Hosting a garage sale can be a fun way to declutter your home and make a little extra cash on the side while getting to meet members of your community. As a garage sale attendee, there’s nothing quite like the thrill or excitement of discovering something novel and new. As a host, it’s comforting to know that the pieces you once loved will finally get a new lease on life. Thinking about hosting a garage sale? Take some time to plan ahead to ensure things go smoothly.
1. Do Some Market Research
Take a walk through your community and observe the other garage sales happening near you. Explore the kinds of items they’re selling and the prices they’re selling them at. All of this information will help you when deciding what to include in your own garage sale, and what a fair price would be to sell them at.
2. Pick Your Date
Garage sales are all about the turnout, and you want to consider which date will attract a good crowd. The weekend is always a safe choice, as most people are typically off from work and have more free time. Pro tip: be sure to check the weather before selecting your date. Most people in your community will likely walk to your garage sale, so you’ll want to ensure your forecast has clear skies.
3. Price Your Items in Batches
If you have a large pile of items to sell, it can be quite tedious to price each item individually. Unless you know an item is worth a considerable amount, group similar items together and create a set price for them (i.e. all t-shirts for $5, all jeans for $15 etc…). Not only will this cut down on set up time, but it will make it easier when conducting transactions.
4. Advertise Your Garage Sale
It’ll be hard to attract locals to your garage sale if no one knows it’s even happening in the first place. Start a few weeks in advance by hanging up flyers, posting online ads and spreading the word to your neighbours. Be sure you have important details clearly listed on your flier including your home address, the date(s) and time(s), and the types of items you’ll be selling.
5. Gather the Essentials
It’s easy to forget the little things that will make your garage sale run smoothly as the big day approaches. Be sure to have several tables to properly display your items, as well as a box or pouch to store the money you’ve made. As your attendees browse your display, consider having a speaker play some music to set the mood.
Organizing your own garage sale starts with decluttering your home.To help start the process, we’ve compiled a simple 3-step guide to help you conquer this task.