

Find your good stuff: Choosing what to sell and at what price is a challenging part of having a garage sale. It is a common truism that whatever you think will sell stays, and whatever you think will stay, goes. It is part of the intrigue of selling. Garage sales are, by their design, very interesting perspectives into human nature. Throw out your disposable belongings onto the yard and have other people pay to take them away? It is fascinating to watch, and pays well when you offer good stuff.

Make a list of the items in your home that you want to sell. If you are unable to have a "garage sale space", having a list will help you during the rushed time before the sale. Store directions, accessories or other components of your items with the items you want to sell-or record where they are kept.

When gathering your items for sale, again consider the buyer. It's a mutual investment, your time - their money-so let's be honest here. I may be old fashioned, but there's usually a clear distinction between what belongs at a sale and what you may have to pay to get rid of. Presenting your items in good repair and cleanliness will increase their value. If an item needs repair, replacement accessories, etc. write that on the tag. This is not to say that odd, old or obsolete items can't be sold. They can, and do sell-but a good presentation at a fair price is far more lucrative.

Let's Make A Dollar!: Pricing your items can be difficult. Most people price their item at a certain percentage of current retail, leaving room for some negotiation. Others price their items equal to their willingness (or uncertainty) to rid of what they are selling. It is helpful to know what certain things sell for at a majority of other sales in your area. As for antiques or other perhaps more valuable items, consulting E-Bay or other selling sites could give you an idea. Determine with your selling group when the prices will be slashed. Be sure to note any items sellers may not want reduced, or at what price they are willing to sell.

When taking a deposit or holding an item for a buyer, let them know when they can pick up their items, if they are coming after your sale closes. Get their phone number and set their item aside from the sale. Mark it "SOLD", so that all of your sellers know it is spoken for.

Fuel-Up!: Preparing good meals ahead of time will keep everyone well fed and happy. On the day before your sale, take some time to prepare meals, snacks, and other needs for your sale day. Crock-pot meals for either lunch or the post-sale dinner meal are a seller favorite. If you are selling with a group, have each family contribute a part of the day's food. Think now of what you will want after the sale is over. Being ready prevents the temptation of ordering in, thus saving you your hard earned money. Turn in early to charge your batteries! Plan to be ready an hour before your sale is advertised to begin. The early birds will come knocking!

Catch Those Drive Bys!: Presentation determines sales. Placing newer, more enticing items at the front will attract drive-by sale-rs. A common selling strategy is to stage similar items together. This may divide the boys from the girls, but a center aisle of general items will usually encourage a circular flow of traffic past all you have to sell. Having a kids' table lower to the ground for toys and items of interest to children provides more for them to look at. The reverse side to that is to place fragile or expensive items out of children's reach.

Ambiance: The atmosphere at your sale lends to more sales. Often the use of music (of a neutral genre) playing quietly is a good idea. It doesn't have to be elevator music, but let's not scare away the buyers either! Your children can be a distraction and a hazard, both for you and for your buyers. If you can arrange for their care elsewhere, do. This is especially true for the first half of the day when traffic and transactions are at peak levels. And, if your children are not sold on the idea of their items being sold, the whole process can be excruciating for everyone.

Clear any hazards buyers might encounter (garden hoses, children's toys, lawn equipment, etc.) Label any areas of your garage or items that are off limits and not for sale. Mark off with tape or rope your doorways, fences or other spaces to steer buyers in the right direction. Keep your out-of -sight home/garage doors locked, as many people will be wandering around your yard

Hello! Or "Greet-Talk-Watch": Greet your buyers cordially. This acknowledges their presence and lets them know who is in charge. Invite questions and ask if there is anything in particular they are looking for. Advertise larger items or other items of interest to your buyers. Let them wander the tables, but talk to them about something they have picked up. Provide batteries or outlets for testing electric/electronic equipment. Don't overwhelm them with your presence, but be available and approachable. Ask them about your signage. These are the folks who found you and knowing how easy it was for them will make it easier for you to attract them next time. If a sign is missing or reported to have fallen, do what you can to remedy that.

Safe Selling: Sadly, theft at garage sales is increasing, so take precautions for anything you don't want to have stolen. Never invite people into your house unless you know them, especially if you are alone. When there are fewer folks at your sale, take some of your money into your house. Designate a place out of sight to keep your money. Have in your cashbox only what you need to make change; you won't appear able to accept bigger bills.

Accepting checks as payment is a personal decision. Many people now offer to hold buyers' items until they can return with the money. The use of a waist pack or other close at hand method is a good idea if you plan on walking around throughout your sale.

Good Stuff Shuffle: Between flows of traffic, re-arrange your items to enhance their visibility. Fill in the holes left from items purchased. If certain things are not selling, mention them to your buyers and place signs to advertise larger items. If you are holding your sale for only one day, it may be time to slash prices or announce either a "bag sale" or a "half-price hour". Hand out bags and offer up the larger items at irresistible prices!

Closing Time: When it is time to close, recruit the troops! If you are collecting some remaining items for charity, set them in labeled boxes. Take down your signs. If the signs are re-usable, note on the back of them where they were posted. Set aside items for your "seed box" to sell at your next sale. Thank your neighbors for their help and patience with your buyers. Have your sale accountant total everyone's sales, subtracting any amounts agreed upon for division of sale expenditures. Make a note of the preparations which made your sale successful. Enjoy your profits!