Top 10 Tips for Having a Successful Garage Sale:

Now that summer is in full swing, it means garage sale season is too. Having a garage sale is a great way to unload unwanted items, but they are typically a lot of work. That is why the preparation for a successful garage sale is just as important as the stuff you plan to sell.  Here are our top ten tips for hosting a successful and lucrative garage sale.

1. Don’t wait until the last minute! It is best to gather your belongings and to organize them over the course of a few weeks. 
2. It is important to know the value of what you have. There is nothing worse than selling something for 25 cents only to find out it was worth $100. The best way to do this is when you are sorting items, have your iPad handy so you can quickly look up items to reference prices. Note: Look for stamps on items that say things like sterling silver, and for complete sets.
3. Items that are broken or in poor condition don’t really belong in the garage sale.  If they are not completely trashed, put them in a donate box and set aside. These items can be donated with other items that do not sell at the end of the sale.
4. Items that are of value should be placed close to the register for safe keeping. Items that have emotional value belong in a keepsake box.
5. Market your garage sale on Craigslist at least 3 days prior to the event.  Also be sure to include pictures of key items to entice potential buyers. It might be advantageous of you to ask your neighbors if they are interested in doing a garage sale too and try to piggy-back one on the other or consider hosting a community sale instead.
6. Schedule your garage sale for the early hours of the day from 8 am to 3 pm.  Understand however that early birds and serious garage salers may show up early!
7. Be flexible on the price.  Remembering that your option to not selling will be to continue storing items or to donate them at the end.  Some cash is usually better than no cash in those situations unless you believe the items are of value and will eventually sell online.  
8. Enlist helpers.  The manual labor involved with the set up and breakdown will go much faster and smoother if you have a team working with you.  
9. Set items out and organized them on tables, so people can browse through them more easily.  If you have to, group like items that will be price the same like toys and sets of dishes in boxes or spread them out on blankets.
10. Have a backup plan for bad weather. In communities where garage sales are huge, the sale will usually go on rain or shine. This might involve cleaning out part of the garage so items can be moved indoors quickly if needed.