Have A Garage Sale

Financially, the best alternative is to have a garage sale and donate what's left. Every decision can't be determined at the cash register. There are usually other aspects than money to a decision. Due to the unpleasantness of the garage sale event, and our stage in life, holding a garage sale wasn't worth it. Consider a Multi-Family Sale. Garage sales advertised as 'community yard sales,' 'neighborhood.

Out With the Old, In With the Money: Yard Sale Tips for Sellers

• Grand Slam Garage Sales is the leading service provider for people who want to get rid of and sell items but don't have time to do the work or simply just don't want to. We offer full removal and selling services from start to finish for individuals and businesses. We can handle any size job from a small amount of items to a massive warehouse.
• Plan it at the right time. The right day and time is the first step in getting ready for a garage sale that.

If your garage is just a storage space for clutter, if you can't park your car in its designated home, it might be time to sort through the mess and set up a garage sale. We've gathered some tips and tricks so sellers can have a successful yard sale, including advice from Simplify Experts, Clever Girl Organizing and Goodwill.

Some municipalities require you to have a permit in order to hold a garage sale. Make sure to check your city's website for more information. Some may allow you to get the permit online. If your city or town does require a permit, make sure not to skip this step, or you could.

What to Sell at a Garage Sale

'As Jerry Seinfeld once said, ‘The word garage seems to be a form of the word garbage.' Everything goes to the garage to die,' said Denise Allan, a certified professional organizer with Simplify Experts.

If clutter has inspired you to have a sale, start by cleaning out your garage and organizing your home to see what you need to get rid of and what may be worth some money in your pocket. When deciding what to keep and what to part with, Kathy Vines from Clever Girl Organizing suggests asking yourself the following questions.

• How often do I use this and why?
• Could someone else get more use out of this?
• Does it have sentimental value? Is it irreplaceable?
• Is it in good shape? If it needs to be repaired, is it worth spending the money?
• Do I own another item that serves the same purpose, or can I borrow it from someone else?

As you cut through the clutter and part with the clothes in the back of your closet or the bike hidden in your garage, decide if the things you're keeping are in good enough shape to resell at your yard sale.

Garage Estate Sales Near Me

'Be authentic to the life you are leading. If you have not camped in years, donate your camping gear. If your kids have launched your nest, let some of your ample sporting good equipment go. I have clients who have had landscape services for years with a full arsenal of yard tools. Donate those so they can bless someone else.'

Denise Allan, Simplify Experts

Rent a dumpster to throw away anything beyond repair, or that no one else would want secondhand. Some examples might be stained sofas, broken appliances and used mattresses.

5 Tips to Have a Successful Garage Sale

Now that you've figured out what to include in your yard sale, follow these tips to prepare and get the most out of it.

1. Price Items for Your Yard Sale

When it comes to putting a price tag on items like books, clothes and golf clubs you dug up, remember that you're trying to get rid of these things. In order to get them to sell, you might need to ask for a lot less than you think.

So, how do you price items for a yard sale? Generally, items should be tagged at about 10% to 20% of the current retail price. For example, if something sells for $50 in store, price it at $10 if it's in good shape or $5 if it's a bit worn. Of course, factors like the item's condition, demand and whether or not it's in season can affect the price.

Before applying this rule, research to see how similar things are priced in your area. Go to other garage sales to see how much they're selling those items for. Watch the shoppers to see if they respond to the prices or walk away. You can even check Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and other online resources to compare prices.

Here's a starting point for some items. However, keep in mind that in addition to the item's condition and demand, name brand and size may cause you to fidget with the price as well.

Pro-Tip: Put a price tag on everything. Don't make people find you and ask how much you're selling an item for, because some just won't bother. Use neon-colored stickers so people can't miss the price.

2. Pick a Place and Date

Where you decide to set up is important. You need to be in a high-trafficked area in order for people to see your garage sale. If you live in a rural or quiet area, ask friends or family in a busier neighborhood if you can use their yard.

When picking a time, choose weekend mornings, about 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and avoid holidays when people are out of town. Look ahead to the weather forecast to avoid rain or extreme heat. It's also best to aim for the beginning of the month, when you can count on people's purse strings being at their fullest.

