Yard Sale Tips to get the MOST out of Your Garage Sale
Yard Sale Tips
If you’re looking for tips on how to host a yard sale because you want to make some extra cash and declutter, you’ve come to the right place.
It’s strange to call myself this, but I am a yard sale expert. Expert is not a term I use loosely…
Full disclosure: It’s NOT because I’ve run many garage sales – although I have hosted my fair share.
It’s because in the summer and a few weeks in the spring and fall for years, I went to yard sales EVERY weekend.
My garage sale experience is not limited to the area I live in.
I’ve been to yard sales in many cities in the U.S. and Canada. I’ve even been to the world’s longest yard sale.
I’m approaching this article from a dual perspective:
- From the point of view of a regular buyer – what an attractive yard sale looks like.
- From my experience as a yard sale host – how do you have a successful yard sale. Most importantly, how do you make the MOST amount of money at your yard sale.
Because let’s face it.
Some sellers make $50, but others make $500.
While it has to do with WHAT you’re selling, it also has to do with HOW YOU’RE PLANNING your sale.
So how do you have a successful yard sale?
Here’s a garage sale planner – a huge guide on all of the garage sale tips and tricks:
- What to sell at a garage sale
- What NOT to sell at a garage sale
- Best day and location for a garage sale
- Garage sale supplies
- How to set up a garage sale
- Yard sale pricing
- Where to advertise a garage sale
- Additional tips for how to prepare for a yard sale
- Creative yard sale ideas to differentiate yourself
Let’s dive in!
if you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission, at no cost to you.
What to sell at a garage sale
Figuring out what to sell is one of the first and most important steps for yard sale planning.
You could sell many different things at a garage sale. Here are the most common categories I see for sale:
- Household items (e.g. kitchen gadgets, bedding, lighting, furniture, storage)
- Clothing, shoes, purses, jewelry and other accessories
- Baby and kid gear, toys etc.
- Tools for house and car maintenance, gardening etc.
- Crafting supplies and handmade items
- Cosmetics and health and beauty products
- Holiday decorations for Christmas, Halloween etc.
- Sports and fitness equipment
- Pet products
- Books, board games
- DVDs, CDs, Video Games, Phones, and other electronics
- Furniture
- Electronics (e.g. old phones, printers, tv’s, speakers, etc.
- Sports equipment (golf clubs, gym equipment, etc.)
- Collectibles and memorabilia
I recommend just picking up a box and going through every room in your house, including the attic, garage, and basement.
Search deep into closets. Check your garden too. I’ve seen plants sell at yard sales!
Grab things you haven’t used for years. Things that are just taking up space and serving no purpose.
Even if you have items with missing pieces, it’s worth including in your yard sale.
Just make a note on the product about what piece is missing.
I’ve purchased kid’s toys that are missing a sticker or a cell phone charger because mine got damaged. You just never know what someone might be looking for.
If your box is filling up fast:
Keep in mind that you probably don’t want to pack up your whole house contents and put them on sale. You’ll likely overwhelm buyers and will just be moving things in and out for no reason.
If you have very little in your box:
Check out Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. It focuses on only keeping possessions that “spark joy”. It sounds like a hokey concept, but it works!
You could also ask friends and family if they have anything to sell. It’s a win win because this helps them declutter and you might get some help and attractive items to add to your sale.
If you have kids, ask them to sell food or drinks. They can manage a lemonade or baked goods stand.
What sells at a garage sale?
If you’re wondering, “What sells at a garage sale?“
In my experience, the items I often see selling quickly are good quality furniture, power tools, designer clothing, shoes and purses, kid’s items, kitchen gear, and collectible antiques.
Of course, it depends on WHO’S likely to come to your yard sale. If you’re in a town with young families, children’s stuff will sell.
If you live in a town filled with antique stores, your collectible, vintage goods will probably sell.
It also depends on the TIME OF YEAR you’re holding the sale. If it’s in the summer time, you’ll find that summer clothing, beach toys, camping gear, bikes, gardening tools and patio furniture will sell well.
If you’re holding your yard sale in the fall, you’ll notice that back-to-school stuff, Halloween things, holiday merchandise, and exercise gear will be popular.
What NOT to sell at a garage sale
What you should not sell at a garage sale depends on your objective and the amount of time you have.
