As spring cleaning comes to an end, you may be left with piles of clutter strewn around your home. If you’re unsure of what to do with the items you no longer need, holding a garage sale can be a great way to free up space in your home and put a little money in your pocket at the same time. If you want to quickly fund your summer vacation, here are a few tips for a successful garage sale that will clean out your house and fill up your wallet.
Sorting
It may be called spring cleaning, but there’s no reason you can’t collect items for your garage sale year-round. Setting aside items throughout the year will make organizing your belongings much easier when the time comes for your sale. Everything will already be in one central location, so you won’t have to spend as much time combing through your belongings.
Organizing
When setting up for your garage sale, make sure to place similar items near each other. For example, create an area specifically for clothing and sort the clothes by type, size, or gender for easier access. You can also place items shoppers might purchase together in the same area: clothing can be placed near accessories, and children’s books can be placed next to toys. Seasonal items such as holiday decorations or outdoor equipment should also be placed near each other.
Pricing
People come to garage sales with the hope of finding great items at great prices, so don’t be afraid to negotiate. For larger items such as furniture, have an idea of the lowest price you’d be willing to accept—this way, both you and the customer get a good deal. You can also offer discounts for items bought together. Selling 5 books for $3 is a much more appealing deal than selling each book for $1, and customers are more likely to buy more items when they’re getting a good deal.
Advertising
A garage sale is nothing without shoppers, so be sure to advertise well in advance. Placing signs not only in your own neighborhood, but also along nearby roads will create wider interest and bring a larger crowd to your yard. Social media is also a great way to advertise your sale and specifically highlight the larger items you may be selling.
Cleaning Up
At the end of the day, you’ll likely have a few unsold items left over. Donating these items to charity keeps the clutter out of your own home and helps those in need. Some charities such as Goodwill have specified donation drop-off locations, while others, like the Salvation Army, will pick up the items from your home.
Other Tips for a Successful Garage Sale:
- Have change on hand, both in bills and coins
- Provide bags for customers to carry their purchases
- Check the weather in advance—nothing ruins a great garage sale like bad weather!
