Garage sales should be fun and hassle-free, with your goal to make some good money and off-load your unwanted items – our garage sale checklist is your hassle-free, step-by-step organiser for achieving this.
2-3 weeks before the sale
- Start sorting through your household for unwanted items
have the mindset that almost anything will sell if it is a bargain
- Price your items
price items about 25-35% of what they cost new (clothes are exceptions - 5-15% here)
- Pick a date and time for your sale
weekends are the best; avoid public holidays or special events
- Write your ad
give the address and hours of the sale; mention items that are of particular interest
- Place your ad in local newspapers and using free garage sale adversting sites
put up flyers on local community boards; inform neighbours as they might want to have a joint sale
1 week before the sale
- Make sure items are cleaned and repaired
the better condition it is in, the higher price you will get
- Determine where signs will go in and around your neighbourhood is best; one in front of your house is smart too
- Make your signs
use arrows, print the address, start and end times, use big letters ( [http://www.egaragesales.com.au/signs.asp]free printable signs)
1-2 days before the sale
- Set up your sale area
use tables to lay items out, display clothing hung up; you want to create an area so people can browse and shop in comfort
- Get checkout area ready
have plenty of change; spare bags; calculator; newspaper (to wrap fragile items); paper & pens
Night before the sale
- Put up signs
- Make some refreshments and have a radio ready to play some soft background music
music will create a pleasant atmosphere for buyers to shop (always works for me!)
Morning of sale
- Make sure your house is locked up and fully secure
don't want to give buyers the opportunity to snoop around
- Open the gates/door to your sale
greet all customers with a freindly smile and "hello!"; be prepared to bargain with buyers
Right after sale
- Take signs down
not only is this courteous to the environment, but you might incur a fine or penalty if you don't
- Count your money and rejoice!
Copyright George Grubetic. An avid garage sale enthusiast, he is the webmaster of [http://www.egaragesales.com.au]http://www.egaragesales.com.au, a website offering tips, hints and resources on how to have successful garage sales, including free listings across Australia.
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Organize a Garage Sale that Sells More with Less Effort
Before you start organizing a garage sale, find out if you are allowed to hold one in your area. Many municipalities frown on these sales and you may have to pay a fee or only be allowed to set up in a certain area of town.
So before you start organizing a garage sale and laying out items, you had best check with your city or town government as well as your management company, should you happen to live in a managed development. If they approve of you having a sale of used items, then plow ahead. However, your town or community may require you to obtain a permit.
If you need to get a permit from the local government, or permission from your community, then it is question and answer time. Hopefully, you can call or email someone with questions. If you cannot, you will have to slog your way through the legalese on the forms and information sheets. However you do it, you must find answers to the following questions before you start organizing a garage sale:
1. How much does it cost?
2. How long will it take to get a permit?
3. For how many days is the permit good?
4. What are the rules for rain dates?
5. Are there any restrictions on how long you can remain open?
6. What are the restrictions on the size and number of signs?
7. Can you post flyers?
8. If so, where can you post flyers? Where can you not post flyers?
Once you know you have the approval, you can comfortably start pulling things out of storage and begin organizing a garage sale. These may seem like trivial things to take care of, but taking half and hour to make sure that you are OK sure beats having a by-law officer roll up to your garage sale and issue a $200 fine for holding a garage sale without a permit.
Get original [http://www.garage-sale-riches.com]garage sale tips and other excellent resources on how to hold a [http://www.garage-sale-riches.com]profitable garage sale with the least amount of work and hassle. Great selection of tips and advice will guide you to a very profitable and enjoyable garage sale experience.
IF YOU ARE NOT A MY POWER MALL MEMBER,
WATCH THIS FREE VIDEO NOW!!
So before you start organizing a garage sale and laying out items, you had best check with your city or town government as well as your management company, should you happen to live in a managed development. If they approve of you having a sale of used items, then plow ahead. However, your town or community may require you to obtain a permit.
