Eye Appeal is Buy Appeal
The signs are made and the sweaters have their price tags—all that’s left is an actual customer! Advertising a garage sale is only half the battle; a lot of little details go into hosting the perfect event, and even better, selling all your goodies. We’ve broken down a few of our secret tips and tricks to ensure everything that must go, does go!
1. Thoroughly Declutter Your Home
Before you even break out that magic marker, go through the clutter. The only person who needs to prepare is you, and without a set list of items on hand, garage sales are a confusing free-for-all. Do you want to sell clothing? Are you planning to sell gently used baby items? Grab everything you plan to dump and appraise its value before anything else.
2. Get the Word Out Early
With a healthy pile of items ready, now you can look into advertising. Classic signs around the neighborhood work great—just make sure they’re on bright paper, have clear directions to your house, and are written in bold, clear letters. You can advertise online, such as on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. People love photos as proof of legitimacy, so don’t forget to include them.
Carlos Duarte Do Nascimento from Toronto, Canada on Wikimedia
3. Polish Your Items
There’s a reason they say “eye appeal is buy appeal”! People won’t touch stained clothes or cribs with teeth marks on them. While a little wear and tear is okay, it’s important to remember that people are still spending money on your goods; keep them in tip-top condition to ensure fair sales.
4. Have a Welcoming Environment
Welcoming environments look different for everyone. However, you can always play into the seasons. In the summertime, consider a pitcher of ice water for people. Play some music. Have organized zones for various items. Treat your garage sale like a brick-and-mortar grand opening!
5. Organize Your Stuff
Bargain hunters will always find a good deal, but the majority won’t rifle through boxes. Keep everything laid out by price and theme. Have your items clearly priced and displayed on tables. You can even put up signs near designated areas to direct potential buyers.
6. Price Goods Accordingly
When it comes to pricing, keep your emotions out of it! You may love that pair of sneakers, but customers won’t pay retail price for them. Online guides can help you price fairly, and even then, prepare for hagglers. Additionally, make sure every item is clearly priced.
7. Keep Change on Hand
Unless you have a debit machine on hand, keep spare change with you. Plenty of customers aren’t expecting to tap plastic, and simple change guarantees more eyes on your products. Just remember to have a lockbox for any bills you get.
8. Have a Cheaper Section
Seasoned bargain hunters aren’t the only ones who love a good deal. You can drum up interest with a cheaper section of items! For example, books for two dollars or movies for one can all sit up front. If people grab one thing, there’s no telling what else they’ll find on your tables.
9. Remain Friendly
Dealing with the general public can be…challenging. However, a warm smile and helpful service are the way to go. If someone’s being difficult, you can always kindly suggest that they leave—or recruit family members to sit outside with you. Try not to lose your temper at repetitive questions, either.
10. Be Prepared to Haggle
You could price t-shirts for free, and someone will still haggle! It’s just the name of the game. If you’re uncomfortable, you can always bring family or friends to help navigate the process. On the other hand, you can also easily handle most situations yourself by standing firm on fair prices.
11. Bulk Price Similar Items
We’re guilty of buying into bulk prices—most people are, which is why they score serious sales! Instead of selling one book for two dollars, you can easily advertise three books for five. You could even toss in a BOGO deal. Remember: the point of garage sales is to make money and clear out your junk!
12. Consider Tossing in Freebies
Speaking of freebies, no one ever turned them down at a garage sale. Free items are all part of the process, so if you see someone eyeing an item, you can give it to them for free if they purchase anything else. People appreciate the offer!
13. Have Supplies With You
Garage sales thrive on convenience. Basic supplies like bags and newspaper for fragile items go a long way with customers. Weirdly enough, even having a simple garbage can beside you can help people in little ways—an added touch that encourages big sales.
14. Treat it Like a Store
Remember what we said about treating your garage sale like a department store? Well, there’s a bit more to it! Peruse the area and ask if anyone needs anything. Offer to answer any questions. Roam, but don’t push. Most importantly, keep areas tidy for newcomers.
Artificial Photography on Unsplash
15. Recruit Your Neighbors
Believe it or not, you can score more sales by recruiting other people. Ask your neighbors if they’d like to host an annual event, with multiple homes offering garage sales of their own. Apartment buildings can also get in on the fun! The more tables, the more opportunities to buy.
16. Don’t Display What’s Not On Sale
You know what’s for sale, but that doesn’t mean customers will. Only mark what’s available for purchase. Garage sales, in particular, experience people poking through belongings, so keep your garage door closed.
Point3D Commercial Imaging Ltd. on Unsplash
17. Keep Your Wits About You
Garage sales are fun, but they can also encourage nefarious activity. It’s always better to keep your wits about you and bring loved ones along. Store all your change in a guarded lockbox. Make sure to mosey around once in a while. Don’t invite anyone into your home to use the bathroom. Keep your car doors locked, too.
Ildar Sagdejev (Specious) on Wikimedia
18. Hang Your Clothes
The easier you can make it for customers, the better. Most people don’t appreciate digging through boxes of clothes, so if you can, consider hanging them on convenient racks. Luckily, they don’t cost very much or take up too much space, either, so you can easily store them for next time!
Artificial Photography on Unsplash
19. Consider Hosting Two Sales
Do you have the stamina for a two-weekend event? Look into it! It’s always a bummer to miss cool garage sales, and not everyone is available when you are. However, hosting one on back-to-back weekends can encourage more people to pop by.
20. Remove Your Sign Afterward
It sounds simple, but when all is said and done, the easiest steps are often the most overlooked. Make sure you remove any signs after the event! Unless, of course, you don’t mind strangers hanging out on your front lawn.
