Garage Sale Search

Seller Tips
  1. Be sure you have a big enough variety to have a garage sale.
  2. Consider having a neighborhood or multi-family garage sale to draw more people.
  3. If having a neighborhood or multi-family garage sale, be sure to clearly label items by owner.
  4. Avoid holiday weekends unless your area will receive a lot of travelers.
  5. Try to schedule your garage sale around paydays of nearby employers.
  6. Check local ordinances to see if you'll need a permit.
  7. Make sure your selling area is clean and well lit.
  8. Clean all of your items beforehand.
  9. If having a yard sale, be sure your lawn is mowed and doesn't have any holes or other hazards.
  10. Plan out the parking situation ahead of time.
  11. Make sure your ad says whether or not you'll accept early birds, but be prepared for them regardless.
  12. Make sure your signs have big, easy to read letters and clearly lead the way.
  13. Remove your signs promptly once your garage sale is over, unless you want people to keep coming by.
  14. Mention big or popular items in your ads.
  15. If you have a lot of clothing, specify the sizes in your ads.
  16. Double check your ads for accuracy.
  17. Advertise in the paper, on the web, and at grocery stores, community centers, Laundromats, and churches.
  18. Try not to put signs on utility poles, they pose a hazard to workers and it is illegal in most places.
  19. Make your signs sturdy and drive by afterwards to make sure they are readable.
  20. Check with your grown children before selling their old things.
  21. Organize your displays in a neat manner and try to set up a traffic pattern like a store, leaving plenty of walking space.
  22. Put good items near the road to help draw people in.
  23. Put men's items near the road (tools, lawn equipment, etc.) to help draw husbands in.
  24. Keep plenty of change on hand with lots of small bills.
  25. Dont't accept checks and post a sign stating so.
  26. If you're selling electrical items, make sure there is an outlet nearby to prove it works.
  27. Don't hover or be pushy. Let your shoppers have some space but be accessible if they have questions.
  28. Consider selling refreshments (coffee or hot chocolate in the winter and lemonade in the summer). Sell some snacks too!
  29. If you have pets, put them in the house or the backyard.
  30. Decide ahead of time what to do with items that don't sell. If donating, keep in mind that a lower price is still a sale.
  31. Have a phone handy for emergencies but don't chat on it the whole time. Be ready to answer questions from your shoppers.
  32. Post “off limits” signs where needed and don't let anyone in your house, not even to use the bathroom.
  33. Sit where you can see everything and everyone.
  34. If you know something has been recalled, don't sell it.
  35. Avoid selling old car seats or cribs since they generally won't be up to today's standards.
  36. Put everything you don't want in the sale. You never know what someone else might want.
  37. Recruit some help ahead of time if you think you'll need it.
  38. Have the following items handy: calculator, bags, receipt book, boxes, and old newspapers for wrapping breakables.
  39. Make sure items which aren't for sale are out of sight.
  40. Sell homemade items if you make things.
  41. Sell produce if you have a garden.
  42. Keep breakables out of reach of children.
  43. If you're selling clothing, hang it up, don't put it in piles.
  44. If you're selling clothing, wash everything beforehand to make them seem newer.
  45. Have some “easy-listening” music playing.
  46. Greet people politely but don't bother them.
  47. Let your kids sell the refreshments if they want to help.
  48. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing.
  49. Put items for adults high and items for kids low to accommodate your customer.
  50. Don't “bad-mouth” items you are trying to sell.
  51. Have a trash can available for shoppers' cans and wrappers.
  52. Check containers and pockets in clothing for personal things like receipts, pictures, or money.
  53. Decide if hangers will go with the clothes and if so, don't use good hangers.
  54. For movies, cd's, etc. arrange the titles to be readable.
  55. Crowds attract crowds so keep people around as long as you can.
  56. Don't dress or smell like a slob.
  57. Generally price items ¼ to ½ off what they would cost new.
  58. Keep prices simple (e.g. nothing for $1.39).
  59. Price every item legibly with stickers. Don't write the price directly on an item.
  60. Consider “fill a bag for a buck” or “the box and everything in it for $5”.
  61. For fairly new items, have an ad with the retail cost of that item.
  62. Be prepared to haggle and remember that you're trying to get rid of stuff that you don't want.
  63. Have an "All Sales are Final" notice.
  64. It is preferable to keep your money on you (perhaps with an ever-so-fashionable fanny pack), but if you use a cash box, keep it safe and secure.
  65. While making change, keep the money in plain view to ensure you're making change for the correct type of bill.
  66. Label damaged items "AS IS".
  67. Don't hold items without a deposit.
  68. If someone offers you a price lower than you're willing to go, offer to take their name and number and tell them you'll call them if it doesn't sell.
Buyer Tips
  1. Plan your route before you leave and print a map.
  2. Make a list if there are specific things you are looking for.
  3. Wear comfortable shoes, but no sandals or flip-flops unless you want wet feet from the dew.
  4. Bring snacks and something to drink if you plan on being out all day.
  5. Make sure you bring lots of small bills and maybe even some coins.
  6. Go early for the best items and late for the best deals.
  7. If a garage sale ad specifically says "NO EARLY BIRDS" then don't be an early bird.
  8. Thoroughly inspect items for damage before you buy them.
  9. Haggle, haggle, haggle... Don't be afraid to negotiate.
  10. If you want to haggle, make sure you drive the Gremlin and not the Lexus.
  11. Keep your big bills and small bills in separate places.
  12. If you don't see what you are looking for, ask if they have it.
  13. Be polite and courteous.
  14. Don't buy it just because it's a deal (unless you're going to sell it on eBay).
  15. Be sure you've seen everything there is to see at a garage sale before moving on.
  16. When faced with a "pack a bag for a buck" type of situation, be sure to place items neatly in the bag so you can fit more.
  17. Remove stickers as soon as you leave the sale because the longer they stay on, the harder they are to get off.
  18. Check cd and dvd cases to make sure the correct item is inside. Also check for scratches.
  19. Don't buy things that could be safety hazards (e.g. old car seats and cribs).
  20. Bring an antique buyer's guide if you really want to get serious about things.
  21. Have fun!
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