Garage Sale Tips & Tricks!

HERE ARE SOME TIPS AND TRICKS THAT WILL HELP YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR GARAGE SALE EXPERIENCE!

How to Price & Sell?

–         Price about 10% of the original value of the item (unless new, then you can double it)

–         Be careful when using masking tape or labels for prices on cloths and plastics. The sun can melt the adhesive right on your stuff (and that’s hard to get off).

–         You can use a large poster to list prices of your items placed near the cashier area.

–         Put a lot of thought into what your minimum price will be because most will want to bargain! Watch out for that familiar phrase “Will you take $ for this and this?”

–         Be sure to have a few tables set up with similar items together.

–         First-timers must be careful when pricing hand-me-downs that might have a high value! Older items are targeted by collectors that know what they are doing!

–         DO NOT KEEP A CASH BOX IN FULL SIGHT. A good alternative is a fanny pack with the following items:

• Calculator
• Change ($50 in ones, fives & quarters!)
• Small pad & pen to keep track of price quotes.

–         Put all large bills (twenties and above) in a secured area in your home.

How to Organize Your Sale…

–         Divide men/women/children/family/infant/etc… into their own areas.

–         Cloths sell at the best prices when washed & hung or folded neatly.

–         Keep good toys and electronics close to the check out table and off the ground.

–         Keep a good inventory of your hats, shoes, purses etc…

–         Collect as many plastic grocery bags as you can and give every buyer their items in it. This will help you identify if someone is walking out with something they did not purchase.

–         Keep in mind what your ultimate goal is… if you are going to donate the remaining items to Goodwill after the sale then make sure to do a HUGE price drop by noon or 1pm. This will attract a lot of buyers to buy in bulk. You can also group things together for one low price.

Remember… Be Honest!

–         Don’t sell any compromised items without disclosing their conditions to the buyer:

• Booby-trapped
• Damaged
• Broken beyond repair
• Rotten
• Contaminated, etc…

–         Be honest with yourself. If things are not selling then something must be wrong with them or they may be priced to high. Feel free to change prices regularly, or things will go back into your garage!

Some last minute Tips…

–         Never talk about how much you have made until the end of the sale.

–         Never lie about something… if you don’t know then just say so.

–         Take few breaks to stay sane! Empty out you large bills at this point in your home.

–         Make a sign for the last hour of the sale that says “You Price it, I will sell it!” This will help sell your remaining items that were not selling so you don’t have to take them to Goodwill or store them!

–         Play pleasant music

–         Keep your driveway clean

–         Stay alert

–         Watch the weather!

–         Hang cloths from your garage door.

–         Don’t forget to say “THANK YOU”!

Unfortunately there are many buyers out there that we call “Dealers in Disguise”! You would hope that everyone was honest, but in reality they might be part of the no so honest “Garage Sale Scammers Club”. Their trick is to keep you engaged with questions while others steal what is so righteously yours! Another scam is to try and confuse you with the “You gave me the wrong change” trick. You can stop that buy keeping their money in one hand while you give them back their change in another.

We wish you the best of luck and prosperity at your Community Garage Sale!