Planning the Perfect Garage or Yard Sale

If you follow along, you know my other blog this week was about spring cleaning, decluttering, and organizing. Those activities often lead to the realization that we have a bunch of stuff we no longer need or use. If your stuff has grown to an embarrassingly large amount, you can blame the hoarders in your family tree (we all have them) OR turn your vice into a virtue by helping others through a garage sale. Set some low, low prices, give to others, and get rid of your stuff!

Having a successful sale can be a lot of work for relatively little cash, but on balance it still can be a worthwhile endeavor—that may result in enough cash to buy something new for your place. I know, that defeats the purpose, but it’s fun! So to make your work less and your rewards more, I’m glad to share my best garage and yard sale tips.

Simple Steps for Better Results

1. Plan Well: Before you get carried away, take stock of the items you would like to get rid of. How much do you have? If it’s not enough to make garage sale seekers salivate, ask your neighbors, family members, or friends if they would like to join in your sale. Don’t forget that extra stuff may also mean extra help! It’s hard to draw many people to stop at your sale without an enticing layout for them to peruse. If, ultimately, you don’t have enough for a good sale, donation is probably your best bet, and the tax deduction may be better for you financially than the garage sale proceeds. If you only have a few bigger items and don’t want to donate, consider listing them on Next Door, Offer Up, or similar sites.

2. Organize Your Items: Establish a spot in your home to stage all your sale items about a week in advance. Obviously if you have a garage with space, that’s the best spot. For a garage sale, really Michele? I know, duh. Keep your items sorted as you go: clothing together, baby things together, furniture together, etc. This will make setting up faster and smoother. If you have others contributing items, give them a firm deadline to get their items to include in your advanced sorting.

3. Clean Up and Price: Once your items are collected, it’s time for cleaning and pricing. Things sell better if they aren’t presented under three years of dust. Remember the golden rule here and think about what you want to see when attending sales. If you go to garage sales regularly, you’ll have a good idea of where to price your items. This varies depending on your region or even your neighborhood. If you haven’t been to a g-sale lately, hit a few before you have yours. Remember, folks are looking for bargains, so try not to price emotionally. Painter’s tape provides a convenient way to price your items without damaging the finish—and it’s easy to remove, which buyers will appreciate. Also consider bundling like items in a clear bag and pricing them in bulk. This is a great tip to get rid of more stuff at once by putting them in an attractive “package.”

4. Plan the Layout: A couple of days before, think about how you would like to present your items. Make sure you have ample tables and racks.  Neat and organized sales usually lead to better sales. I imagine a lot of people are like me, and if they approach a disaster in a driveway, they may just keep on walking. Most people don’t like to paw through messy boxes. Making it easier on bargain hunters will make it easier for you.

5. Advertise: How you do this step can vary greatly depending on where you live. If you have community boards in your grocery and discount stores, hang signs advertising your sale a few days ahead of time. Clearly indicate the date and time of the sale. Make sure your address is easily visible. Believe it or not, I have seen signs for sales without an address. Makes you go “hmmm,” doesn’t it? You can also take out a small classified in the garage sale section of your local paper or on local sales sites. Finally, place signs around your neighborhood early on the day of your sale. Make sure they’re big enough to read as drivers pass by and that the address and hours are clearly marked.

Going for It!

Good luck! May your garage be less full and your wallet more full. Make a good plan, enlist some help, and have fun! I wish you smooth “saling.”

Now, what will you do next to love where you live?

Please feel free to reach out to us at The Redesign Habit and ask questions or simply share a project that you are working on or have completed.

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