Summer is quickly approaching and that means it’s time for garage sales to begin. Now is the perfect time to prepare for a successful garage sale and we hope these tips help you on your way to earning a little extra cash.

Start Early to Skip the Stress

GATHERING INVENTORY

Starting the decluttering process now will give you both inventory to sell and peace of mind. Not sure where to start? We have several articles on our blog here to get you started.

Place similar items in the same pile to save time organizing later.

SET THE DATE

The weekends are considered the best time to hold garage sales. Friday and Saturday from 7 am to 11 am are the peak times that people are out scouting for great bargains. Also, it’s better to plan your sale for the first weekend of the month since most people have more money to shop with.

Consider asking family and neighbors if they are interested in combining their garage sales with yours. This will drive more traffic to your sale as people generally prefer less travel, and larger neighborhood sales will attract more attention.

MAKE DECISIONS AHEAD OF TIME

Someone I look up to once told me that if you make a decision ahead of time, it will save you from a lot of struggle and panic later on. I think this is great advice for many things, including garage sales. Things to consider might be what you will do with items that don’t sell, where you will set up, who will be helping you, and what sort of change you’ll need.

Study the Pros

TREAT YOUR SALE LIKE A BUSINESS

Ever wonder how successful stores make so many sales? A lot has to do with branding, but there is a lot to be said for presentation. Arranging your inventory attractively can do a lot to help your sales. For example, bundle items together. If you are selling clothing, put the items together as an outfit. Not only will people see how the pieces work together, but you are more likely to sell an entire ensemble if it’s all together. If items are dirty or dusty, polish them up to make them more appealing to your customers.

Part of presentation includes where products are placed. People are more willing to buy what’s at eye level, so resist putting smaller items on the ground. Tables are a great way to display items. Have a table reserved for a checkout area, with bags for customers to place their items in once purchased.

In addition, consider selling treats and drinks near your checkout. Grocery stores make a great deal of money on “last-minute” sales, which is why you see so many products in the checkout lanes. And if your sellers have been out and about for a long time, they might want a small pick-me-up before continuing to the next sale.

Selling with the Right Price

PRICE TO MOVE

While it would be so nice to make millions in garage sales, it is not likely that this will happen. Because of this, it’s important to realize that your inventory needs to move or you will not make anything at all.

Of course, this doesn’t mean giving things away for pennies on the dollar, but it could entail selling for 10-20% of the retail price for items in good condition. If you have items that are worth more and you don’t want to lose out on the profit, a garage sale probably won’t be the best market for that item. Realize that the audience of garage sales are usually people looking for fantastic deals and won’t be willing to pay over what the item is worth, so don’t be afraid to lower the price of things just to keep yourself from having to donate the item later.

PRICE AHEAD OF THE SALE

Pricing ahead of time will save you time and money. You won’t be in the awkward situation of trying to come up with a price on the spot – after all, you have more important things to focus on the day of the sale! Make sure your price tags are visible no matter the size of the item. This will also help eliminate confusion and chaos on the day of the sale.

Final Thoughts

A few things to consider:

Don’t place things on hold – even if they are paid for. Too many times items are put on hold and no one comes back for them, so the best way to avoid a future headache is to only make sales to people who come prepared to take the item away at the moment of purchase.

Have a calculator, chair, and pen and paper at hand. Whatever will make the sale run smoothly is worth investing in and these tools are hopefully something you already have in your home.

Finally, be safe. Garage sales invite strangers to your home and safety should still be key. Things like locking your doors, not allowing anyone inside your home that you don’t know, and having multiple people you trust to help you at the sale, can go a long way in helping you have a safe and fun garage sale.

Did we miss any tips? Share your knowledge with us in the comments below!