If Your Garage is Out of Control with Stored Items, a Garage Sale Might Be the Perfect Solution

Have you been finding it more difficult to find things in your garage? Maybe you just have little space available to move things around. Either way, one of the solutions is to get rid of some of your items that you never use. One of the best ways to do this is by having a garage sale. We’ll provide all the assistance you need in terms of understanding how to pull this off successfully.

When the weather starts to warm up, having an orderly garage is a must. You don’t want to toss out everything, especially items with value but a garage sale can be a nice option. Many people love hitting up the bargains at these sales. It’s a situation that has many positives. You can make some money, get the garage cleaned up, and someone else can get that item they’ve been searching for.

If you aren’t sure how to organize a garage sale, that’s okay. We’ve compiled some excellent tips for making yours a success.

Ask yourself first, is this the right option for me?

If the only reason you’re thinking about hosting a garage sale is to clear out the basement and closets, it’s far easier to just donate everything to charity. You’ll save yourself time and frustration. Garage sales take a lot of effort and require a decent amount of energy.

On the other hand, if you feel like chatting with people in your neighborhood while earning a few extra dollars, a garage sale is the ideal place to do this. You can haggle over prices and sell off some of your excess belongings. You’ll need to be prepared to pull this off so your first task is to start making a list of what will need to be done.

Preparation tips from the experts

• Get in touch with your local government

  In some locations, there are dates set aside for garage and yard sale. You want to be sure you are allowed to hold your sale when you want. You will also want to inquire about whether a permit is needed.

• Start the organizing process

  Preparation dictates that staring early is the best way to host a stress-free garage sale. Some people choose to do the planning months before the event. Take your time in rounding up all the belongings you no longer use in the garage and the home, as well. Sort the items by type, such as fitness equipment, books, cloths, kitchenware, and toys.

• Bigger really is better

  If you want to draw in crowds, having a massive garage sale will do it. Even if you don’t have enough belongings for a huge sale, you can recruit others in the area to host their own sales. This will bring in more people and everyone involved will make more money and eliminate unused belongings.

• Time your sale to have the best potential for success

  The best time to have a garage sale is on the weekend. However, you should make sure there isn’t a holiday or event going on. People will be busy doing other things and it can hurt your chances. Holidays are also a time when many people will be out of town or occupied and more likely to pass up a sale.

• Flip on the Weather Channel

  While not every storm is going to be predicted in advance, it’s still intelligent to see what the weather is expected to be like on the days of your sale. We recommend checking a week or so in advance for any rain or other bad weather that will keep people in their homes.

Advertise in advance

You should begin publicizing and advertising the upcoming garage sale at least a week before the date comes. There are a few different ways to do so:

• Post an advertisement on websites that are community based, which is often completely free.
• Tell your coworkers, friends, and family members about the event. You can also make an event on Facebook to encourage people to stop by.
• Purchase a few signs in bright colors and post them on telephone poles around your neighborhood.
• On the day before your sale, put up coroplast signs at intersection in the area that give directions to the location of your sale.

As the day moves closer…

When there are only three or four days before the big sale, take the time to be sure everything is ready. Doing the following will make the day of the sale less stressful:

• Complete the organization of your items by theme and make sure everything is in working order.
• Wash and dry any dishes, clothes, toys, or other items that require it.
• Stock up on plastic bags that buyers can use to carry their purchases.
• For smaller items, group them up in clear plastic bags.
• Build a list of every item that will be on sale.
• Use small stickers or pieces of masking tape to adhere prices to items. Consider rounding to the quarter to make giving change easier.
• Use a plastic bin to store children’s clothes and sell them for a fixed price, regardless of what type of clothing it is.
• Price items by actual dollar value and avoid using sentimental value to determine pricing.

Make the environment one that is attractive and draws in buyers

When you walk into a retail store, the display of the items has an effect on whether you choose to buy. The same applies at your garage sale. If you have items displayed in an attractive way, people are going to buy more. There are a few ways to use this to your advantage.

• Instead of placing items on the ground, put them on a table. This lets buyers look at the item or pick it up without having to squat down.
• Only sell items that are in good condition and working properly.
• This might seem silly but avoid open spaces on your tables. It gives people the impression that everything worth buying has already been purchased.
• Do what is needed to ensure your driveway looks neat and nice.

Once the big day comes around

• Take a quick trip around the neighborhood to be sure that the signs you placed are still where they should be.
• Consider tying some balloons at the end of your driveway to gain extra attention.
• Whatever time the sale is supposed to start, be prepared and ready to go. Many individuals who frequent garage sales will arrive right on the dot or even a bit earlier than the advertised start time.
• Have a variety of bills and coins available so you can make change.
• No matter how stressed out you might be, make an attempt to be pleasant and hospital to potential buyers.
• Set up a cooler with bottles of water or cans of soda. If you offer them to young children, their parents might be more likely to purchase one.
• Be prepared to haggle and bargain. You can even offer to make items cheaper if someone is buying several of them.
• Play some music to make shopping more entertaining. Be sure to choose songs that are loved by everyone and appropriate for all ages.
• If you are a fan of baking, think about making a batch or cookies or brownies to sell. Kids will love it!
• Have some plastic tarps on hand to protect the items you are selling in case rain comes in.
• Younger children might do best at a babysitter’s home. The bigger kids can help with the garage sale or have a lemonade stand to operate.

After the garage sale has come and gone

After the event is all done, make sure to straighten up the area where the sale took place. Your older kids can help by removing any trash that is around or by organizing the items that didn’t sell. You should also stop around the neighborhood to take down balloons and signs.

The items that don’t sell can find a new home by donating them to a local organization that helps those in need. You’ll get the benefit of knowing you helped someone out while removing unneeded items from your home.

Consider renovating your garage door…

If you want to change the look of your current door, contact us anytime, toll-free at 1-877-828-5279. Our staff is knowledgeable about all sorts of garage doors. We can help you make the best choice, no matter what your needs are. We can also email you a quotation if you’d like.

If you prefer, you can visit us at our showroom. Another way to see what a new garage door would look like on your home is to try our design center, or even spend some time looking through our image gallery for inspiration.