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Garage Sale Tips Please!

Jdarg avatar
SoWal Expert
3,807 views
Help! We are having a big garage sale this weekend. A sale of mythical proportions. :bang: Just shoot me now. :roll:

Any ideas or tips for a successful sale are appreciated! What sells the best? The worst? I want to hear from people that have had sales, AND attendees of sales. Good set up ideas? I was thinking about having sections, like a store- Manly Man Stuff (tools, weights, etc.), Kids, Holiday, Clothes/Accessories, Garden/Outdoors Stuff, "Dustables", Books, Technology, Furniture, and a bunch of "free to good home" stuff.

Don't give me any links to garage sale websites please- there is too much info there and they bore me. I just want first hand info.

Replies

81
bamabeachbum avatar
Beach Fanatic
#27
Make sure you run an ad in the paper on Thursday, Friday ,and Saturday. In bold print, dont put Garage sale put "Estate Sale", I did this and got a lot more people.

Children clothing sales good, other than that I wouldnt waste my time on clothes.
Teresa avatar
SoWal Guide
#28
we haven't done a yard sale in years - kurt refuses. he hauls it to the goodwill, then we don't have to worry about it. But, its ashame to miss out on making extra cash from all the crap we get rid of every few months!!!

just after we married (many moons ago) we had a yard sale where we got rid of a lot of our combined stuff - much of it redundent, old college crap, or even wedding gifts we didn't need to haul with us. It was a LOAD of stuff. Kurt had it completely organized, everything priced, with some items in boxes with one price. I think the secret to our sale was to Advertise (as a huge moving sale - not estate sale - you don't want to put off anyone), put up signs, and start at the crack of dawn. By noon, re-evaluate and really be ready to slash prices or give away (it's over by then). hopefully you will get an offer from someone to haul off the remaining items. Or you can call Goodwill or whatever organization is in your area and let them know ahead of time that you may want them to come by that afternoon to get the rest of the stuff...

clothing is a real tough one. I would just do kids, and maybe some of the more "nifty" adult items. Or just throw them all in a box with $1, or whatever. Purses and shoes may go.

drinking will definitely help. coffee, that is... :shock: :eek: :blink:

good luck!!!:D
DD avatar
SoWal Expert
#29
I do garage sales every now and then, and lord knows I have a lot of crap to constantly get rid of with 5 kids. They seem to all store their stuff here:eek: , but once upon a time, many years ago when my mother died suddenly, I had the mother of all garage sales. It took me days to get ready, because I first had to move all the stuff to my house from her apartment. I still have pics of my friends helping me organize. We got quite toasted while pricing everything. I kept some sentimental stuff, but there was just so much that I couldn't use or keep. Anyhoo, she had TONS of unmentionables, if you know what I mean. I told my friends I was gonna toss em, and they said NO! sell 'em. I put them all in a box for $5 and they were the first thing to go!:eek: Ewwwwwww!:eek: I also sold a pair of my ex=husbands boots that still had mud on them for $5. You just never know what people will buy!
dbuck avatar
Beach Fanatic
#30
I do garage sales every now and then, and lord knows I have a lot of crap to constantly get rid of with 5 kids. They seem to all store their stuff here:eek: , but once upon a time, many years ago when my mother died suddenly, I had the mother of all garage sales. It took me days to get ready, because I first had to move all the stuff to my house from her apartment. I still have pics of my friends helping me organize. We got quite toasted while pricing everything. I kept some sentimental stuff, but there was just so much that I couldn't use or keep. Anyhoo, she had TONS of unmentionables, if you know what I mean. I told my friends I was gonna toss em, and they said NO! sell 'em. I put them all in a box for $5 and they were the first thing to go!:eek: Ewwwwwww!:eek: I also sold a pair of my ex=husbands boots that still had mud on them for $5. You just never know what people will buy![/QUOTE]

