14 Tips for a Successful Garage Sale
Updated: Feb. 03, 2023You've done some spring cleaning and have a corner of the garage full of items you're ready to toss. If you're considering a garage or yard sale, there are some tricks to making it worth your time and energy. Follow these 14 tips for a successful sale.
Pick the Right Day and Time
Saturday is the most popular day for a garage sale, but if you have a lot of items, consider adding Friday and even Thursday to make it a multi-day event. Garage sale experts suggest you go for a time of year when the weather isn’t extreme, such as spring or fall. Regarding timing, start as early as 7 a.m. and go no later than 2 p.m., as most sales drop off in attendance by this time.
Location, Location, Location
Rural country roads aren’t the ideal location for a garage sale. If you live in a rural area, consider asking a friend or family member who lives in a neighborhood with lots of traffic—both foot and vehicle—if you can set up shop for a day. Many garage sale attendees will seek out sales in neighborhoods that are close together, opposed to one sale in a rural part of town.
Multi-Family Effort
See if any of your friends have items to get rid of and if so, consider doing a multi-family garage sale. Since these sales will have more goods, they’ll attract more customers. You’ll also have more help to share the work load.
Consider these 12 ways to downsize as you sort through your stuff.
Set the Price
It’s best if you price items individually as this will help you keep things organized. Keep prices fair and be willing to negotiate. When it comes to bigger-ticket items, know ahead of time just how low you are willing to go. Consider giving a discount for buying several similar items, such as making DVDs three for $5 or one for $2. If items don’t sell, consider donating them to a thrift store.
Offer Mystery Bags
Put all of those plastic grocery bags to good use and offer mystery bags. Mystery bags can work well with children’s clothing or small baby toys. Consider putting several items in a bag, such as a bag of children’s pants, and offer it for a set price. Just make sure to note the clothing size and gender if you go this route.
Advertise
While you may pay a small fee, consider listing your garage sale in your local newspaper and include some of your bigger items to draw attention to your sale. There are also online places to post your sale, many of which are free, including craigslist, Garage Sale Hunter and Yard Sale Search.
The Night Before
When it comes to how to have a yard sale, on the night before your garage sale, get everything ready.There will probably be people standing outside waiting 15 minutes before your advertised start time. Make sure all the tables are set, the register is ready and you have all your supplies where you need them. This will be the last thing you want to deal with the morning of the sale.
Have Plenty of Change
Stop by the bank the day before your sale to stock up on change and $1 bills. Be sure to have plenty of nickels, dimes, quarters. If you have some pricier items for sale, make sure to have some $20 bills on hand just in case. Decide ahead of time if you will accept personal checks, but it’s probably not a good idea.
Accept Credit Cards
One way on how to do a yard sale successful is accepting credit cards. Anyone with a tablet or smartphone can accept credit or debit cards. Square is a popular service which requires a reader, which the company will send you for free. You will pay a small percentage in swipe fees, but this may come in handy if you have some high-ticket items.
Have Bags and Boxes for Customers
Keep leftover plastic grocery bags around for customers to carry their purchases. Small cardboard boxes may also come in handy for customers purchasing a set of dishes, several cables or tools.
An Hour Before
An hour before your garage sale starts, place garage sale signs at the end of your street and in front of the house. Find a place to sit that is out of the sun.
Work the Crowd
Be ready to answer questions from customers. If you have a unique item for sale, talk to customers about it if they seem to be interested. Keep your chair in a position that allows you to see customers arrive and greet them with a friendly hello. Make sure you (or someone you trust) have your eyes on the cash box at all times.
When the sale is over, get your garage organized again with these 51 tips.