3. Research Local Laws and Regulations

Some municipalities require you to have a permit in order to hold a garage sale. Make sure to check your city's website for more information. Some may allow you to get the permit online. If your city or town does require a permit, make sure not to skip this step, or you could end up with a fine and get your garage sale shut down.

4. Advertise Your Yard Sale

Go back to basics. Take out an ad in your local paper and draw up handmade signs. Use bright-colored poster board and thick, black markers. These will catch people's attention and be easy to read from a distance. Make sure to place them at main intersections near the sale location and at all turns leading to your yard. Don't forget to draw arrows to point drivers in the right direction. You can also take out an ad in your local paper.

Make sure to include the following information on your signs:

• Time
• Dates
• Address
• The words 'Garage Sale'

Pro-Tip: Keep the signs simple so potential buyers can quickly read them as they're driving by and easily get to you. Make sure to put the signs out at least the day before so avid yard sale-goers can plan to make a stop at your home, and so you don't have to rush around the morning of.

How to Advertise Your Garage Sale Online

Handmade signs in your neighborhood are effective, but people have the internet at their fingertips everywhere they go. Try taking out an ad on your local news sites and Craigslist to expand your reach. Because they're probably a little more expensive than a Craigslist ad, start ads on your local news sites one day before the sale and run them through the sale period. On Craigslist, you might be able to afford starting the ad a day or two earlier than that.

Pro-Tip: Draw people in by listing your big-ticket items and popular things like kids' toys and collectibles. Snap photos of in-demand items to attract more attention.

It's also a good idea to use social media accounts to let friends and family know you're hosting a sale. It's the easiest way to spread the word to everyone. If your community has a Facebook page, use it to let neighbors know they can stop by.

You might also try using the following yard sale sites:

5. Prepare Your Items for the Sale

Now for the most tedious part of all – setting it all up. Follow these tips to help you make some sales.

• Put like items together.
• Cover up anything visible that you're not selling.
• Try bundling some items, like sets of baby clothes.
• Clean and polish items to make them look presentable.
• Put toys on a blanket in the yard at kid's level to save table space.
• Display valuable items close to you so you can keep an eye on them.
• Set up a few days in advance if you'll be using your (now clean) garage.
• Hang clothing on a garment rack so it's easy for customers to look through what you have.
• Give yourself at least an hour before the start time to get everything set up, but know where you plan to put everything in advance.
• Use folding tables to display your merchandise. If you use a coffee table or other furniture from your home, people might think it's for sale.

Pro-Tip: Greet shoppers as they arrive so they know who's running the sale, but then leave them alone to shop so they don't feel pressured. Let the items sell themselves, but be available for questions.

Extra Garage Sale Tips and Tricks

Here are a few things to keep in mind to make sure your yard sale goes as well as can be planned.

Ask Your Friends and Family to Join Your Sale

Do your in-laws have some things they can sell? Is your sister also cleaning out her garage? Market this as a three-family yard sale. You'll likely attract more customers with the additional items up for grabs.

How To Have A Garage Sale

Limit Your Inventory

While it's good to have a lot of items to attract customers, having too much for sale can be overwhelming. Make sure you're only putting out what will sell.

Have a Checkout Station

1. Price Items for Your Yard Sale

When it comes to putting a price tag on items like books, clothes and golf clubs you dug up, remember that you're trying to get rid of these things. In order to get them to sell, you might need to ask for a lot less than you think.

So, how do you price items for a yard sale? Generally, items should be tagged at about 10% to 20% of the current retail price. For example, if something sells for $50 in store, price it at $10 if it's in good shape or $5 if it's a bit worn. Of course, factors like the item's condition, demand and whether or not it's in season can affect the price.

Before applying this rule, research to see how similar things are priced in your area. Go to other garage sales to see how much they're selling those items for. Watch the shoppers to see if they respond to the prices or walk away. You can even check Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and other online resources to compare prices.

Here's a starting point for some items. However, keep in mind that in addition to the item's condition and demand, name brand and size may cause you to fidget with the price as well.

Pro-Tip: Put a price tag on everything. Don't make people find you and ask how much you're selling an item for, because some just won't bother. Use neon-colored stickers so people can't miss the price.

