4 Tips for Hosting a Successful Garage Sale

Preparing for an upcoming move? Need to clear your home of valuable yet unwanted clutter? Want to make a few extra bucks to put toward the holiday season?

If you’ve answered yes to one or more of these questions, it may be time to consider hosting a garage sale. But to ensure your sale goes off without a hitch and proves profitable, careful planning will be required. Here are a few tips.

1. Stock up on supplies.

Garage sale essentials include:

• Shelves, tables and clothes racks for displaying sales items.
• Permanent markers, price tags and poster boards for the creation of labels and signage.
• A lockbox with $100 in change and/or apps (e.g., Venmo) for collecting electronic payments.
• Boxes, bags and packing supplies for secure item transport.
• A moving dolly to help move large items (e.g., washer, dryer).

2. Schedule the sale.

Weekends are typically best for garage sales, as more people are able to attend. Start at 7 a.m. and plan to wrap up around 2 p.m. or as attendance/sales dwindle. If you have enough inventory, schedule a multiday event.

3. Promote the sale.

Hang signs in and around your neighborhood about a week before the event—busy intersections are best for visibility. Advertise for free on social media (e.g., Facebook) and sites like Craigslist or take out a newspaper ad at a small cost. Post signs at the end of your street and outside your home the morning of the sale.

4. Price items to sell.

Price items in good condition at about 10-20% of their retail value. Leave wiggle room for negotiation and decide how low you’re willing to go beforehand. Create bundle deals on smaller items like books to encourage shoppers to buy more.

Need more funds than a garage sale can provide? Reach out to discuss your home financing options.