If you need to get a permit from the local government, or permission from your community, then it is question and answer time. Hopefully, you can call or email someone with questions. If you cannot, you will have to slog your way through the legalese on the forms and information sheets. However you do it, you must find answers to the following questions before you start organizing a garage sale:
1. How much does it cost?
2. How long will it take to get a permit?
3. For how many days is the permit good?
4. What are the rules for rain dates?
5. Are there any restrictions on how long you can remain open?
6. What are the restrictions on the size and number of signs?
7. Can you post flyers?
8. If so, where can you post flyers? Where can you not post flyers?
Once you know you have the approval, you can comfortably start pulling things out of storage and begin organizing a garage sale. These may seem like trivial things to take care of, but taking half and hour to make sure that you are OK sure beats having a by-law officer roll up to your garage sale and issue a $200 fine for holding a garage sale without a permit.
Get original [http://www.garage-sale-riches.com]garage sale tips and other excellent resources on how to hold a [http://www.garage-sale-riches.com]profitable garage sale with the least amount of work and hassle. Great selection of tips and advice will guide you to a very profitable and enjoyable garage sale experience.
IF YOU ARE NOT A MY POWER MALL MEMBER,
WATCH THIS FREE VIDEO NOW!!
Tips for Conducting a Yard-Moving-Garage Sale
Yard sales are a great way to recycle your "stuff" and allow others to give it new life. Remember: one person's junk is another person's treasure! Here are some tips to maximize the impact of your yard/garage/moving sale!
Yard Sale Basics:
• Set up in your driveway, garage or on the lawn. Look for large flea markets in your area that allow families to set up their own tables.
• Take the time to clean your dusty/dirty items so they look desirable again.
• Use pre-priced tags available at stores. Price ALL items low, but fair and do this ahead of time (if in new condition, price at ¼ to 1/3 of what it would sell for new); price all large items; group small items on tables with one set price for all; reduce prices at noon.
• Use tables to display items (not the ground); set up by price/type of item.
• Clothing looks great and sells best on racks and grouped by categories.
• Sell food such as coffee, doughnuts, lemonade or cans of soda. During a multifamily yard sale, food brings people to your table.
Yard Sale Advertising:
• Post large, bright, waterproof signs at least four days ahead of time. List date and arrow pointing the direction.
• Send an advertisement to your local newspaper (Reading Eagle, 610-376-1527) and the Merchandiser at 610-670-2595.
• Start as early as possible for early birds. Early shoppers are more serious and willing to spend money.
• Encourage your neighbors to have a multifamily yard sale, especially in a development. Split the cost of the ad.
• List your location first. This is how many shoppers plan their day.
• Start as early as possible (early birds can come at 6:30!) and end at 1-2 p.m. One day is best.
• List attention grabbing items: unusual antiques, big items, use “bargain”.
• Provide directions if necessary.
Get the kids involved!
• Engage your children by having them selling their own items or staff the food table.
• It’s a fun learning experience and you can allow them to use the money for their own spending or donate the money to their favorite charity.
• Use the money for a family treat or buy an item the whole family can use such as a camera, DVD player, recreational equipment, or a family outing.
After it's over: Box up the remaining items, make a list of the items, estimate the market value, and take directly to a nonprofit agency. Use the receipt for your taxes. Don’t put your items back in the house!
By Vali G. Heist, Owner-The Clutter Crew http://www.thecluttercrew.com
“Organize your home…take control of your life!”
IF YOU ARE NOT A MY POWER MALL MEMBER,
WATCH THIS FREE VIDEO NOW!!
Yard Sale Basics:
• Set up in your driveway, garage or on the lawn. Look for large flea markets in your area that allow families to set up their own tables.
• Take the time to clean your dusty/dirty items so they look desirable again.
• Use pre-priced tags available at stores. Price ALL items low, but fair and do this ahead of time (if in new condition, price at ¼ to 1/3 of what it would sell for new); price all large items; group small items on tables with one set price for all; reduce prices at noon.
• Use tables to display items (not the ground); set up by price/type of item.
• Clothing looks great and sells best on racks and grouped by categories.
• Sell food such as coffee, doughnuts, lemonade or cans of soda. During a multifamily yard sale, food brings people to your table.
Yard Sale Advertising:
• Post large, bright, waterproof signs at least four days ahead of time. List date and arrow pointing the direction.
• Send an advertisement to your local newspaper (Reading Eagle, 610-376-1527) and the Merchandiser at 610-670-2595.
• Start as early as possible for early birds. Early shoppers are more serious and willing to spend money.
