First I need to say that I absolutely love to visit garage sales. Last November when I held a neighborhood garage sale for PEPPERWOOD Village and Kaleidoscope Townhomes, not only did everyone have a blast, but they all made some extra money. I know we all have “stuff” in our homes that we do not use, have not used for a very long time. So it is my belief that we need to get rid of the clutter and make some money.

This is April, a good time of year to have a garage sale or at least PLAN to have one. To get rid of your clutter, you need to have Three Boxes:

Families displayed their wares as customers happily bought!

2.  A box which you will donate

3.  A box which will be for SALE

Many garage-sellers are entering the market for the first time or re-entering it as a way to raise cash, and experienced shoppers know this because the quality of the goods has gone down.

People hold on to possessions longer in a recession, but now they’re trying to sell what they might have thrown away or donated to charity in the past.

If you are selling, plan to sort the things you will be selling, for example, books, clothes, household goods,
and so on.

Pricing

You should have a  pricing guide which helps sellers price their items and buyers with their bargaining power. Price low. That should be the goal if you want to get rid of stuff. For pricing guidelines, visit thrift stores, not eBay.

-Heed the signs. Keep signs on every other block and every corner where a turn is required in the city (a half-mile apart along longer stretches in the suburbs). Make sure the address and sale dates are large and easily readable. Add balloons to attract the eye.

A drive-by can tell shoppers a lot about garage sales, especially if they are looking to hit several in one day.

-Sell with others. Doing it alone is too much work.

-Sell to early birds, but charge extra, say a $10 “tax” for a purchase. Keep it short. Make the sale one or two, but not three, days.

-Promote yourself. Advertise as much as you can in the newspaper and on Craigslist, Facebook and bulletin boards.

-Cut prices. Advertise that on the last day or last afternoon, everything is half-price.

-Offer details. Be specific about sale items in an ad, such as a leaf blower, musical instruments or furniture.

-Be friendly. Greet everyone who comes to the sale

-Group small items and sell everything for $1 or more to eliminate coins.

-Plan ahead. Take the spring and summer to collect, price and box items to sell in the fall.
-Choose the best hours- 8 a.m. to noon on Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
-Donate leftovers. Call ahead to have charities pick up what’s unsold.

What to know if you’re buying
-Don’t bring your purse. Leave it in the trunk. Keep quarters, ones and fives in a pants pocket or jacket.
-Cruise around. Check good neighborhoods for better quality goods, but haggle if prices are too high.
-Shop later. Browse in the late afternoon or on the last day for the best bargains. Any offer is fair near closing time.

-Play it safe. Skip cribs, mattresses, car seats and hockey helmets due to possible safety concerns.
-Set limits. If you’re concerned about overbuying, commit to limits on spending or the number of items.
-Leave your card. Ask to be called if an item remains unsold and the seller is willing to accept your price.

When selling, if it’s late in the afternoon and you still have alot of nice quality goods left over, then it is overpriced.  On the other hand, if there is only one  table set up, people are going to pass on it and probably won’t buy. Buyers will most likely bargain lowest at the end of the day.

REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING:

Remove the signs when the sale is over.

Big items in the driveway are going to draw people in.

Have a box of toys around so children can play while parents shop.

Have Clean merchandise.

Have electronics in the back of the sale and have them up and running so buyers know they work.

Never ever put masking tape on wood furniture. When masking tape comes off the wood, the glue won’t.

For a very VISIBLE GARAGE SALE,  call ME! I have  a few HUGE Banners and garage sale signs. My assisants and I KNOW how to attract buyers to your homes . I will advertise the garage sale for one week in both the Orange County Register and The Pennysaver. We will also distribute fliers in different surrounding neighborhoods.

Now that you know what my plan of action is, LET’S DO IT! I will supply all signs and advertising. Just bring your household goods and let’s make some MONEY and un-clutter your homes!!!!