Garage Sale Tips

We all know that garage sales can be a great place to find things you want and need, but having your own garage sale (like I did last week) is also a great opportunity to clear out the things that are taking up space in your life, and make a little bit of cash in the process. Planning and preparation are the keys to making this all happen successfuly. Here are some tips that I was reminded of in my recent sale.

1. Display - more often than not, people will sit in their cars and scope out what you've got before they actually get out and look. This is why it is important to set up the sale in a way that will not only make people want to get out, but want to dig through your stuff. Making sure big ticket items (furniture, electronics, bicycles - NOT your crap) are easily visible is important. You also want to spread your stuff out. For example, it is a bad idea to have a huge pile of kid's toys right in the front of the yard, because the quick drive by will think that is all you have, and not get out and look.

2. Advertising - tools like craigslist and the penny saver are great for getting people to your sale, but you should never underestimate the power of a plain 'ole sign. Don't worry about putting details such as your address, because most people won't read them any way. A clear, bold "Garage Sale" with an arrow should do the trick.

3. Package deals - many times, people will gather up all the items that they are interested in and offer you one lump price for the whole lot. This can be a good thing if you and the perspective buyer are having a hard time agreeing on the price of an item (throwing in something else might make them feel like they are getting more for their money). However, this can also be an easy way to get swindled. I know from personal experience that people will sometimes gather everything up, hiding items behind other things that so that you wont notice. Make sure you carefully go through everything so that you dont get swindled.