• Encourage your neighbors to have a multifamily yard sale, especially in a development. Split the cost of the ad.
• List your location first. This is how many shoppers plan their day.
• Start as early as possible (early birds can come at 6:30!) and end at 1-2 p.m. One day is best.
• List attention grabbing items: unusual antiques, big items, use “bargain”.
• Provide directions if necessary.
Get the kids involved!
• Engage your children by having them selling their own items or staff the food table.
• It’s a fun learning experience and you can allow them to use the money for their own spending or donate the money to their favorite charity.
• Use the money for a family treat or buy an item the whole family can use such as a camera, DVD player, recreational equipment, or a family outing.
After it's over: Box up the remaining items, make a list of the items, estimate the market value, and take directly to a nonprofit agency. Use the receipt for your taxes. Don’t put your items back in the house!
By Vali G. Heist, Owner-The Clutter Crew http://www.thecluttercrew.com
“Organize your home…take control of your life!”
IF YOU ARE NOT A MY POWER MALL MEMBER,
WATCH THIS FREE VIDEO NOW!!
Garage Sale Pricing - 5 Secrets To A Successful Garage Sale
So, you've been going through your basement or garage and can't believe how much stuff you have just sitting around. That can mean only one thing's it's time for a garage sale!
Today, garage and yard sales are more popular than ever, but the secret to your success will be in garage sale pricing.
How many times have you been to a garage sale and just shook your head at some of the ridiculous prices you've seen for some items? Too many I'm sure! Pricing is why you can find several different yard sales going on in the same neighborhood, but one house may not sell much of anything, while another can't keep up with the cash drawer.
How to set garage sale pricing.
1. What is your purpose in having the garage sale?
If you simply want to clear out the basement or get rid of old clothes you no longer wear, then price the items accordingly.
Sell the clothes for $.50 or $1.00 if they are in good shape. Toys can go for $.50 and if a family is buying several items, throw in a couple for free.
2. Garage sale pricing for valuables
When selling big ticket items you'll need to consider if the value is a personal judgment or whether it is monetary. In other words, take your personal connection to the item out of your pricing strategy.
3. Visit other garage sales
If you are stuck on what you think prices should be, visit some other sales and observe their prices and whether things are selling or not. You can learn a lot from just watching what is going on around you.
4. Put it on eBay
You may have some items which would be better to list online at eBay than it would be to put them in a yard sale. Higher ticket items that are over $250 - $500 are a good example.
Most people are buying from a garage sale to find useful items at cheap prices. They usually don't spend over $100, although there are certainly exceptions.
5. Negotiate
This is an important tip. Leave your items that are a little more costly some room for negotiation.
Many folks love to haggle and bargain down the price. It makes them feel great and they buy every time. Use this to your advantage by leaving some extra room in the price. So, you have a $20 price and someone offers $14. They don't know it, but $15 is what you really wanted anyway. It's a win-win situation.
Take your time and carefully consider your garage sale pricing strategy. It will make all the difference in having a successful sale.
By the way, you can learn more about [http://www.theinfodrawer.com/Garage_Sale_Pricing.html]Garage Sale Pricing as well as much more information on garage sales at http://www.TheInfoDrawer.com
IF YOU ARE NOT A MY POWER MALL MEMBER,
WATCH THIS FREE VIDEO NOW!!
Today, garage and yard sales are more popular than ever, but the secret to your success will be in garage sale pricing.
How many times have you been to a garage sale and just shook your head at some of the ridiculous prices you've seen for some items? Too many I'm sure! Pricing is why you can find several different yard sales going on in the same neighborhood, but one house may not sell much of anything, while another can't keep up with the cash drawer.
How to set garage sale pricing.
1. What is your purpose in having the garage sale?
If you simply want to clear out the basement or get rid of old clothes you no longer wear, then price the items accordingly.
Sell the clothes for $.50 or $1.00 if they are in good shape. Toys can go for $.50 and if a family is buying several items, throw in a couple for free.
2. Garage sale pricing for valuables
When selling big ticket items you'll need to consider if the value is a personal judgment or whether it is monetary. In other words, take your personal connection to the item out of your pricing strategy.
