If your family is moving, decluttering, or just looking to earn a little extra money, a garage sale has probably crossed your mind. Garage/yard sales are great ways to get rid of some of the stuff you don’t need any more, while bringing in a little extra cash.
Of course, there is a right way and a wrong way to hold a garage sale. Here are a few tips you should keep in mind when you’re getting ready for your next big sale.
Clear out your house (and be brutal)
You’re going to be putting a lot of work into this sale, so you want to make sure you get rid of absolutely everything you don’t want or use anymore. This will help you avoid holding another garage sale in just a few months. When going through your belongings, be really brutal about what you use and wear, and make sure the things you keep are things that you really love and enjoy.
Stay organized—right from the beginning
Designate a space to keep all the things you decide to sell. This could be in your garage, in a spare room/closet, or even in a storage unit (which would be especially helpful for bigger items). Put everything in that place so you’re not trying to keep track of where it is. If you want to get really organized, get some large boxes and label them according to price: 50 cents, 1 dollar, 5 dollars, etc. As you find new things to add to your inventory, you can sort them according to the price you’ll charge. That will make things much easier on you as you start to price out your items.
Individually price higher ticket items
For larger things, price them out individually, and make sure you price them fairly. This could include furniture, nice clothing and handbags, appliances, large toys, and electronics. Use small stickers to label these items so you don’t have to remember off-hand what you’re asking for them.
Bulk price smaller items
As mentioned above, smaller items can be grouped into price categories. Then you can present these items all together at your sale. For example, you could say “everything on this table is $5,” or “everything in this box is $1.” That will make things easier on you, and on your shoppers.
Advertise
These days, it is not hard to advertise your yard sale well. Definitely make some traditional, bright-colored signs to help people find your house, but also use some more modern marketing methods as well. Posting an ad on Craigslist, for example, can bring large crowds, as can sharing the details of your sale on Facebook.
Bargain
Yard sale buyers are notorious negotiators. Be ready for it! Know what things you are willing to negotiate on, and which you are not. Offer a few really great deals (“Fill this bag with books for $2!”) when you can, but also stand firm on some of your bigger ticket items that you were hoping to really profit from.
Have cash
This probably goes without saying, but you’ll want a lot of cash to use for change. Make sure you have a good variety of bills and coins, along with a safe place to keep it all.
Whatever the reason for holding it, a garage sale can be a great way to get rid of some of your extra stuff and turn it into a little extra money. Follow these tips to make your next garage sale a successful one!
Arizona Storage Centers offer affordable storage units in Glendale, AZ that are perfect for storing large items, or for those things that you can’t bear to part with but don’t want hanging around your house. With multiple convenient Valley locations, we offer the perfect storage solution for Arizona families! Contact us at 480-386-6022 today!