If you want to make the most money for your possessions, you should consider selling some things online as you’ll get a higher price.
We regularly sell things on Craigslist, Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, eBay and VarageSale and make $100 per month selling just a few items.
Related: Here’s a post with how to have a virtual garage sale as well as a list of apps to sell your stuff online.
Of course, it’s way faster to sell things at a yard sale. If you’re pressed for time or you primarily want to declutter and secondarily want to make some extra cash, selling things at a yard sale is best.
Alternatively, you could do both and sell some things at a yard sale, like the lower-value items, and others online, like trending or high-ticket items.
What’s the best day for running a garage sale?
Many people often wonder what the best day for a garage sale is: Saturday or Sunday?
In my experience, it’s Saturday. And if you want to make the most money possible – add Sunday.
Since the majority of yard sales happen on Saturday morning, people have come to expect to find yard sales on a Saturday morning.
They’ll have their coffee, money, and bags ready to go if you set your date on Saturday.
If you set your yard sale on a Sunday, you’ll get less traffic.
Running your garage sale on a Sunday morning also means you won’t attract people who regularly go to church during that time.
However, if you set your yard sale on a Saturday and Sunday, you’ll sell more items. You’ll have a backup day in case there’s unexpected weather on Saturday.
You’ll also attract different kinds of buyers.
You’ll see the regular yard salers on Saturday. On Sunday, you’ll see people who just so happen to see your yard sale and might not negotiate prices.
Other tips for when to set up a garage sale?
Set the yard sale time between 8 am-12 pm.
When planning the timing of your yard sale, consider scheduling it from 8 AM to 12 PM.
This four-hour window is not only the most popular among sellers, but it’s also conveniently concise, allowing you to wrap up in time for lunch without feeling overwhelmed.
Additionally, this timing takes advantage of the morning’s cooler temperatures and catches early birds looking for great deals.
Have your yard sale at the beginning of the summer.
During the summer, a lot of people go on vacation.
To get the most amount of traffic, you’ll want to host your yard sale before school’s out.
Early June is a good option.
Don’t set the garage sale during a long weekend.
Unless you live in a town that people go to to get out of the city, don’t host your yard sale on a long weekend.
Otherwise, most people might be out of town.
You’ll find there are a lot of activities on the long weekend that take the spotlight off your sale.
The same can be said for weekends when there are big events happening in your community, like fairs, street marketplaces, and other fun events.
So, I recommend planning your yard sale for a weekend where there’s not other things going on or when people won’t be out of town.
Check the weather for the anticipated garage sale date.
You want to ensure you’re not having your yard sale on a cold, rainy, or extremely hot day as buyers won’t come.
It’s a good idea to check the weather forecast the day before as well as you’ll probably be posting signs that day and don’t want your signs to get ruined.
Set your garage sale during a town-wide or community-wide sale date.
Over the last few years, I’ve noticed more and more town wide yard sales becoming advertised.
Last Saturday, I went to the annual Cookstown Yard Sale in Ontario.
We were yard selling from 8 am – 2 pm, and we probably went to over 70-yard sales in one day.
The yard sales were so close together that people just parked their car and walked around the town with wagons.
This one day a year is so popular that they now have food trucks, a kid’s zone, entertainment and other festivities that the town executes simultaneously.
I live in the neighboring town and I drive in.
As you can imagine, each yard sale happening in that town on that day gets a massive amount of foot traffic which means more sales!
If your town holds a town-wide yard sale each year, I highly recommend setting your yard sale for that date.
Where’s the best location for a yard sale?
Ideally, you should set up your yard sale in a high-traffic location with access to easy, free parking.
In certain circumstances, you might find this isn’t your house.
If you live on a low-traffic, rural road, consider hosting your yard sale at a friend or family member’s place in a higher-traffic area.
You could also inquire with local community centers, legions, churches, or schools, as they occasionally have annual or monthly yard sales where you can set up a table.
If you live in an apartment building, ask your strata if you can host a yard sale right outside of the entrance.
Just remember that if you’re lugging anything to another area, you’ll have to bring it back if it doesn’t sell so be mindful of the amount of items you’re selling.
You’ll also find buyers don’t have time to sift through everything you’ve got available, so make your selection more curated if you can!
