How to Have a Successful Garage Sale

Looking to get rid of some old junk and make some cash in the process? A garage sale will help you do both, but if you want to maximize your cash, here is some advice that has helped me make my garage sales successful.

Offer Free Donuts and Coffee

On the day of your sale, make a big thermos of coffee and buy a couple dozen donuts or a box of munchkins at Dunkin Donuts. Offer these for free while they last, and make sure you advertise this in your newspaper ad. It will only set you back a couple bucks, and I can't tell you how many people have told me that my house was their first stop for this reason alone. When it comes to making money at a garage sale, attracting the masses is half the battle.

Advertise Your Sale The Right Way

Your newspaper ad doesn't have to be anything fancy, but a lot of "garage-salers" exclusively use the paper to plan their route. If you are holding your sale on a Saturday, run your ad on both that day and Friday. Many people start looking for sales a day ahead of time, and if they see your ad, you are likely to see them the next day.

If you can convince just one or two other sellers to join you, you can advertise as a "multi-family" or "multi-house" sale, which sounds appealing to treasure hunters because it suggests more potential bargains. You can also split the advertising costs, saving you some money upfront.

On a similar note, if you plan on selling all or most of your home's contents, advertise an "estate sale." Perhaps it's only psychological, but bargain hunters can't resist the lure of the estate sale.

While newspaper ads are great for advertising your sales, make sure you also post signs on telephone poles and street signs. A simple Garage Sale with an arrow will do the trick. This will attract "passer-by" traffic, and point cars in the right direction. Think of each customer you attract as another opportunity to earn some cash.

Sell Your Trash, but Not Your Garbage

It may be tempting to offer your half empty bottle of Windex spray for 50 cents, but items like that make your sale look tacky and turn people away. I once saw someone at a garage sale trying to pawn off an opened box of cereal for a quarter. Gross. Sure, "one person's trash is another's treasure," but one person's garbage is just garbage. Concentrate on selling your big ticket items, and save your garbage for the curb.

If you are hesitant to part with a particular item for a price being offered, try "reverse bargaining." Up your price a few dollars, but sweeten the deal by throwing in a few "free" books. People love getting throw-ins, and can't resist anything "free."

One last tip for your garage sale: pray for a sunny day. Good luck!

Source: Personal experience