Top tips for a garage sale that also improves the garage from top to bottom

Wouldn’t it be great if your garage could be a cool, clean and useful space for the upcoming summer? It can be if you take a look at the things you store there and determine if they have some monetary value to others. After all, you’ve seen the many signs and sales in your area, and the many cars stopped by the road to look for some treasures.

Let’s take time to figure out how to have the kind of garage sale that’s worth the time and the effort.

#1 – Is a garage sale right for you?

If you really just want to clean out all of the extras around the house and donate most of it to charity, a garage sale may not be for you. After all, they take a lot of your time and energy, and demand commitment.

Yet, if you are eager to spend time chatting with neighbours and strangers, selling off unwanted items, and making a tidy sum for your pains, the garage sale path is perfect. Just be sure that you take plenty of time beforehand to setup and get organized. Here’s a list of the steps needed.

#2 – Take the right steps

To be well and fully prepared, we suggest you do the following steps weeks to months ahead of time:

Check city or town rules

Many areas have only specific days for events such as garage sales. Take the time to find when or if your area has this sort of system, and then be sure you can hold yours when you want. Also, find out if you need a permit.

Keep, sell, give away or toss?

Don’t wait for the week before your sale to go through the items in the garage (and other spaces). Instead, start months ahead of time and create areas for items you are going to keep (limit this to one small space), sell, donate or throw away. Then sort these things by categories such as tools, housewares, toys, and so on. This helps to setup the tag sale quickly and easily.

Don’t have a lot? There is strength in numbers and you can always ask neighbors, family or friends if they want to add to the amount of materials for sale by bringing their own unwanted goods.

Don’t choose a holiday weekend

Always have a garage sale during the weekend (usually Friday through Sunday is best) but try to avoid hosting it when there is a holiday in which people travel or go away, or when there is another major activity in town that might make them unwilling to pay a visit to a garage sale.

Consider the weather

This is a tough one, and nearly impossible to overcome, but try to keep an eye on the weather and if bad weather is forecast, consider having plans for a postponement to a week later.

#3 – Publicize the sale

Most expert say that you want to give yourself at least ten days of time in advance of the garage sale to market it most effectively. The best ways to do it include posting at free online sites, spreading the word using social media like Facebook, telling family and friends to help spread the word, using traditional signage in the neighborhood and at the busiest intersections nearby.

#4 – The countdown

To avoid last minute disasters and headaches, use these tips as the days of the garage sale grow near:

• Make a basic inventory of everything you are selling.
• Use masking tape or stickers to clearly price each item and use easier, round numbers such as whole and half dollar amounts.
• Be wary of overpricing items that have sentimental, but not monetary, value.
• Wash everything, including clothing and toys.
• Make sure everything is in working order.
• You’ll sell more children’s clothing if you put it in bins or on separate tables with everything at the same, fixed price.
• Double check conditions of items and be sure they are sorted and arranged by category.
• Sort small items into clear "Ziploc" bags.
• Try to have shopping bags on hand to help buyers carry purchases.
• The driveway should be neat and attractive.
• Hang signs the night before.
• Get a good supply of small bills and coins ahead of the sale.
• Understand that there are always hagglers and you’ll have to be willing to bargain. Know the least amount you can accept for anything you sell.
• Plan for lousy weather and have an empty garage to use as a backup site or tarps to throw over outdoor items if it pours with rain.

#5 – Think presentation

You should also think about the way the goods are presented since those that are nicely displayed are much easier to sell. For example, always have tables for displaying items since most people dislike squatting down to look at things for sale.

Constantly rearrange tables when items sell to eliminate empty spaces. Buyers will think that only the worst items are left. It’s psychological but has proven to be effective.

#6 – The big day

On the morning of the sale, get up early or have someone else check that all of your signs are still in good shape and in place. Then, put balloons or other easily seen items to show your location.

Remember that printing "no early birds" in the ads is unlikely to keep them all away, so whatever time you decided to start is probably going to be bumped up at least 30 minutes. Don’t be too stubborn or grouchy about this. Instead, be happy that someone is eager to buy and greet them in a friendly way.

If the weather is warm, you can add an extra income stream by selling iced beverages from a cooler by your "checkout" table. If you want to add even more income, try a bake sale at the same time. You or your kids can do some simple cookies to sell with bottled water, soda, and so on. Older kids should be allowed to help out (though younger ones should be with a babysitter) and can even sell lemonade for fun.

You might also use the common retail secret of playing upbeat but appealing music.

How’d you do?

No matter what level of activity, once the sale is over, try to get the space used back into its original condition. This is when a bit of help is beneficial and should include packing the "give away" leftovers properly, picking up trash, throwing away unwanted items, and going out to get the signs you hung for the weekend.

Finish out the day with a visit to your local donation center to hand over the boxes of unsold goods.

Whether or not you made a lot of money, you probably spent a lot more time in the driveway and garage than normal. Did you decide the garage door needed a facelift?

If so, contact us anytime, toll-free at 1-800-263-4972. As proven experts in garage doors, we will be able to advise you on the best choices to make based on your needs and budget and then email you a quotation. You might also visit us at our showroom and see what a new garage door would look like using design center, or by perusing our image gallery to get some inspiration.