A garage sale is a perfect way to clear out the clutter and make some extra cash, but you don’t want to toss some items onto a table and call it a day. Check out these garage sale tips to help you make the most money possible.
ORGANIZE YOUR GARAGE SALE
If you walk up to a sale and everything is thrown onto a table, and you can’t even see what is for sale, more than likely, you will turn and walk away. Taking the extra time to have several tables and items split out can yield you even more money.
You will need to have several tables with like items together. For example, you may have a table for toys and one table or area for clothes. By keeping like items together, people can find the type of things they want without having to scan tables of stuff, where it can be missed.
When potential buyers see the pride in how you put items on display, it tells them that you took care of them. Things tossed onto a pile or haphazardly onto tables have less appeal and will turn those buyers away.
MAKE SURE YOUR ITEMS LOOK GOOD ON DISPLAY
When you are pulling your things out to set on your tables, be sure it is clean. Nothing is worse than picking up a plate with food on it, or a picture covered in dust.
Spend some time wiping down or even washing items before you put them on display. This simple trick can be the difference between making and losing a sale.
WASH AND HANG YOUR CLOTHES
If you are selling clothing, be sure to take the time to wash and fold or hang everything before you sell it to make it look neat and organized. Hanging clothes makes it easier for customers to look through your items without making a mess out of the clothes and it makes them feel like they are shopping in a store rather than a garage sale. You can also organize and separate clothes by size.
USE PRICE TAGS TO MARK ALL ITEMS FOR SALE
While you may be willing to negotiate your price, having your entire sale marked “Make Me an Offer” can turn many people away. Most need to know what you are asking. Place stickers on all items so that shoppers know the price.
If you are willing to negotiate, hang “We Negotiate” signs around the space. People will then know you are willing to haggle a bit.
MAKE SURE YOU CAN MAKE CHANGE
Make sure you have the proper change. Ensure you have enough ones, fives, quarters, etc. so that you can make change for your customer’s purchases. Also, if someone is purchasing a large item and needs to get more cash, have them put a deposit down so you know they will come back.
START YOUR SALE ON TIME
Be ready to open your doors when the garage sale starts or you could lose out. Many times, people arrive early so that they can find the best deals and if you don’t open on time, you could lose someone who is willing to part with many of your “treasures.”
DON’T BE AFRAID TO NEGOTIATE YOUR PRICE
Be willing to negotiate prices but always know how much you MUST make from the sale of each item. Start high and be willing to negotiate with the buyer. Simply by pricing it higher, you have wiggle room and come across as someone easy to talk to.
Towards the end of the garage sale, put up a sign that everything is 50% off or whatever is comfortable to you to get those last items sold.