2. Pick a Place and Date

Where you decide to set up is important. You need to be in a high-trafficked area in order for people to see your garage sale. If you live in a rural or quiet area, ask friends or family in a busier neighborhood if you can use their yard.

When picking a time, choose weekend mornings, about 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and avoid holidays when people are out of town. Look ahead to the weather forecast to avoid rain or extreme heat. It's also best to aim for the beginning of the month, when you can count on people's purse strings being at their fullest.

3. Research Local Laws and Regulations

Some municipalities require you to have a permit in order to hold a garage sale. Make sure to check your city's website for more information. Some may allow you to get the permit online. If your city or town does require a permit, make sure not to skip this step, or you could end up with a fine and get your garage sale shut down.

4. Advertise Your Yard Sale

Go back to basics. Take out an ad in your local paper and draw up handmade signs. Use bright-colored poster board and thick, black markers. These will catch people's attention and be easy to read from a distance. Make sure to place them at main intersections near the sale location and at all turns leading to your yard. Don't forget to draw arrows to point drivers in the right direction. You can also take out an ad in your local paper.

Make sure to include the following information on your signs:

• Time
• Dates
• Address
• The words 'Garage Sale'

Pro-Tip: Keep the signs simple so potential buyers can quickly read them as they're driving by and easily get to you. Make sure to put the signs out at least the day before so avid yard sale-goers can plan to make a stop at your home, and so you don't have to rush around the morning of.

How to Advertise Your Garage Sale Online

Handmade signs in your neighborhood are effective, but people have the internet at their fingertips everywhere they go. Try taking out an ad on your local news sites and Craigslist to expand your reach. Because they're probably a little more expensive than a Craigslist ad, start ads on your local news sites one day before the sale and run them through the sale period. On Craigslist, you might be able to afford starting the ad a day or two earlier than that.

Pro-Tip: Draw people in by listing your big-ticket items and popular things like kids' toys and collectibles. Snap photos of in-demand items to attract more attention.

It's also a good idea to use social media accounts to let friends and family know you're hosting a sale. It's the easiest way to spread the word to everyone. If your community has a Facebook page, use it to let neighbors know they can stop by.

You might also try using the following yard sale sites:

5. Prepare Your Items for the Sale

Now for the most tedious part of all – setting it all up. Follow these tips to help you make some sales.

• Put like items together.
• Cover up anything visible that you're not selling.
• Try bundling some items, like sets of baby clothes.
• Clean and polish items to make them look presentable.
• Put toys on a blanket in the yard at kid's level to save table space.
• Display valuable items close to you so you can keep an eye on them.
• Set up a few days in advance if you'll be using your (now clean) garage.
• Hang clothing on a garment rack so it's easy for customers to look through what you have.
• Give yourself at least an hour before the start time to get everything set up, but know where you plan to put everything in advance.
• Use folding tables to display your merchandise. If you use a coffee table or other furniture from your home, people might think it's for sale.

Pro-Tip: Greet shoppers as they arrive so they know who's running the sale, but then leave them alone to shop so they don't feel pressured. Let the items sell themselves, but be available for questions.

Extra Garage Sale Tips and Tricks

Here are a few things to keep in mind to make sure your yard sale goes as well as can be planned.

Ask Your Friends and Family to Join Your Sale

Do your in-laws have some things they can sell? Is your sister also cleaning out her garage? Market this as a three-family yard sale. You'll likely attract more customers with the additional items up for grabs.

How To Have A Garage Sale

Limit Your Inventory

While it's good to have a lot of items to attract customers, having too much for sale can be overwhelming. Make sure you're only putting out what will sell.

Have a Checkout Station

Have a designated area where you can pack up anything customers purchase. Gather all the grocery bags you keep under your sink and any extra boxes you have lying around to package items for buyers. Use newspaper to wrap up anything fragile.

Have Multiple Payment Options

If you accept credit cards, you'll likely increase your sales. A Square reader makes it easy for a customer to make payments with a credit card. Advertise that you accept card payments – it's a big selling point.

Make sure you also have change handy for those who decide to go the more traditional route and pay cash. If a customer tries to buy something and you don't have change, you'll lose the sale.