What supplies do I need for a garage sale?
Set-Up Supplies:
- Neon Poster Boards: The best yard sale signs are the 22″ x 28″ neon poster boards you can get at Dollar Tree because they’re large and eye-catching! You have more room on the board to put your garage sale details.
- Pricing stickers: Using pricing stickers makes it easy for your customers to know how much something costs, which will make management of your garage sale that much easier! It’s also handy for changing prices as your day comes to a close.
Money Handling:
- Change and Bills: Ensure you have a variety of coins and bills to make change. Recommended are rolls of quarters, and several $1, $5, and $10 bills.
- Cash Management: Use a fanny pack, utility belt, or an apron with pockets to keep cash secure and on you at all times. This is especially useful when you need to be mobile and hands-free, such as when assisting customers or managing children.
- Have A Calculator Handy: If you struggle with math, having a calculator is handy. You can use the calculator function in your phone or just use a good old fashioned one.
Sales and Packaging Supplies:
- Packing Materials: Keep bags, boxes, and newspaper handy for wrapping purchases, especially fragile items.
- Pricing and Tracking: Use a notebook and pen for an easy way to track sales, which is especially useful if you’re selling items on behalf of multiple people.
Testing and Displaying Products:
- Batteries and Extension Cords: Have these available so customers can test electronic items.
- Display Tables: It’s helpful to get long tables or side tables. Ask your friends and family what tables you can borrow. If you’re looking for yard sale tables for rent, you can check out your local community centers, churches, Craigslist or Kijiji.
- Racks or Bins: For other items, such as clothing, consider clothing racks or bins to hold the items for sale.
Atmosphere and Customer Experience:
- Music: Play a mix of popular and classic tunes to create a pleasant shopping environment.
- Signage: Use bright, large neon poster boards for clear, eye-catching signs for other things you might be selling like baked goods etc. It’s also handy to communicate information like your e-transfer email so you can easily refer to it as opposed to constantly spelling it out.
Payment Options:
- Credit Card Acceptance: Consider using a mobile payment option like a Square reader to cater to customers who prefer using cards.
- Counterfeit Detection: Have a counterfeit bill detector pen on hand, especially if you expect to receive higher denomination bills.
Additional Tips:
- Keep a permanent marker and pricing stickers handy for adjusting prices or replacing lost tags as the day progresses.
By organizing your garage sale with these supplies and considerations, you can create a more enjoyable and efficient shopping experience for your customers.
Want an all-in-one option? This all-in-one kit has yard sale signs and other nifty things:
- 1400 pricing labels (including blank stickers so you can put on your own prices)
- 12 signs (I love that you can reuse this for your next yard sale)
- 6 wooden stakes for the signs (You’re supposed to put 2 signs back-to-back per stake)
- 18 double-stick mounting tape pads to put signs on stakes
- 1 sales record form
- 6 large balloons
- 1 permanent marker
- Other yard sale tips!
How to set up a garage sale
Similar to how a retail store is set up, there can be a lot of strategy behind how a yard sale is set up.
Here are some garage sale display ideas to bring in more customers and make more money.
Tip #1 – Put bigger, attractive pieces close to the road
Some people like to do a drive-by to assess if it’s worth checking out your sale. Put your best foot forward by showcasing your best items in front.
Tip #2 – Keep jewelry and small valuables close to you
It’s easy for people to put small things in their pocket so if they’re positioned closer to the house, they would feel more eyes on them and would be less likely to shoplift.
Tip #3 – Set things up the way they’re meant to be used
For example, if you’re selling a couch and some throw pillows, arrange the pillows on the couch.
Tip #4 – Position your drink and food stand at the front.
If your kids are having a lemonade stand or bake sale, you can have them set up towards the front, right side. Your kids can be the welcome greeters. If people buy a lemonade or cookie, that’s a bonus!
Tip #5 – Have excellent lighting
If you’re setting up in your garage, make sure there’s ample lighting. People need to see what they’re buying easily. Consider setting up table lamps if you need to.
Tip #6 – Make your items for sale clean and attractive
If you want your stuff to sell, you have to make it look presentable. Clean off the dust. Wipe away any stains. Make sure everything works.
