It’s Garage Sale Fever!
Have you seen all the “Garage Sale this Sat/Sun” signs all over the place recently? Here are a few tips and steps to organizing and organized garage sale:
Step 1: What do you have to sell? If you only have a few items, maybe you could sell them on Craig’s List of another online classified website? If you have lots, do a traditional yard sale. Evaluate and make a list of what you want to sell and how much you want for each item.
Step 2: When to have the sale? You rarely see garage sales during the week (although there is the occasional evening sale near the busy streets to catch people on the way home). Hold your event on a Saturday and/or a Sunday for best results.
Step 3: Advertise. Let people know about your sale by putting ads in the classifieds (online or print) and posting signs around your neighbourhood a few days in advance. If you have some special items to sell, let people know about them too.
Step 4: Organize the yard. Consider placing similar items together. For example, if you have a bunch of kids toys place them in one area, separate, from old lamps and electronics, and separate from your little kick-knacks.
Step 5: Make sure you’re ready early! Some people may try to come early, so either advertise “no early-birds”, or be out and ready early. Also be sure that you have a few people helping you out. That way if it gets busy, or if you need a food or short break, you have people watching your stuff for you.
Step 6: Provide snacks and refreshments. Consider offering free (or cheap homemade snacks and drinks for your customers).
Step 7: If the sale is a fundraiser, let them know. Maybe you will be donating all or a portion of the proceeds to a local charity. Let people know and they may be more willing to buy that lamp from you, rather than your neighbor who is selling a similar lamp.
A garage sale can be a bit of work, but get friends, and family to help. Keeping organized will go a long way to a successful garage sale!