3. Visit other garage sales
If you are stuck on what you think prices should be, visit some other sales and observe their prices and whether things are selling or not. You can learn a lot from just watching what is going on around you.
4. Put it on eBay
You may have some items which would be better to list online at eBay than it would be to put them in a yard sale. Higher ticket items that are over $250 - $500 are a good example.
Most people are buying from a garage sale to find useful items at cheap prices. They usually don't spend over $100, although there are certainly exceptions.
5. Negotiate
This is an important tip. Leave your items that are a little more costly some room for negotiation.
Many folks love to haggle and bargain down the price. It makes them feel great and they buy every time. Use this to your advantage by leaving some extra room in the price. So, you have a $20 price and someone offers $14. They don't know it, but $15 is what you really wanted anyway. It's a win-win situation.
Take your time and carefully consider your garage sale pricing strategy. It will make all the difference in having a successful sale.
By the way, you can learn more about [http://www.theinfodrawer.com/Garage_Sale_Pricing.html]Garage Sale Pricing as well as much more information on garage sales at http://www.TheInfoDrawer.com
IF YOU ARE NOT A MY POWER MALL MEMBER,
WATCH THIS FREE VIDEO NOW!!
Make Money - Host A Garage Sale
Summer is the time to take off the layers of clothing under which you've been hiding and show your sexy self. If you window-shop, you'll find lots of colorful sandals and swinging skirts beckoning your way. If a cash shortfall and a cluttered closet are stopping you from buying cute summer-wear, it's time to host a garage sale. You can de-clutter and make money by organizing a successful garage sale.
If you are going to host a successful garage sale, you need to remember 10 tricks of the trade:
o Talk to your neighbors!
Ask your neighbors whether they would be interested in organizing a garage sale on the same date as your garage sale. Ideally, organize a community-wide garage sale. More garage sales in your area means that you will have more visitors, which will result in you selling more of your inventory faster, and for more money.
o Determine whether there are any legal requirements.
For example, in many municipalities, you need a license to host a garage sale. This can cost money, but you can split the cost with any friends who want to sell their items, at your garage sale. Alternatively, if you host a community-wide garage sale, the community association may itself pay this cost.
o Gather together the merchandise that you wish to sell.
Ask family, friends co-workers and basically any person you can think of, whether they wish to sell any items at your garage sale. Shoppers want a variety of merchandise, so try and stock up! One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. (Personally, I thought nobody would want my scratched, burnt frying pans, but I succeeded in selling them at my recent garage sale- the delighted buyer informed me that the cast iron frying pans would be perfect for camping). Notwithstanding the foregoing, as a general rule, you should be choosy. Don’t take broken toys from your friends or toys that are missing the “essential parts”, likewise, don’t accept torn or stained clothing, defective house ware and so on.
o Advertise your garage sale.
Place an ad in your local community newspaper. Make sure your ad falls into the property advertising section. In addition, on the day before your garage sale, place signs along the closest roadway, and draw an arrow to point traffic in the proper direction to your home.
o Give yourself time to organize.
Garage sale shoppers start early: if you advertise that your garage sale starts at 9:30 a.m., you better plan on opening your garage, ready-to-go by 9 a.m. because you will have shoppers dropping by your house to peruse your goodies by 8:45 a.m. Therefore, start organizing for your garage sale at least 3 days previous and have your garage completely organized the evening preceding the sale. In the morning, pull your tables out onto the driveway, and you can begin.
o Display your prices.
Select prices for different groups of merchandise and display the prices on easy-to-see price stickers. You can have fun with bartering the final price, but you do need a starting point for the negotiations. Make sure that your starting price is realistic: not ridiculously high, but not too low, either, because you want to make allowance for reduction in price due to the bartering process. Also, make “buying in bulk” more attractive by offering a volume discount (for example, 1 book is $1.00 but 3 books is $2.50).
o Presentation is key.
Make sure that your merchandise is organized in an attractive and logical fashion. It can make a big difference. (I was trying to sell pants in a garage sale: nobody looked at them. I then moved the pants out of my dusty garage and placed the pants on an attractive table on my driveway. Within ½ hour, the pants were sold.)
o Create a busy appearance.
Invite family and friends to visit you during the course of the day. It will make your day run faster, and more importantly, it will make your garage sale more attractive to prospective shoppers.
o Involve your children.