Tip #7 – Organize your garage sale items
Definitely take the time to do this to make it easy for buyers to view and access your things. For example, you can sort clothes by color, size, or type. This is especially important for kids’ things. You need to separate the newborn clothes from the toddler clothes. You can also sort books by subject matter (e.g., cooking, fiction) and general house stuff by the room it’s used in (e.g., cutlery in the “kitchen” section).
Tip #8 – Give yourself a place to sit
Don’t forget to bring out camping chairs so you have a place to sit. Place them in a shaded area so you’re comfortable.
Tip #9 – Stow your boxes away
Put the boxes you used to store goods underneath the tables to prevent kids from running underneath tables and hurting themselves or knocking things over.
Tip #10 – Have a free pile
Having a “free pile” (I’ll often notice it towards the curb) can increase your sales. As a buyer, if I grab something from the free pile, I’ll often feel compelled to buy something from the yard sale. I can imagine other buyers feel the same way. If you’re having a free pile, you can also include this feature in your ads!
Tip #11 – Move your car out of the way
You want to make it as easy as possible for people to see your garage sale and pull to the side of the road to quickly park. I don’t know how many times I’ve almost missed a garage sale because I couldn’t see past a parked car!
Tip #12 – Don’t let people in your home.
Unless you’re selling something you’ve kept in your house, don’t let any strangers in. If they have to use the bathroom, direct them to the closest public washroom.
Tip #13 – Be honest about your stuff
Some people will ask why you’re getting rid of an item. Be honest with your response. If this product didn’t quite work for you, tell them why. They’ll find out when they purchase it and they may not come to your future sales. You don’t have to just emphasize the bad things about your product. Just be real. Tell them what worked and what didn’t work. They might be totally fine with the negatives. There’s a reason they say one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.
Tip #14 – Keep your pets inside
Pets distract and might even scare away buyers. It’s best to just keep pets inside.
Tip #15 – Be friendly
Say hi when people come to your sale and bye when they leave. Be helpful when they have questions. But don’t hover. Nothing makes you more uncomfortable than having a seller follow you around the sale being salesy about everything you pick up.
Tip #16 – Use clear signage
Make sure all signs leading to your garage sale are clear, legible, and placed at key intersections near your home. This can significantly increase traffic to your sale.
Tip #17 – Offer bundle deals
Encourage more purchases by offering discounts on bundled items, like “buy three books, get one free” or “everything you can fit in a bag for $5”.
Tip #18 – Create a checkout area
Designate a specific area for checkouts, complete with a table for bagging items and a calculator for totaling purchases. This helps streamline the buying process.
Tip #19 – Have a helper on busy days
If you expect a lot of traffic, having a friend or family member help manage the sale can keep things running smoothly and ensure that all customers are attended to.
Tip #20 – Plan for weather
Have tarps and covers ready to protect your items in case of sudden rain, and consider having a canopy or umbrella for shade or shelter for yourself and your shoppers.
When do you want to start displaying your items for your garage sale?
There will be early birds that come at or just before the start time.
Make sure you start setting up your yard sale 1 hour beforehand.
Or set some of it up in your garage the night before. You can group similar items together in baskets and boxes so displaying and laying things outside in the morning is quick and easy!
Another great option is if you set up the vast majority of the yard sale indoors in the garage, you can still set up some items outside to bring in traffic.
With this option, you don’t need to worry about getting up extra early to set up or getting rained out.
Once you’ve set up your sale, have a quick walk through and see if everything looks clear and organized.
Is it easy to move around and see merchandise?
I know it might seem like a lot of work. Just do what you can. Things will get messed up as people look through your stuff.
Yard Sale Pricing Guide
With all of the work involved with setting up a yard sale, it can be tempting to skip over pricing and just have buyers offer you a price.
Don’t do it!
Having a price will result in more money because of price anchoring because the first person to state a price has the most amount of influence in what the final price will be.
Here’s an example:
If you say something costs $10, a buyer will use that price as the reference point and maybe offer you $8. If you said the price was $15 instead, that same buyer might offer you $10.
The first price influences the rest of the negotiation so you don’t want the buyer to be the first person to state a price.
You also don’t want to turn off people who:
- Don’t feel comfortable offering prices or
- Don’t want to offend you by offering low prices
Bottom line – just state prices.
