It’s inevitable. Over the years, you gather lots of stuff in your home that, quite frankly, you really don’t need. Luckily for you, your clutter might be someone else’s treasure! A garage sale is a perfect option to sell your no-longer-needed items to people who could use them. As fall colors start to paint towns across the northeast, the season offers a wonderful backdrop for you to host your own garage sale. Chris Pagli, an agent at William Raveis Tarrytown, gives tips on how to organize a successful garage sale. This post originally appeared on his Active Rain blog, which can be found here.
1. Don’t wait until the last minute. You don’t want to be scrambling to hold a garage sale the week before an open house. Depending on how long you’ve lived in the home and how much stuff you have to sell, planning a garage sale can demand a lot of time and energy.
2. See if neighbors want to join in. You can turn your garage sale into a block-wide event and lure more shoppers if you team up with neighbors. However, a permit may be necessary for each home owner, even if it’s a group event.
3. Schedule the sale. Sales on Saturdays and Sundays will generate the most traffic, especially if the weather cooperates. Start the sale early, 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. is best, and be prepared for early birds.
4. Advertise. Place an ad in free classified papers and Web sites (Craigslist is huge), and in your local newspapers. Include the dates, time, and address. Let the public know if certain types of items will be sold, such as baby clothes, furniture, or weightlifting equipment. On the day of the sale, balloons and signs with prominent arrows will help to grab the attention of passersby.
5. Price everything. Lay out everything that you plan to sell, and attach prices with removable
stickers. Remember, garage sales are supposed to be bargains, so try to be objective as you set prices. Assign simple prices to your goods: 50 cents, 3 for $1, $5, $10, etc.
6. Don’t sell junk. Decide what’s worth selling and what’s not. If it’s really garbage, then throw it away. Broken appliances, for example, should be tossed. (Know where a nearby electrical outlet is, in case a customer wants to make sure something works.)
7. Create an organized display. Lay out your items by category, and display neatly so customers don’t have to dig through boxes.
8. Stock up on bags and newspapers. People who buy many small items will appreciate a bag to carry their goods. Newspapers are handy for wrapping fragile items.
9. Manage your money. Make a trip to the bank to get ample change for your cashbox. Throughout the sale, keep a close eye on your cash; never leave the cashbox unattended. It’s smart to have one person who manages the money throughout the day, keeping a tally of what was purchased and for how much. Keep a calculator nearby.
10. Prepare for your home sale. Donate the remaining stuff or sell it to a resale shop. Now that all of your clutter is cleared out, it’s time to focus on preparing your house for a successful sale!
Thanks to William Raveis Real Estate Blog
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