10 Tips for Planning a Garage or Yard Sale
Rather than discarding what you may no longer use or want, try selling it at a garage sale. A garage sale can be a profitable and fun way to make sure items are reused.
No one likes to throw things away when someone else might be able to use them or when the items are still worth money. But sometimes it seems like a lot of extra work to find a good home for these leftover items. Let us take care of your estate or content sale!
Here are a few tips for a successful sale:
Pick the Date
Make sure that the date will not conflict with holidays or special events that compete for attendance. Weekends are more successful than weekdays.
Bigger is Better
Check with your friends, relatives, and neighbours to see if they would like to join you or if they have anything for you to sell on their behalf. More people means less work and more items means more shoppers. Sharing on advertising costs increases your profit margin, too.
Get Good Sellers
Appliances, furniture, toys, tools, dishes, and other such practical household items are popular. Records are also good sellers. Clothing does not usually have a high resale value, although kids' clothing is the exception. Arrange kids' clothing by size, and label each item. Clean everything. Make sure your items are working. If not, label them as such. For specialty items, include important information on labels. If you have items that you do not think would sell, have a FREE BOX. You'd be surprised what people will take and find uses for. If you have a truck, consider offering free delivery for big items within a certain distance - customer service sells!
If your are liquidating your house content, consider holding an estate or content sale. Our team will do all the work for you! We will sort all your items, from the attic to the basement, including the garage. Anything that looks personal, ie: identity, insurance documents, photographs, money, etc., will be kept aside for the client. If required, we bring in clothing racks, locked display cases, tables, tablecloths, and shelving.
Promote your Sale!
Advertise in the classified section of your local newspaper, or in the newspaper read most often by people in your area. Include the date, time (start early as most sales end by 1pm or 2pm), address and list some of the more desirable and unique items. If you don't want early birds, include that in your ad but expect them anyway. If you are hosting the sale with others, split the advertising cost and remember to advertise the number of households participating in the sale.
You can list your garage or yard sale for FREE in thegreatestatesale.com's Garage or Yard Sale Listings! You can specify the area and list your garage or yard sale well in advance, highlighting any key sellable items. The process is simple and it is FREE!
If you are letting us help you with your content or estate sale, we advertise and market your sale in order to obtain the right buyers for your household items.
Signage is Key!
Use the blank side of coloured scrap paper for posters. Use large letters and write clearly. Place posters on bulletin boards in grocery stores, libraries, and other public places.
Remember to remove and reuse/recycle your signs!
Make sure the signs you make are large, clear and, if possible, waterproof. Use well made, creative signs because they will attract more buyers. Some newspapers provide garage sale kits if you advertise with them, which usually includes a few signs. You should have enough signs to place at the intersection closest to your house, in front of your house and on the main streets near your house. Always include the date, time, and address on the signs.
Make signs for goods displayed at your sale. For example, "Housewares", "Kids' Clothes", "Giftware", etc. Make a sign that reads "Reduced Prices". You can post this halfway through your sale.
Rainy Day Plan
Have a contingency plan for wet weather. Consider putting up tarps or holding your sale under cover.
If you are liquidating your house content, your sale is weather proof! Play it safe and let us handle the details of your estate or content sale! Our experience will go a long way to ensuring the success of your estate or content sale.
Set Fair Prices
If you are not sure how to price your items, visit a local thrift store or garage sales. Don't price your items too low initially, because people will bargain with you.
If you are having an estate or content sale, we do all this work for you! After unloading dresser drawers, cupboards, closets, cabinets and boxes, we will sort, display, research, price all goods at fair market value, and finally, conduct the estate sale.
Put prices on everything using masking tape or removable stickers. This saves you from inventing prices on the spot and eliminates the need for everyone to ask you for prices. If many people are selling their goods, use different coloured tags (or different coloured dots on masking tape) and record sales by colour so you can correctly divide the money at the end of the day. Have lots of change and small bills on hand.
Make it Social!
Invite friends or neighbours the night before for a preview sale. If you have a street sale with your neighbours, have a BBQ afterward. At your sale, sell donuts and coffee. This will encourage people to stay longer, socialize, and have a better opportunity to look at your wares.
It's Sale Day
Expect early birds. Clear all paths and move any car(s) out of the driveway. Set up some tables the night before and carry them out first thing in the morning. Display your goods in an attractive way on tables, boxes, or even the front lawn. For example, reuse coloured cardboard to display jewellery, and then attach the cardboard to a bulletin board. Group similar items together. If you are selling clothes, place them on hangers to display on your fence or a coat rack. Have an electric outlet or extension cord accessible if you are selling electronic items. This enables potential buyers to test the items before they buy. Cover any items you do not want to sell with old sheets or move them out of sight. This helps prevent potential theft and stops people from trying to buy your lawnmower or garden tools.
Offer laundry hampers as shopping baskets. This allows shoppers the luxury of browsing without dropping their armful of goodies. Have extra shopping bags and boxes available for shoppers who purchase numerous items. Keep the money with you at all times. Use an apron with pockets or have one person dedicated to handling cash. Remember to lock your house.
Be flexible and accept reasonable offers. Consider throwing in related token items, and post the "Reduced Prices" sign at lunchtime.
Clean Up Time
At the end of your sale, take down all signs and posters. If you have useful items remaining, donate them to charity or try selling them at a local flea market.
As part of our commitment to meeting your needs, if you are letting us conduct your estate or content sale, we will arrange for the sale and/or removal of all unsold items from the estate sale area.
© 101 Things To Do With All Your Old Stuff [PDF], A money Saving Guide
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services and our "No Charge Initial Consultation" veronica@thegreatestatesale.com Veronica Harding • Tel: (416) 431-6663 • Fax: (416) 431-7711 |
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