It's kind of gross when you really think about it. :eek:
DD avatar
SoWal Expert
#31
I do garage sales every now and then, and lord knows I have a lot of crap to constantly get rid of with 5 kids. They seem to all store their stuff here:eek: , but once upon a time, many years ago when my mother died suddenly, I had the mother of all garage sales. It took me days to get ready, because I first had to move all the stuff to my house from her apartment. I still have pics of my friends helping me organize. We got quite toasted while pricing everything. I kept some sentimental stuff, but there was just so much that I couldn't use or keep. Anyhoo, she had TONS of unmentionables, if you know what I mean. I told my friends I was gonna toss em, and they said NO! sell 'em. I put them all in a box for $5 and they were the first thing to go!:eek: Ewwwwwww!:eek: I also sold a pair of my ex=husbands boots that still had mud on them for $5. You just never know what people will buy![/QUOTE]

It's kind of gross when you really think about it. :eek:

Really gross. :eek:
lindatat avatar
quirty
#32
Oh I forgot . . . old bed linens, bedspreads, and drapes (if they match), but I was really surprised that the bed sheets were such a hot item. Go figure. :idontno:

Oh yeah, I can vouch for this. Who'd have thunk anyone would want anyone else's used bed linens?
Jdarg avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#33
Thanks to everyone for the great ideas! I think I am ready to go- have racks, tables, a classified ad, signs, and lots of stuff. Any leftovers will go to Goodwill, which has been the recipient of many things already- the unloader guys know me! I am looking forward to a relatively empty garage and storage room.:roll:

I am letting the kids sell (or as Kate says, "sale") their own stuff - which has been a useful tactic in getting them to part with old toys and movies that they haven't touched in years.

I'm trying to tee-total this week (with the help of So-Well), but you can bet their will be a BFG of wine for me Saturday night when this is all over! :biggrin:
Cheering472 avatar
SoWal Insider
#34
Thanks to everyone for the great ideas! I think I am ready to go- have racks, tables, a classified ad, signs, and lots of stuff. Any leftovers will go to Goodwill, which has been the recipient of many things already- the unloader guys know me! I am looking forward to a relatively empty garage and storage room.:roll:

I am letting the kids sell (or as Kate says, "sale") their own stuff - which has been a useful tactic in getting them to part with old toys and movies that they haven't touched in years.

I'm trying to tee-total this week (with the help of So-Well), but you can bet their will be a BFG of wine for me Saturday night when this is all over! :biggrin:

Good luck!
Jdarg avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#35
Good luck!

With waht- the no-wine or the sale??:floor: Or both?:biggrin:
Cheering472 avatar
SoWal Insider
#36
With waht- the no-wine or the sale??:floor: Or both?:biggrin:

:clap_1: I hope you make lots of money to buy lots of wine :biggrin:

Please call me if I can do anything to help. I will not be expected to hold off the the wine will I?
Beach Bimmer avatar
Beach Fanatic
#37
We made some signs on that gaudy, flourescent poster board once that said "MONSTER GARAGE SALE" in huge letters, some with a scribbled Frankenstein caricature next to the monster word. Tacky, eh?

Indeed it was, but you should have seen how many kids convinced their parents they had to pull in and buy from the people that had monsters for sale in their garage! :roll:
iwishiwasthere avatar
Beach Fanatic
#38
I do not have many yard sales...about every 6 or 7 years. The last was the easiest and most successful.. I priced things CHEAP!!!! T shirts 25 cents, button ups 50 cents, pants 1.00. I wrestled with the idea of higher prices, but decided the more that sold, the less I had to haul off. Quarters add up pretty quickly! A good way to display clothes is to have two ladders. Place a pole(we used conduit) on the inside of each. You have two rows pretty quick. Plenty of signs around help as well. We have a large Latino population, so I made sure I posted some signs in those neighborhoods....wow...they came out in droves. They like to buy at yard sales as well.

Good luck and I hope the weather is pleasant and overcast.
picky
#39
Update, Jenny? I see you have a snazzy new "garage sale" avatar. :clap_1: Is business good so far? Have you gone bonkers yet?
Jdarg avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#40
Update, Jenny? I see you have a snazzy new "garage sale" avatar. :clap_1: Is business good so far? Have you gone bonkers yet?

Another pre-sale last nihgt, and an "invitation only" sale tonight:floor: ! This time tomorrow night I better have an empty garage, side yard, and basement!
Cheering472 avatar
SoWal Insider
#41
Another pre-sale last nihgt, and an "invitation only" sale tonight:floor: ! This time tomorrow night I better have an empty garage, side yard, and basement!

