Tips for Hosting a Garage Sale
If you’re in the midst of planning a move, or just want to de-clutter your home, having a garage or yard sale is a great way to get rid of excess in your home and make a little cash doing it. If you’re planning a garage or yard sale coming up, here’s some tips to make it a success.
- Organize: get the things together that you want to put in the sale, and organize them into categories (ex: books, electronics, etc.)
- Great signage: make sure your signs are large and bold. Draw attention to your sale, maybe with balloons or bright colours. It’s also important to make sure your signs are legible.
- Spread the word: besides signage, you may want to advertise your garage sale in your local newspaper or online at free posting sites.
- Let your neighbours know: bigger sales will draw in bigger crowds, so if you can get a few neighbours in on it you can have a much bigger garage or yard sale. It’s also courteous to advise of planned increased traffic on your street or block.
- Price things accordingly: remember, at the end of the day this is to de-clutter your home, not make a ton of money, so be reasonable with your pricing. Make sure items are clearly labeled.
- Think retail business: When you’re displaying things, make them look presentable and easily viewed from a distance. Get the ‘big ticket’ items up in front so it draws people in.
- Create a ‘freebie’ box: no matter what, people love free stuff. If you have some things you just genuinely want to get rid of, toss them in a box labeled ‘free’.
- Mark down: start marking down the price once you’re halfway through your time, so that the later shoppers will see they are getting an even better deal.
- Give it away at the end: once your sale is over, collect what’s left and find a local non-profit that could use your stuff. You may as well give back while your cleaning out!
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