Here’s an example of reasonable prices I’ve seen at yard sales:
- Kitchen gadgets: $1-10
- Bedding: $5-25
- Lighting: $1-15
- Furniture: $5-50
- Storage: $1-20
- Tools: $5-50
- Crafting supplies and handmade items: $1-7
- Cosmetics and health and beauty products: $1-5
- Holiday decorations for Christmas, Halloween etc.: $1-10
- Sports and fitness equipment: $2-20
- Pet products: $1-5
- Board Games: $1-3
- DVDs, CDs, Video Games, and other electronics: $3-10
- Books
- Kid’s books: $0.25-3
- Hardcover books: $0.25-5
- Softcover books: $0.25-3
- Adult clothes
- Shirts, dresses, pants $3-10
- Jackets, shoes: $5-20
- Jewelry: $1-5
- Baby and kid’s items:
- Clothes and accessories (in excellent used condition or new): $1-3
- Jackets, shoes: $3-5
- Toys: $1-5
- Artwork and wall decor: $3-20
- Garden tools and equipment: $5-30
- Kitchen appliances: $5-50
- Office supplies: $0.50-5
- Outdoor and camping gear: $5-50
- Phones and accessories: $5-25
- Plants and pots: $2-15
- Record albums: $1-10
- Rugs and carpets: $10-50
- Tableware and glassware: $1-10
- Unused toiletries and bath products: $1-5
If an item is not on this list, a good rule of thumb is to price it at 25% of the original purchase price. Don’t price anything below $0.25! It’s just not worth your time!
Here are other tips on pricing your yard sale items:
1) Don’t overprice your items at the yard sale.
It’s easy to overvalue things because you have sentimental value towards them or you saw the goods were going for this price on a buy and sell marketplace like Kijiji.
People are expecting to get a deal at a yard sale.
In fact, regular yard salers know what a good price point is. They’re expecting to get the cheapest possible price.
If you want to get rid of items, price them reasonably.
You might be tempted to set higher prices in anticipation of being bargained down.
There are buyers who hate negotiating.
They would rather walk away than try to get a lower price from you. You don’t want to lose these sales.
2) Use larger stickers or labels on larger items.
You can use a piece of cardboard from a box as a label.
For example, you don’t want to put a 1″ sticker on a sofa.
3) If you have expensive items, include a printout of the product’s features.
You can also include its retail price and of course its current discounted price. It’s often more difficult to get rid of expensive goods and this extra effort in marketing can only help.
4) Bundle items at the garage sale.
If you’re keen on getting rid of things, you can also put bundle prices like 5 baby onesies for $3.
Or if you really need to get rid of things, say people can fill up anything or just clothes in a bag or box for $5.
You don’t have to use these pricing strategies right away. You could add them as the traffic starts dying down at around 11 am.
Where to advertise a garage sale
How do you attract people to a garage sale?
Attracting shoppers to your garage sale is crucial for its success, and effective advertising can make all the difference.
Let’s start with some advertising tips!
Advertising online
You can advertise in the “local events” or “garage sale” pages on general community and yard sale sites for FREE like:
- Craigslist
- Kijiji
- VarageSale.
- Yard Sale Search (U.S.)
- Garage Sale Hunter (U.S.)
- Garage Sale Source (U.S.)
- Garage Sales by Map (Canada)
If you Google “your town” and “garage sale”, you might find more ideas for other sites people are searching on for garage sales.
Among all of the above, Facebook is the platform I often check when I’m looking for garage sales.
If you’re wondering specifically how to advertise a garage sale on Facebook, there are 2 places I usually check:
- Buy/sell or yard sale groups: Search “your town” + “buy and sell” or “yard sale” groups for any applicable groups, join them, and advertise your sale. Use pictures! You can take pictures of some of the things you’ll be selling as a preview.
- Facebook Marketplace: You can also advertise on Facebook Marketplace. Create an “item for sale”, select the category “garage sale”, and type in “garage sale” in the field for what are you selling. You can put any price in like $1. Don’t forget to include all the details and pictures!
You could also post on any of your social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram – that you’re running a garage sale and post pictures of what’ll be on sale.
On the day of the sale, you can update your friends on what’s been sold or still available.
