Simple Tips for Hosting a Successful Garage SaleBy Keith Loria
Whether you just purchased a home right up the road from your current residence or across numerous state lines, you undoubtedly have a lot of items that will be packed up and transported to your new location. However, if you’re looking to make your move a little easier—or your new home simply doesn’t have room for all your belongings—a garage sale is a great way to get rid of items that you’ll be leaving behind.
When it comes to hosting a successful garage sale, it’s crucial that you think beyond simply throwing stuff on tables in your yard. For a truly successful sale, you need to advertise, organize and create a shopping experience that will entice people to stop in and buy. If you’re planning on having a garage sale, the first thing you should do is go through every room in your house and decide what items you won’t be taking with you. Any and everything not going should be sold at the sale, even if you only get small change for the item. Keep in mind that planning for and hosting a garage sale isn’t something that can be done in a day or even a weekend. Start getting things ready about a month before you plan to hold your sale. As you find items, start grouping them into different sections. For instance, place all items for the kitchen together and then create separate piles of clothes, toys, books, etc. It’s crucial that everything stay organized so that you don’t end up with a mish-mash of things that will make people think you just threw everything together. Once you’ve collected everything you plan to sell, it’s time to tackle the key to any garage sale: pricing. People love bargains, so make sure you take emotions out of your pricing decisions and make things very affordable. Use stickers for pricing so people aren’t constantly asking how much something is. It’s also a good idea to offer buy-one-get-one-free options or three-for-a-dollar type pricing to compel people to buy more. When people try to bargain for a lower price (and they will!), let the items go. Remember, this is more about disposing of your things than making a quick buck off of them. Whether you live in an area that gets a lot of traffic or on a quiet street, make sure you take to social media to announce your sale. You may also want to think about taking out an ad on Craigslist or putting an ad in your local circular, school or church bulletin. Don’t forget to hang up plenty of signs around the area a few days before your sale so people can make plans to drop by. If you have big-ticket items like furniture, musical instruments, lawn equipment or something unique or antique looking, mention them in the ads and take photos, as this is a great way to really entice people to come. For the sale itself, be kind, offer up water or lemonade and be ready to make some deals. If there are any large items left over after the sale that you don’t plan on taking with you (be it a pool table, couch, piano, dining set, etc.), offer them up for free on Craigslist or Freecycle. Not only will this save you time and money, it will also save you the hassle of having to lug these items to the dump. For more information about holding a successful garage sale, contact our office today. |
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