Garage sale season
Some tips for hosting your next sale, and making it a success.
If you couldn't tell by the flock of signs sprouting up faster than the flowers, it’s garage sale season.
Every week, roughly 165,000 garage sales are held in the United States, according to a study by Statistic Brain. They go by many names, but garage, lawn, yard and rummage sales are a great way to clear the clutter and make some cash.
There’s more to hosting a garage sale than just lugging your superfluous goods to the lawn and staking a sign into the ground: The pillars of any well-attended yard sale are planning, pricing and promotion.
Check the calendar and carve out a day or two that doesn’t coincide with any major holidays or events that might lure buyers away. If you can, join forces with two, three or several more families and host a neighborhood-wide sale. Garage salers are drawn to multi-family events where they can pore over heaps of deals and hit more than one sale by foot, in a short span of time.
As a rule of thumb, offer a variety of items and price goods about a quarter or third of what they would cost if brand new. It may seem like a drag, but you should price every item. It just makes for a more seamless transaction. You can find inexpensive, pre-marked tags at most home improvement and dollar stores. You can also group items by price to streamline the process. Place all apparel, dolls or books in a bin and tape a sign to the outside with “$1 each,” or whatever you decide.
Make sure your event is well advertised to generate foot traffic. Buy an ad in your local newspaper or post a free notice on websites like Garagesalefinder.com and Yardsales.net and on your regional Facebook sale page. On the day of your sale take pictures of your setup and refresh your digital listings to attract more buyers.
Those are just a few credos, but there’s more to consider if you truly want to cash in and not squander an entire weekend.
Signage: Most municipalities have laws on the books regarding placement of signs, but they are fairly lax in enforcement. It doesn’t hurt to check with your local supervisor or homeowner’s association ahead of time. The signs you make should be large, legible and written in permanent marker so they are easily readable. Just jot down the gist -- the word “sale,” date, time, location and an arrow pointing in the appropriate direction. You can also use a QR code generator to create a code that links to a text listing, your social media page or website. Printed QR codes can be attached to signs so buyers can scan the code with a smartphone and receive all the details. Be sure to take them down
promptly when your sale is over.
Variety and organization: Shoppers will be less tempted by your goods if they are tossed into a heap or stuffed into cardboard boxes. Spread items out on tables and blankets. Hang clothes on racks or on rope strung to trees. Put your most interesting items at the end of your driveway and aim to entice. If you are selling an old basketball, make sure it is full of air. If you are selling a TV, have an extension cord available so buyers can test it. If something needs batteries to run, put batteries in it so it works. Arrange smaller things like books, DVDS and CDS neatly and keep things neat and tidy throughout
Ambiance: Yard sales are more relaxing with music. Piping in soothing tunes also allows customers to discuss potential purchases privately, without feeling like they have to whisper. If it’s a hot day, offering ice water to guests is a nice touch. Create a fun, party atmosphere with more upbeat music and refreshments.
Checkout: Make sure to have plenty of change on hand and keep your cash safe at all times. Put it in a fanny pack or carpenter’s apron. Offer the option to pay electronically. There are several person-to-person apps that can facilitate transactions in a snap. Venmo and Paypal are two of the most popular. Also, have plastic or paper shopping bags available for shoppers.
Expect early birds: We hosted a garage sale last year. The posted start time was 9 a.m. We had people showing up at 7 a.m. The early bird shoppers hope to snap up the best buys before others rise. You can say “no early birds” but that may not deter the most eager bargain hunters. Just be ready.
More on pricing: Be flexible and expect some wheeling and dealing. Don’t be too quick to jump at the first offer even if the interaction leaves you a little uncomfortable. Have a firm price in mind. If it’s late in the day, liquidate. You don’t want to be hauling everything back inside.