Making the Most of Your Garage Sale

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After weeks of careful preparation, it is now garage sale day. Here are 10 tips to get the most out of your sale.

1. Be Friendly

People attending your garage sale may most likely not know you. They are entering your home turf, so to speak, and they should receive the same kind of warm welcome as any invited guest. A simple “hello” is a great ice breaker and can make you some money as a result.

2. Be Flexible

So the little old lady wants your $2.50 handbag for $1.00, A child only has .25 for a .50 toy and a possible “dealer” would like your antique silver for the price of a coffee. What do you do?  You can counter the dealer’s offer to what you feel you can live with, but for the other cases, why quibble over a few pennies? Always think, do I want the quarter or would I rather take the clutter back into my home?

3. Be Helpful

Let shoppers know that you are willing to help them to their car with heavy or bulky items. Give advice on parking, other garage sales you know about in the area and directions it required. Offer bags for items sold and wrap fragile items to avoid damage.

4. Have Change

Have sufficient change in the form of coins and bills available. You can lose a sale or be forced to take a reduced price for your item if you can’t make change. Don’t assume that garage sale hunters will only be shopping with loose change. This is not always the case.

5. Provide Useful Information

We do like to know what we are getting sometimes. Whether you are selling be selling a dress that has never been worn, or a figurine that your great aunt gave you, curious minds want to know. Give instructions on how to operate an item, batteries required and any other useful information

6.  Test Items

Have a variety of batteries at hand as well as electrical outlets. Most people want to know that they are not throwing away $2.00 on a toaster oven that doesn’t work. Provide peace of mind and encourage sales by testing items.

7.  Give Freebies

Reward a good shopper with free items. Someone just bought your chest freezer for $100.00.  Why not throw in the other small items purchased, for free? It is always nice to keep a fee bin at your sale. This is good for customer service and you will find that most people will not take a free item unless the bought something.

8.  Provide Free Coffee

Coffee is another freebee you can provide especially if it is a cool morning. Serving coffee at your garage sale is a highly appreciated gesture and can only serve to increase sales.

9.  Sell Your Baking

Along with the free coffee, how about selling some of your favorite cinnamon buns? The free coffee will serve to encourage sales of your cinnamon buns as well as other items.

10.  Check Signs

Always check to see if your garage sale signs are still standing. I am sure there are times when you have been following a sign only to find a dead end. Signs do get blown away are taken so do have someone check to see if they are in place, particularly if there is a lull in visitors.

These are just a few things you can do on garage sale day to ensure a pleasant and successful sale for yourself and the buyers.