When should you post your garage sale ads online?
Don’t post your yard sale ad too early.
If you post 1 week in advance, you risk people showing up at your house 1 week early because they didn’t check the date!
I recommend posting your yard sale the Wednesday or Thursday just prior to your yard sale.
Advertising in your community
Effectively advertising your garage sale within your local community can significantly increase foot traffic and the overall success of your event. Here are some key strategies to consider:
- Eye-Catching Signs: Place large, readable signs at major intersections and entry points to your neighborhood. Ensure that the signs are big enough to be read by passing drivers and include the date, time, and address of the sale.
- Community Bulletin Boards: Post flyers on community bulletin boards found in libraries, grocery stores, coffee shops, and community centers. These are places where locals frequently visit and can dramatically increase visibility.
- Word of Mouth: Inform friends, family, and neighbors about your sale. They can help spread the word within their own circles. If you’re a member of any local community groups, such as hobby clubs or parent groups, let them know about your garage sale. They may share this within their networks as well.
- Local Businesses: Ask local businesses if you can leave flyers at their registers or in their waiting areas. Some businesses may also allow you to put a sign in their window or on their community board.
- Newspaper Ad: Running an advertisement in your local newspaper is a fantastic way to reach a broader audience in your community. Many residents still rely on the newspaper for news and local events, making it an excellent platform for promoting your garage sale.
Using these strategies to advertise in your community not only raises awareness about your garage sale but also builds local connections that can prove beneficial for this and future events.
Yard sale signage tips
Here are areas you can post signs on:
- 1-3 of the closest major intersections
- Directional signs from the major intersection to your house
You can post a sign at your house, but I often find it’s unnecessary unless you live on a busy street or want to advertise your sale to your immediate group of neighbors in advance.
In terms of positioning, put yourself in the driver’s shoes and place your signs in areas the driver can see clearly. A driver is unlikely to pull over to the side of the road, get out of the car and read your sign.
Put the signs at eye level with the driver on a pole (you can use duct tape) or raised on a piece of wood (like a wood paint stirrer) that you can hammer into the ground.
What should you write on yard sale signage?
What and how you write on the signs is very important.
You want to make the words clear and large!
Use black felt tip markers on your signs and not a pen or pencil! Keep in mind that people are driving by the signs so they only have 1-2 seconds.
It can be difficult to tell how large you need to write the words.
One tactic I like to use is make just 1 sign and then stand 10-20 meters away to see if the sign is legible for a driver passing by.
If the text is too small, I can make adjustments on the 2nd sign.
For the signs at major intersections, put them on large neon poster board and try to include these details:
- Garage Sale
- Any enticing descriptive word that applies like “Multi-Family”, “Moving”, “Designer Brand”
- <Your Address> – This is the most important information on your sign (even more than “garage sale” as people often know it’s a yard sale from the fact that it’s on neon poster board) so make the address large! Just include the number and street name. There’s no need to include a city or postal code.
- <Time of the Sale>
- <Date of the Sale>
- Examples of what’s on sale – This is optional and only if you have some room left on your sign. Keep this part short. Most people won’t even read this part, but for those that do (walkers, drivers that are stopped at a red light), it’s worth including if you have some big ticket, attractive items.
- A LARGE directional arrow
For the directional signs that have “yard sale”, include:
- An arrow pointing to the direction your house is in
- <Your Address> if you can fit it in
I recommend putting up all of your signs on the Thursday or Friday beforehand.
Check the weather to see when it’s best to put up the signs as you don’t want them to get ruined or blown away.
Don’t forget to take down your signs after your sale. Depending on your local laws, you could get fined by the town or city you live in if you leave your signs up.
Additional tip: I also like adding balloons to tables or your mailbox (if it’s by the road) so they catch people’s eyes when they drive by.
There have been a few times when I’ve missed yard sales because the items are set up in the house or in the garage and there’s been limited signage!
Additional tips for how to prepare for a yard sale
1. Get a garage sale permit (if applicable).
Some towns and cities require that you get a garage sale permit.
You can Google “Yard Sale” + “Your Town” + “Laws” and see if you need one.
If you see yard sales often advertised in your neighborhood, there likely aren’t laws disallowing yard sales or permits you need to apply for.
Just in case, it’s always good to check.
