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Garage Sale Organization Tips |
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#1 - Check the weather and the calendar |
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#2 - Check the Calendar |
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#3 - Advertise |
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Post fliers advertising your garage sale on neighborhood bulletin boards or in community newsletters. Check with your municipality and homeowners’ association to find out what restrictions, if any, exist regarding the posting of signs. Be sure to follow regulations and be sure to collect any signs that you’ve posted as soon as the sale is over.
Utilize free online sources such as Craigslist, gsalr.com, or yardhopper.com to advertise as well. Provide a detailed list of the kinds of items you’ll be selling and even post pictures of items you think will be particularly attractive to buyers. Post your ads a couple of weeks in advance. |
Recommended Reading
Check out these tips from for creating garage sale ads that attract buyers from Best Garage Sale Tips.
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#4 - Purge |
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#5 - Wash everything |
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#6 - Be prepared |
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#7 - Separate the non-sale items |
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If yours is a true garage sale, meaning you are holding it in your garage, you will want to make sure that any items you do not wish to sell are out of sight. This will eliminate confusion on the part of your customers and prevent any well-meaning assistants from accidentally selling something you intended to keep. At this garage sale I recently visited (pictured right), it was difficult to tell what was for sale and what was part of the normal yard décor.
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#8 - Enlist help |
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#9 - Consider your needs |
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#10 - Thoughts on pricing |
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Be Ready to Bargain
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#11 - Keep stuff straight |
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#12 - Gather supplies |
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You can also create a temporary setup by tying clothesline between two trees or poles or balancing a broom handle between two ladders placed a few feet apart. If using ladders, make sure they are secure and will not tip over as items are removed and replaced. Drape clothing and linens over the rungs of a ladder for additional display space.
If some form of clothesline is not possible, place clothing in bins according to gender/size and label clearly. Rather than pricing each item individually, establish a standard (i.e. blouses $2, dresses $5, etc.) and post signs. In addition to gathering supplies for displaying merchandise collect plastic bags for customers to carry their purchases in and newspaper or tissue paper for wrapping breakables. Have scissors, tape, and twine handy as well. |
#13 - Handling cash |
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#14 - Create an eye-catching display |
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#15 - Know your stuff |
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#16 - Have a power source handy |
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#17 - Offer freebies |
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Place a box right out front where passersby will be sure to see it. Label it with a large 'free' sign. Good candidates for the free box include:
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#18 - Offer refreshments |
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#19 - Throw in Extras |
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#20 - Everything Must GO! |
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