How to Have a Successful Garage Sale

Garage sale, rummage sale, tag sale or yard sale. No matter what we name it, we are all anxious to get rid of our stuff we no longer need and make money doing it. Someone always likes our trash, takes it home and makes it into a piece of art. We want to clear out closets, but make money at the same time. Here are some hints to make your garage sale a success.

Clean every item you want to sell. Dust it, wash it, get it as clean and shiny as you can. Make it look as new as you can.

Arrange the merchandise nicely. Put like things together in groups, not piles. Put candles in a basket or picture on a wall. Hang up clothing.

Have separate areas for separate things. Lean building materials against a wall, plumbing fixtures together. Arrange furniture so people can see it, sit in it and inspect it. Put knick knacks on a table as if they were still on display in your house. Drape sheets on your display tables to show off your items to their best advantage.

Price your material properly. There are two differing garage sale philosophies. One is to make money, the other to get rid of unwanted, but useable possessions. You can do both if you price things affordably, but fairly. If you overprice, you will be boxing stuff back up and hauling it back in the house or to the local Goodwill store after your garage sale, having not made a dime for all your work.

Advertise, advertise, advertise. Use the internet to tell people what you are selling. Craigslist is a great place to advertise your garage sale. Your local newspaper will have a garage sale section. Advertise there. List what you are selling. If you have kids clothing, say that. If you have collectibles and art, say that. Just saying ‘garage sale’ will get those people who make garage saling a hobby, but you will get more buyers if you list what you have. Highlight what you have most of. If you are selling dozens of picture frames, say so.

Use signs everywhere. You can make your own signs or buy them from a big box store. Make them the same so they are recognizable. Put a sign in front of your house, at the end of your street, at a nearby intersection. Put your address on the sign with arrows pointing the way. Using foam core material like real estate signs are made of will make your signs stand up in the weather and not fold over limply if it rains or the wind blows.

Following these hints will bring you a clean garage, uncluttered house and a few dollars in your pocket.