Tips on Having a Garage Sale

• Allow plenty of time-three or four weeks-to prepare for the sale.
• Choose a date that will not conflict with holidays.
• Weekends are more convenient for more people than weekdays.
• Your sale is likely to attract more people if you join together with neighbours in an effort to have more merchandise. Some homeowners' groups are sponsoring neighbourhood sales that are proving popular!
• Practical household goods are popular items; adult clothing has less appeal.
• Merchandise your items attractively in neat, clean surroundings.
• Cluster like items together; place the more desirable items in the back of the garage so browsers are urged to look at other merchandise on their way to the most popular items.
• All items should be clean, polished, and in good repair.
• Locate your appliance table near an outlet so customers can try before they buy!
• Be sure that there is adequate parking space and a place to load large items.
• Have plenty of bags and boxes for packing and newspapers for wrapping glass items.
• Place a classified ad in the local paper. Include 3-4 items for sale, directions, and other details.
• Take advantage of free publicity on bulletin boards in grocery stores and other public places.
• Provide directional signs to your property.
• If your home is listed for sale, have flyers about your home available for people to take.
• Visit other sales to form an idea on how to price things. Be prepared to bargain down your prices.
• Post a notice that all sales are final and payment must be cash.
• Have plenty of change in a cash box that is kept in a protected spot. Keep a record of sales, especially when there are several sellers. One recording method that is simple and efficient is to use small white stickers for prices. When an item is purchased, remove the sticker and place it next to the name of the seller on a piece of paper.
• On a hot day, have ice water or lemonade available so people will stay longer, and on cold days serve hot chocolate.
• Tell your REALTOR® about some of the major items in your sale. She/he may have a client looking for just that thing! One person's trash is another's treasure!