May you find a home for all your unwanted treasures. Hope you have a good day, don't forget the wine for Saturday night!!
Unplugged avatar
Beach Fanatic
#42
Help! We are having a big garage sale this weekend. A sale of mythical proportions. :bang: Just shoot me now. :roll:

Any ideas or tips for a successful sale are appreciated! What sells the best? The worst? I want to hear from people that have had sales, AND attendees of sales. Good set up ideas? I was thinking about having sections, like a store- Manly Man Stuff (tools, weights, etc.), Kids, Holiday, Clothes/Accessories, Garden/Outdoors Stuff, "Dustables", Books, Technology, Furniture, and a bunch of "free to good home" stuff.

Don't give me any links to garage sale websites please- there is too much info there and they bore me. I just want first hand info.
Too much work for too little return IMO. :idontno: :bang:

Make a donation to a local charity (take a tax write-off) and spend the weekend doing something worthwhile! :cool:
______________________________________
picky
#43
Too much work for too little return IMO. :idontno: :bang:

Make a donation to a local charity and spend the weekend doing something worthwhile! :cool:
______________________________________

Not a fan of entrepeneurship, are you?
Sheila avatar
SoWal Insider
#44
Too much work for too little return IMO. :idontno: :bang:

Make a donation to a local charity (take a tax write-off) and spend the weekend doing something worthwhile! :cool:
______________________________________


I've had several very profitable garage sales. Besides I have NEVER, EVER had a charity at home that will show up as promised. Therefore we are forced to load it up and attempt to get rid of it ourselves.

Besides that, we've made it a family affair and really enjoyed the time we spend together wheeling and dealing. You'd be surprised how eye opening a garage sale can be to your children in more ways than one.
kathydwells avatar
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
#45
Too much work for too little return IMO. :idontno: :bang:

Make a donation to a local charity (take a tax write-off) and spend the weekend doing something worthwhile! :cool:
______________________________________

I do not have unlimited income. So, with that said any amount of $$ I make having a garage sale is a good return to me. And to me, it is worthwhile to be able to make a little pocket money to perhaps do something that I might not have done otherwise. When the garage sale is over, then I will take what is left and donate to Goodwill. Have a very profitable garage sale Jenay!!!!
Miss Kitty avatar
Meow
#46
Too much work for too little return IMO. :idontno: :bang:

Make a donation to a local charity (take a tax write-off) and spend the weekend doing something worthwhile! :cool:
______________________________________

What worthwhile endeavors are you contemplating for the weekend Up?
Jdarg avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#47
Too much work for too little return IMO. :idontno: :bang:

Make a donation to a local charity (take a tax write-off) and spend the weekend doing something worthwhile! :cool:
______________________________________

There is a method to my madness, and I assure you this MOVING sale is a worthwhile endeavor.

My 2006 donation receipts are overflowing their envelope, and I feel like maybe this time we can make a little money for us. While we have a nice relocation package, the "little return" can be used to buy fun stuff like a kayak for Will, a canoe for Bdarg, plane tickets, trees, shrubs, and flowers, a fence for the dogs, a big going away bash here, a moving in/unpacking party in our new house, etc. etc, the list could go on forever.

This weekend's other worthwhile activity will be doing a few punch list repairs before our house gets the big FOR SALE sign in the yard. :clap_1: Oh yeah, we are moving to SoWal this fall- there I just outed myself.;-)

Maybe I will have another unworthwhile yard sale in SoWal. It's a great way to meet the neighbors.:D
Miss Kitty avatar
Meow
#48
:bow: ...you are most worthy! The cat is now out of the bag! Maybe this needs a new thread? :clap_1:
Jdarg avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#49
:bow: ...you are most worthy! The cat is now out of the bag! Maybe this needs a new thread? :clap_1:

Probably the only time in my life that the entire world did not know my business. Only because I managed to keep a secret (well almost).;-) :oops:
Miss Kitty avatar
Meow
#50
Probably the only time in my life that the entire world did not know my business. Only because I managed to keep a secret (well almost).;-) :oops:

:lolabove:
peapod1980 avatar
percy
#51
Probably the only time in my life that the entire world did not know my business. Only because I managed to keep a secret (well almost).;-) :oops:
I kept meaning to ask you why you weren't outing yourself--afraid of jealousy backlash, I'm guessing!

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