Pro-Tip: Wear something with pockets. An apron or fanny pack will give you a place to hold cash (a much better alternative to risking leaving a cash box unattended), your Square reader, extra pricing stickers, a marker and anything else you may need.

After the Yard Sale

Chances are, you have some lingering clothes, books or sporting gear you didn't sell that you don't want to bring back into your home. Try selling them again online on eBay, OfferUp, Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, or donate them to Goodwill, Salvation Army or Habitat for Humanity.

'Everything that can be found in your garage is fair game for donations. (When it comes to TVs, flat screens only.) We do recommend that oil and gas be drained from any lawn equipment prior to donation. We encourage people with any questions to give their nearest location a call to double check.'

Darcie Goodman, Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland & East Central Ohio, Inc.

Get Ready for Your Garage Sale

It's time to start decluttering to build your inventory and prepare for your yard sale. If you find damaged items or need to clear out space before the sale begins, check out our disposal guides to find the best ways to get furniture, appliances and electronics out of your home.

Feeling inspired? Keep the momentum going and visit our organization page to keep your house orderly.

Summer may seem like a great time to host a garage sale at your home, but the coronavirus pandemic has made group gatherings a bit more challenging. 'Hosting a garage sale during a pandemic can be a great way to purge all the clutter and keep your mood high,' says Brandi Radulovich, host of Eternal Harvest Décor on Smart. Healthy. Green. Living. 'Luckily, it can be done easily with just a few small changes and proper safety practices in place.'

How do you go about hosting a garage sale in the midst of a global pandemic? For starters, Nancy Fire, former HGTV design director and owner of Design Works International, says new protocol needs to be mandated—and followed. 'No more than 25 people should be present in the same space at any time, including the person(s) hosting the sale,' she explains. 'Consider setting up the sale outdoors, instead of in a garage or closed in area, and encourage people not to touch items unless they are ready to buy.'

Looking for more tips on how to safely host a garage sale amid COVID-19? We asked a few experts to share their advice, and here's what they had to say.

Require masks.

If you don't make masks mandatory at your garage sale, our experts say you're doing it wrong. 'Face masks should be required, and if possible, disposable ones should be available at your garage sale,' Fire explains. To avoid any confusion about mandatory masks at your garage sale, Liz Jenkins, NAPO member and owner of a fresh space, suggests making it clear when advertising. 'When posting your sale on social media, share the info about your protocols and expectations nicely but firmly,' she says.

Have A Garage Sale Meaning

Create space for social distancing.

In order to ensure that guests remain six feet apart from each other at your garage sale, our experts recommend taking certain steps ahead of time. 'Develop a predetermined path through your sale space to help control crowds and maintain social distancing,' Radulovich says. 'Keep this path in mind when laying out your sale tables to ensure proper social distancing. It's also a good idea to have the path marked for people to follow, consider using sidewalk chalk, or chalk spray paint to accomplish this.'

Set up a sanitizing station.

Looking for a foolproof way to make sure that attendees stay safe at your garage sale? Jenkins suggests setting up a sanitizing station. 'Set up a sanitizer station with a large container of hand sanitizer, disposable gloves and masks (plus, a trash can for these when people leave if they don't want to take them),' she says. 'This is a great task for kids or teens to monitor, since people are less likely to get annoyed if it's a cute kid handing them a mask.'

Consider electronic payments.

Since dollar bills are frequently touched and can carry the coronavirus, Radulovich recommends making your garage sale cash-free if possible. 'Advertise that you will only be accepting electronic forms of payment such as Paypal or Venmo to minimize contact and germ-spreading,' she explains. 'If that's not an option for some shoppers, then masks and gloves are imperative, as well as disinfectant to wipe any exchanged money.'

Make it an online garage sale.

Have A Garage Sale Or Donate

According to our experts, there's only one way to ensure that your garage sale is 100-percent safe amid COVID-19. 'Consider moving your garage sale online,' Radulovich says. 'One could have a full contactless garage sale where items are pictured, paid for, and then left out on the porch for easy contactless pick-up. Several popular social media platforms have features built in to accomplish this easily.'