LOL beware: there are people who turn up at 4am!!!
Basically, set up the day before in the garage, and make sure EVERYONE (if you have others there maning the post) knows what you do and don't want to sell, and if you want a minimum price for anything specific!
Also, have some change handy.
Consider how much you want to haggle and price accordingly. Think, do I want to spend time negotiating price with people and perhaps being distracted or do I just want to accept their money straight up and move on to the next sale . Keep in mind that although there are lots of people who love to do a bit of haggling, there are also a lot who will pick up an item, think the price is too high and put it down again.
My philosophy with a garage sale is that people are basically paying you to take away your junk. In that way, I keep prices really low and encourage people to take it! My Dh was horrified with some of the crazy low prices I put forward, but I just wanted an empty garage at the end of it and it worked. They took everything and left us with $800!! Save the things you want bigger dollars for, for ebay.
Plus put price stickers on as much as you can as people are sometimes shy to ask... you are more likely to get impulse buyers that way.
If you don't have lots of helpers, make sure you have a little bit of food and drink for yourself as you go, just don't sell it! Also, keep your change box with you at all times. We misplaced ours at our garage sale and I thought someone had stolen it. A terrible feeling for a few minutes but all ended ok!
+ I agree with Pony and Leasha, lots of signs, plenty of change and being organised the night before. One other thing, maybe have a few grocery bags for people to carry away their treasures!
Have fun.
Last edited by jackrose; November 10th, 2009 at 07:03 PM.
: additional info
Lots of signs, advertise in the paper if you can also
Make sure your signs are visible for people driving past, and are clearly written. Adding balloons can also help.
Have a float with a few different notes in there and lots of small change. Make sure you take note of how much is in there before the sale begins though.
Price as much of everything as you can as it makes it easier for people. And do take in mind that people expect everything for nothing, so try and stand your ground as much as you can or compromise.
Try and have some plastic bags on hand and some newspaper to wrap delicate/fragile items.
Be wary of early birds (buggers!)
Ummmmm I cant think of anything else atm. We have had several successful garage sales though
I just helped a friend with her garage sell and people liked that she tied a few items of clothing together with a ribbon instead of selling individual pieces. (ie a whole outfit, or three pairs of jammies, or two tops and a pair of pants). She sold almost all of the clothes instead of being left with a bunch of mismatched items.
Label things for sure. I've been to a few sales and I hate picking up something and not knowing how much the seller wants for it, and if they are busy I just put it back without asking.
Geez, i'm the Garage Sale Queen from way back (i don't anymore, will explain WHY in a moment )
Tips that worked big time for me ;
PRICE EVERYTHING !!!!! ...... A lot of people surprisingly don't wanna barter/haggle BUT would rather grab what they want & hand you the money quickly. So, go buy a pkt of those dot price stickers from a cheap shop & write the price on 'em with a dark pen then stick on all items except clothing.
Now with clothing, get some cardboard boxes & cut tops off & then write in big dark texta what price are the clothing items each in the box.
For example ***Clothing $2.00 each***
Put out HUGE SIGNS & BALLOONS on the day at about 8 or 9am on your nearest street corner and another on a close main road & of course maybe one at the front of your home.
YES plenty of change & even plastic shopping bags (if can).
Wear something that has pockets in as you will e surprised how quick some people will wanna throw money at you & run with their bought item. So, you might need pockets to put money in if you don't get to where ever it is you put your money.
Be warned i once had a lady ask to try on a heaps of clothes in my house so my friend had to stay in the house while i was outside with the garage sale, i felt very uncomfortable about it as who knows if she stealing something in my bedroom she was changing in. Lucky for me she was genuine & purchased a heap. So that's a hard one if got asked
### Now the reason why i don't do Garage Sales anymore (not to put you off but to simply warn you) ... legally when you have a garage sale you are legally invited anyone onto your property & your rights are diminished to ask any unlikely character to leave as they have a right to stay on your property until there is NO longer any sight of a garage sale.
I had the unfortunate experience whilst having a garage sale (my last) a previous tenant that use to live in the house i rented after them drove by seeing i had a garage sale & came on to the property to ask if i have mail of hers as she had not changed her address since moving ( i had never met this woman before this day) ... i said no i don't have your mail & she said that's impossible as i know i have mail coming here ... my blood was boiling as i had been return to sender all her mail for 3mths & i told her this. I told her she has caused me great inconvience & that she should be grateful i posted her mail back to the senders all those 3mths. Next thing i know she is threating to punch me. I told she has to get off my property. Then she left. Then about 20mins later the police arrive with ' her ' waiting in her car at the front of my house, they ask if i have her mail & said no i had posted everything. The police said she feels i still have more of her mail. In all the meantime they said they though she was a bit of a nutcase & we had a giggle. Anyway, the police told me that i have no rights to ask her to leave my property whilst having a garage sale & explained why. So that was sadly the last of my garage sales
It's an unlikely situation but just thought i'd rather you know your rights then not.
But having said that you have a great day & hope you sell HEAPS
(Oh, YES Leasha is right there ... i once had a buyer banging on my bedroom window at 7.30am while i was butt naked in bed and i had advertised sale starts at 9am. My neighbour who was at front told them to come back later. Also another time a father made his little DD knock on my door to ask if her Dad waiting in the car could come in to look at my things then, WTF it was 2days before the garage sale day, augh !!!!!)
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Garage Sales - your tips
. Keep in mind that although there are lots of people who love to do a bit of haggling, there are also a lot who will pick up an item, think the price is too high and put it down again.
(i don't anymore, will explain WHY in a moment
)
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