2. Be ready to negotiate at the yard sale.
Negotiation is often the name of the game at yard sales.
People will expect that if they buy more, they’ll get a lower, bundle price. You will get people that will low ball and negotiate hard.
Have an idea of what your bottom line is.
Don’t be afraid to say no and let people walk away. If you want to make the most amount of money, be less willing to negotiate at the beginning of the yard sale and more flexible as the day goes on.
3. Have help at the garage sale.
Don’t do the yard sale alone.
You’ll probably have to run into the house to use the bathroom, get supplies or ask questions about pricing (if some of the items for sale are not your own).
You’ll want to have someone else outside managing the yard sale and watching for shoplifters.
It’s an unfortunate reality, but you might encounter people who steal or switch prices.
The more people you have who look like they’re manning the garage sale (maybe wearing aprons or constantly putting things back in order), the less likely people will take the chance to shoplift.
It’s also just safer to have 2 people there.
4. Understand how you’ll handle it if a buyer asks about delivery.
Do you have a truck on hand to deliver?
What time can you do delivery?
You’ll want to work these questions out in advance so you’re not scrambling to plan on the spot.
5. Make a plan for leftovers you don’t sell at the yard sale.
You could either:
- Try selling goods online on Craigslist, Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, Letgo, eBay and VarageSale
- Take things to a consignment store or resale shop.
- Give things away for free (leave your stuff on the curb with a sign that says “Free”). Keep in mind that if you do this and things don’t move, you’ll have to eventually take these things inside or donate them.
- Post it on Freecycle for people to take away. Freecycle is especially good for larger items if you can’t easily donate them.
- Donate goods to the Salvation Army. If you plan to donate items to the Salvation Army, check to see if there is a pickup service in the area to save yourself the trip. Also, check to see if you can get a donation tax receipt to lower your income taxes.
Creative yard sale ideas
If you have extra time to plan and prepare your sale, differentiating your yard sale is always a smart idea to drive more traffic.
Here are the most creative yard sale ideas I’ve seen:
1. Sell different food from what you would normally see at a yard sale.
I once went to a yard sale where they sold hot dogs and the lineup went out to the curb!
While managing a hot dog stand might not be feasible, you can sell coffee, tea, hot chocolate, donuts, muffins, cupcakes, popsicles or granola bars.
2. Style an outfit at the yard sale.
If you have a mannequin or a coat hanger, take it out and put together an outfit from the clothes you’re selling.
Like in a window of a retail store, it’s easier to picture how that pair of pants can be used if you show how it can be paired with a shirt and shoes.
3. Sell mystery bags at the garage sale.
This creative yard sale idea is a hit or miss.
I’ve seen people sell mystery bags filled with stuff for a few dollars with only the category indicated like “baby toys” or “90’s DVDs”. Some people love the idea and others will ignore it.
4. Have a neighborhood yard sale.
If you team up with your neighbors to have a yard sale on the same day, you can save time and resources advertising.
You’ll also drive more traffic to your sale and buyers are more likely to come if there are multiple sales at the same location.
I’ve seen street sales, neighborhood sales, even town sales – yes as I mentioned above, the town just north of mine holds an annual yard sale with over 50% of the houses hosting sales.
It’s a full day of yard saling! Google or check the local Facebook groups to see if there are community yard sales you can participate in!
5. Have partial or 100% of the sale proceeds go to a charity.
Some people advertise that they will donate part or all of the yard sale funds to a charity.
This can motivate people who are sentimental about that charity to buy from your yard sale.
6. Have an end-of-day deal
Plan for end-of-day deals, like fill-a-bag for a fixed price or deep discounts in the last hour. This helps move more items and clear out your inventory.
By incorporating these additional strategies, you can further enhance the effectiveness and appeal of your yard sale, making it a more enjoyable and profitable event for both you and your visitors.
Final Thoughts on Garage Sale Tips for Sellers
Yard sales require a lot of planning and work. They’re a great way to get fast cash if you’re in a bind. You also get to declutter.
All the best on your yard sale! Have fun!
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Related Yard Sale Tips Articles:
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- Love Pinterest? Work from home as a Pinterest Assistant.
- Always catching typos? Work as a Proofreader.
- How to Make Money in One Hour
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