Today we’re outside enjoying the weather with a good old fashioned Garage Sale. I am a garage sale virgin, this is my first. Can I must say, it’s only been 3 hours of selling and I already have learned a lot.
First I’ve realized that people want nice stuff for nothing. Like brand new with the tags on DKNY kids dress for $0.50. Seriously people, goodwill isn’t that cheap.
Another thing I’ve realized is that people will haggle the price of anything and everything. I have a brand new sheet set still in the box and I asked $5 for it….they’re cute and soft, and a King! Someone asked if I’d take $1! Seriously no shame people.
After reading tips online about how to have a garage sale, I’m going to compile my own tips. Here it goes:
- I know everyone has their own opinion on this but LABEL EVERYTHING or people will ask if you’ll take next to nothing for it! Get some address labels and stick them on the big items. If you have clothes, make a sign that says “Kids clothes $x, Adult clothes $X etc.
- Really organize and prepare the days leading up to it. We Failed on this part. We were up until 1am getting everything ready. Seriously.
- Organize the sale like a store. Put all the sporting items together, clothes, home furnishings etc. We’re trained to look for items in sections, so why not do that with a garage sale!
- This should be number 1, but be sure to advertise for at least 4 days leading up to your sale. I posed my sale on Craigslist.com, GarageSaleFinder.com, and Yardsalesearch.com. These sites are free to post. People really use them, I had cars outside of my house 10 minutes before I started with people waiting to go though my
junkstuff. - Carry $50 in change. I did $20 in ones, $20 in 5’s and a $10 bill. I also have a few dollars in change and it seems to be plenty! People who are going to garage sales carry ones, they ALL want everything for under $1 anyway.
- Don’t let you nice stuff go for nothing, unless you REALLY want to get rid of it. There’s plenty of other options for what you can do with your stuff. If you have too many clothes, donate them to a non profit. If you have a ton of really nice kids clothes in great condition, consider taking them to a local consignment, (I’m not a fan of this cause it’s a lot of running around) or sell them to Kindermint online! Like I did.
- Have your kids help you with the sale. It is a GREAT time to teach them about money and manners. They also do a great job with grouchy garage sale shoppers…help to lighten the mood so to speak.
- Trying to decide what to sell? My rule of thumb on this particular sale: If I haven’t used it in 2 years and I have no use for it in the next 2 years it needs to go!
- Don’t be discouraged if you don’t sell a ton…look at it this way, you got rid of some of your stuff and made a few bucks. You spent the day outside with your kids and got to meet some new people! Better then spending the day
,in front of the computerin front of the TV!
That’s all for now…..gotta go. There’s a customer! $ Yay $