You might think that you have to ship off your children to spend the day with a friend, because they will be bored. You might be surprised… assuming the children are of an age where they do not require constant supervision, gain their interest by involving them in appropriate aspects of the garage sale. For example, have your children place the stickers on the merchandise, or have them place the change into the change-purchase at the back of the garage.
o Lastly, keep refreshments handy.
In particular, keep fresh, cool water nearby and appropriate snacks to keep your energy and spirits high.
Terri Mann is a divorce lawyer and is the founder of http://www.womandivorcesupport.com
IF YOU ARE NOT A MY POWER MALL MEMBER,
WATCH THIS FREE VIDEO NOW!!
If you are going to host a successful garage sale, you need to remember 10 tricks of the trade:
o Talk to your neighbors!
Ask your neighbors whether they would be interested in organizing a garage sale on the same date as your garage sale. Ideally, organize a community-wide garage sale. More garage sales in your area means that you will have more visitors, which will result in you selling more of your inventory faster, and for more money.
o Determine whether there are any legal requirements.
For example, in many municipalities, you need a license to host a garage sale. This can cost money, but you can split the cost with any friends who want to sell their items, at your garage sale. Alternatively, if you host a community-wide garage sale, the community association may itself pay this cost.
o Gather together the merchandise that you wish to sell.
Ask family, friends co-workers and basically any person you can think of, whether they wish to sell any items at your garage sale. Shoppers want a variety of merchandise, so try and stock up! One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. (Personally, I thought nobody would want my scratched, burnt frying pans, but I succeeded in selling them at my recent garage sale- the delighted buyer informed me that the cast iron frying pans would be perfect for camping). Notwithstanding the foregoing, as a general rule, you should be choosy. Don’t take broken toys from your friends or toys that are missing the “essential parts”, likewise, don’t accept torn or stained clothing, defective house ware and so on.
o Advertise your garage sale.
Place an ad in your local community newspaper. Make sure your ad falls into the property advertising section. In addition, on the day before your garage sale, place signs along the closest roadway, and draw an arrow to point traffic in the proper direction to your home.
o Give yourself time to organize.
Garage sale shoppers start early: if you advertise that your garage sale starts at 9:30 a.m., you better plan on opening your garage, ready-to-go by 9 a.m. because you will have shoppers dropping by your house to peruse your goodies by 8:45 a.m. Therefore, start organizing for your garage sale at least 3 days previous and have your garage completely organized the evening preceding the sale. In the morning, pull your tables out onto the driveway, and you can begin.
o Display your prices.
Select prices for different groups of merchandise and display the prices on easy-to-see price stickers. You can have fun with bartering the final price, but you do need a starting point for the negotiations. Make sure that your starting price is realistic: not ridiculously high, but not too low, either, because you want to make allowance for reduction in price due to the bartering process. Also, make “buying in bulk” more attractive by offering a volume discount (for example, 1 book is $1.00 but 3 books is $2.50).
o Presentation is key.
Make sure that your merchandise is organized in an attractive and logical fashion. It can make a big difference. (I was trying to sell pants in a garage sale: nobody looked at them. I then moved the pants out of my dusty garage and placed the pants on an attractive table on my driveway. Within ½ hour, the pants were sold.)
o Create a busy appearance.
Invite family and friends to visit you during the course of the day. It will make your day run faster, and more importantly, it will make your garage sale more attractive to prospective shoppers.
o Involve your children.
You might think that you have to ship off your children to spend the day with a friend, because they will be bored. You might be surprised… assuming the children are of an age where they do not require constant supervision, gain their interest by involving them in appropriate aspects of the garage sale. For example, have your children place the stickers on the merchandise, or have them place the change into the change-purchase at the back of the garage.
o Lastly, keep refreshments handy.
In particular, keep fresh, cool water nearby and appropriate snacks to keep your energy and spirits high.
Terri Mann is a divorce lawyer and is the founder of http://www.womandivorcesupport.com
IF YOU ARE NOT A MY POWER MALL MEMBER,
WATCH THIS FREE VIDEO NOW!!
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clutter,
de-clutter,
divorce,
family,
garage sale,
memory,
money,
organize,
sale,
separation,
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