by Raven Lebeau

Created on: February 08, 2010

A garage sale is the perfect way to turn clutter into cash, but only if you can make sure your items sell. Here are a few tips for making your sale a success:

1. Plan ahead.

It will take time to get ready for your garage sale. Start planning at least one month in advance.

2. Consider a multi-family garage sale.

 Shoppers will be more drawn to sales with lots of merchandise. If you don't have a lot of items to sell, get together with some neighbors who also have items they want to sell. By displaying all of your things together, you can give your garage sale a more enticing, store-like appearance.

3. Make sure your items look their best.

Shoppers will be more likely to buy items that look like new. Dust off knick-knacks, polish dishes until they shine, and run clothing through the washer with a good scented fabric softener.

4. Advertise your garage sale in the local paper.

An ad in the classified section will let people know when your garage sale is and what you have for sale.

5. Set up card tables to display your items in the driveway, and find a way to hang clothing on hangars.

No one wants to bend over and paw through cardboard boxes in order to shop. By having all of your things out on display, you will make them more accessible to potential buyers.

6. Organize items by categories.

Put all of your baby clothes together near your baby toys. Hang adult clothing in another location. Make separate displays for items like sporting equipment, home decorations, and electronics. People looking for a particular item will be more likely to find it this way, and they may even see something else they need.

7. Make sure attractive items are visible from the curb.

If you have a large collection of books or a wardrobe of gently-used clothing, display it where prospective shoppers can see it easily. People driving by will be more likely to stop if they see something they like. On a related note, make sure that you are sitting near the most valuable items to ensure no one steals them.

8. Price items as a group.

It is easier to make a sign that says, “Sweaters- $5.00 each” than to label each sweater with its own individual price. Also, if you later decide to change your price, a single sign can easily be altered. Changing multiple price tags is not as easy.

9. Price your items realistically.

Visit a few garage sales and see what other sellers are able to get for similar items. Remember that garage sale shoppers are looking for a “bargain,” so do not try to charge the same amount that a consignment shop would charge.

10. Be flexible.

If a shopper makes you a reasonable offer that is below an item's marked price, take the offer. Remember that these are items you are trying to get out of your house. If you make some money in the process, that's a bonus.

Once you have completed your garage sale, you will need to deal with any unsold items. Have a backup plan for either storing them in a compact, secure fashion or donating them to a charity like the Goodwill or Salvation Army thrift store. If were able to rid your home of unwanted clutter and collect some extra cash, your garage sale was a success.

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