Tips for Garage Sales

The following tips are all aimed at helping you to plan and hold a successful garage sale before moving to a new location. Holding a garage sale has many benefits, but only if you can positively answer some or all of the following questions:

• Is there enough free time in your schedule so that you can organize the garage sale?
• Do you know anybody who can help you the day of the garage sale?
• Do you have any possessions worth selling?
• Is there a market for what you are going to be selling?
• Is your home in a good location so that the garage sale is a success?

A garage sale can be a rewarding experience, especially in regards to your finances, but in order for it to be something positive you are best off following New City Moving's tips. If done correctly, a garage sale will not just put some extra money in your pocket, but also lower the total cost of shipping your possessions to your new place since you will be reducing the number of items having to be transported.

Garage Sale Tips - What to do First

• Ask whether or not your homeowner's association has any rules regarding garage sale. There are some communities that don't allow you to have any kind of sale.
• Inquire at your local municipal center or village and find out if you first need a permit to have a garage sale.
• Check if your homeowner coverage includes the coverage for liability of any injuries a buyer might sustain when on your property during a garage sale.
• Take a block sale into consideration and ask your neighbors if they too want to have a garage sale, because this is a great way to motivate one another, share ideas and to increase the potential turnout.
• Ask if you are allowed to hang up signs, because not all cities and towns allow you to do so.
• Find out if your community has a website so that you can make a posting about your sale or ideas.
• Find people to help you on the day of the garage sale, because conducting one without help is hard to do.
• Save your shopping bags, boxes and plastic grocery bags.

Garage Sale Tips - Getting Organized

You should first get organized and determine what should be sold at the garage sale.

Basically, you should feel free to sell anything that you haven't used in the last five years since you probably are not going to need it in the future and will be able to live without it.

• Make a list containing everything that you want to sell at the garage sale and add any items that you no longer use to that list.
• Keep in mind that the cost of shipping some large items is more expensive than just selling it for a lower amount. This is especially true if that item will not be of any use in the new home.

There are some items which are not needed in all parts of the country, such as snow blowers. However, if you will still need it at your new home then keep in mind that there are shipping guidelines for such items and they need to be followed. For example, the gas can used to refill a snow blower can't be transported and therefore you will have to purchase a new one once you reach your new home. Determine if these items are worth the trouble or if it is better to just sell it. Making some money is always better if you won't need it where you are going and then you can use that money to purchase something you will need!

Garage Sale Tips - What Should be Sold

The following list is of items that are great to sell at a garage sale before moving. Even if something is no longer useful to you, it may still be a treasure for someone else and that is a point to keep in mind. Also, remember to use common sense when determining what to sell. Only sell items that are still in decent shape and which are most likely useful. A relatively low price will only facilitate sales.

• Large and small appliances
• All baby items, like furniture, toys and equipment. Baby items have to be working properly and if you doubt whether or not something is still good, then it is better to get rid of it than to sell an item that is a potential risk.
• Toys, bicycles and games
• Audio and visual equipment
• Photography equipment
• Books
• Furniture
• Rugs and carpets
• Gardening tools
• Outdoor and patio furniture
• Music instruments
• Boating and fishing equipment
• Sports and exercising equipment
• Jars and bottles
• Kitchen items
• Lamps, pictures and mirrors
• CDs, videos and records
• Plants. These can be sold since the majority of professional moving companies are not willing to transport plants in your shipment. In fact, some states don't allow plants to be brought into them. Also, due to the extreme temperatures in the moving trailer many plants are irreparably damaged and will die within the first few weeks after arriving at the new home.

The plants you want to sell should be removed from good pots and re-planted into cheap, plastic pots. If these don't sell, you can always give them away to people who will take them. The proceeds from the garage sale can be used towards the purchase of new plants and you can then invest in plants that are native to the area where your new home is located. Since you have the unique chance of starting over, it is a great time to experiment and try something new.

Garage Sale Tips - Setting Prices

When deciding upon prices for items always remember that the prices have to reflect the worth of the items being sold and not on what they are worth to you personally. In order to price garage sale items it is best to have someone else come and help, such as a friend or family member, because they are not going to be emotionally attached to anything.

• Roughly 20% of the original purchase price should be charged. As long as the item is in good condition and works fine, then this is a fair price for a garage sale.
• Make sure to leave some room in regards to price for bargaining the sales with potential customers.
• Used books and clothing normally sell for lower prices.
• If an item doesn't work, always inform the buyer of that and ensure that they understand the price agreed upon is "as is".
• Each item needs to be tagged and a list of everything should be recorded on a sheet. This will help you to keep track of what is sold, as well as help you to give a price in case a tag falls off.
• A good tactic is to sell items as lots or in bundles. This can be done by putting in one or two good items with a couple of not-so-good items, and then sell them together.
• Be honest about the items to be sold. There is always good and bad, which is perfectly fine.

Drawing the Buyers

A garage sale should be seen like any other business and thus all merchandise needs to be displayed in such a way that it is perceived as appealing by potential customers. How you present the items for sale is of great importance, and just like you were most likely at some time or other disappointed in a store because of the how it looked, keep in mind that people coming to your garage sale will feel the same.

• All clothing should be washed and ironed.
• Hang or fold clothing items.
• Similar items should be placed together on a table or a shelf.
• Signs should be used so that potential buyers are directed to the various sections of the garage sale.
• Everything being sold should be organized like it is in familiar stores.
• Silver and brass should be polished prior to the garage sale.
• All mirrors and glasses being sold should be cleaned.
• In general, if you want to sell it you have to ensure that it looks appealing in order for it to have the best chances of selling.
• If you decide to have a joint sale, then your items being sold should have your color tag on them. However, like items from all parties selling things should be kept together.

Aggressive and Clever Advertising

• Place ads in local newspapers.
• Distribute announcements of the upcoming garage sale.
• Hang signs on billboards at any local stores that have them.
• Make use of flags, banners and balloons so that people driving by will be able to see them. However, for this to work you have to make sure that they are up high enough for others to see.
• Take advantage of the internet, because this is the fastest and least expensive way to reach the most people.
• A map of where your home is located should be included on any street signs so that people wanting to go to your garage sale will easily find it.

Garage Sale Tips - Safety

Honest buyers looking for a bargain attend garage sales, but so do some dishonest people. That should be taken into consideration on the day the garage sale takes place and the following tips for ensuring safety should be kept in mind.

• At least two people should be present at the garage sale and preferably in the area where items are being sold.
• All entrances to your home should be locked.
• If it is possible, all items being sold should be placed out of the garage and the door to the garage closed. This way people don't have access to the inside of the house.
• You will need change money and that should be kept on your person at all times. Ideal for this purpose is a fanny pack or a money belt.

Mission Complete!

After your successful garage sale is over with, thanks to the tips from New City Moving, you have to decide what to do with whatever was not sold. You should consider donating them to charities or the Salvation Army if you really don't need or want them.