Discussions

I am planning to have my first garage sale in a few weeks and looking for tips. What day(s) are best to have them, times, where and how to advertise (besides on eBrandon), and any other useful hints from seasoned garage salers.

If you want to move your stuff put lower prices on them.  
A few larger pieces that are priced appropriately will help.  
Can be a lot of work.......  
Friday afternoon and Saturday always seems to do well.... but that being said garage sales are close to being done.  
Clothes go cheap. Good Luck. Have fun

We garage sale regularly and HATE the ones that don't have prices on stuff.. Do yourself a favor and price stuff. The other person was right, price stuff to sell. If you put too high a price on it you will be packing it away again at the end. Be ready to dicker cause that is fun too. hope this helps a little.

Put some well marked signs out on a main drag close to your place.. And make sure it's Large enough print that a person going by in a car can read you address.. Sometimes we see signs with tiny print and miss what it said and just say oh the heck with it and don't go there.. So you don't want to miss any customers.

Hahaha there’s always the ones that come early too !! If you want it gone put cheaper prices!

Have two or more people and never walk away from the cash box. Better yet, have a cash apron (maybe use/get a nail apron from the hardware store). That's my best advise in preventing theft.  
 
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

is based on always wanting to get rid of everything no matter how cheap I had to sell it for. I hated packing anything up for the next sale or for donation. In my experience the customers died down considerably after lunch so from 8am to 10am I would have everything priced based on what I thought was reasonable. At 10am I would tell everyone that everything was half price and then go even cheaper after 11am and tell people to just make an offer. Usually I would close up around noon with everything cleared out. As far as security I don't think I ever had any items stolen but I always carried the money in a waist pouch.

As someone mentioned  
Must be able to read from a 100 ft away.  
Clear directions

1.Where the money ON you...apron or purse  
2.LOTS of readable signs out. Make em big and bright  
3.price to sell and accept offers (within reason..some ppl will low ball hard). You wanna get rid of the stuff  
4. Price things together to get rid of more and price so it’s easily added up (ie: all DVDS are 10 for $10, or all kids clothing is $1.00 or $0.50 per item)  
5. Have a “free” box of stuff you don’t want  
6.have it Friday afternoon and Saturday. Sunday morning you’ll still get some ppl but not much  
7. Nearing the end of you sale go up to ppl and sell them a bag or box for $5.00 and tell them they can fill it up! You get rid of more faster.  
8. Price everything!  
9. Have lots of change available. Price things with $0.25 denominations to make easy adding and counting. No 10 cent business  
10. Advertise online..e Brandon, kijiji etc with what days and times you are open  
 
GOOD LUCK!!

Want to start at 9? Advertise that you’re starting at 10 and be ready for 9. I did that last time after years of doing yard sales, it worked like a charm!

As someone mentioned, keep your cash on you in an apron or have someone sitting with the cash so it is never unattended.  
 
If you are doing it in your garage, hide any belongings of value you are not selling by covering it well with tarps or sheets. People will still peek, but try to protect the stuff.  
 
If in your yard, don't have items out that you don't want stolen. Cover or hide bikes, BBQs, etc.  
 
I gave up on yard sales after I found people would dig through the garage items that were covered up, and one year someone came back after the sale at night and stole my potted hibiscus plants. Some lady had asked if they were for sale during the day and I thought nothing of it. I'd had them for years and they clearly wrrent a part of the sale. Maddening....

Make sure your items are all clean, clean, clean with everything priced. A well organized one is nice as well with Items grouped together (like a store). Housewares, books, clothes, furniture displayed nicely. I’m not sure about anyone else, but try and display goods on tables (or makeshift tables) instead of on the ground. Nothing worse than seeing a tarp on the grass with a huge pile of clothing. Many people won’t want to kneel on the ground to sift through stuff.  
 
If you have clothing, make sure it’s washed or clean and clearly sized and separated in bins on tables or better yet hung in a clothing rack with size descriptions.  
 
Like others said, keep a cash apron on your waist vs. a cash tray or box and have some friends to help you watch the sale. If you have smaller jewellery or other items, keep them close to where you can always watch or delegate someone just for that. Don’t let people use your bathroom, no matter what sob story they give you.  
 
Keep an electrical cord handy if you have any plug in appliances you sell, so people can test them there and they can’t distract you.  
 
Bundle small kids toys/items in a grab bag for cheap. Maybe a mystery bag for a .50 or a loonie. Offer a cooler of ice cold water bottles you can sell inexpensively. Have lots and lots of spare bags for people. Early in the morning you will get larger bills (needing change) so be prepared.  
 
Keep marking down unless you want to keep the stuff and keep rearranging your sale so it’s attractive to people driving by.  
 
Signs are key. They don’t have to be wordy, just bright with SALE and address and arrows leading them there. Do it the night before.  
 
If you advertise a sale no matter what day or time, expect people and be ready 2 hours earlier. Or more, depending on what you have. Make sure you put some key items in your online ads.  
 
Best advice is a clean looking sale that looks organized and well run.  
 
Friday and a Saturday until 1-2 seems to work well. That way you won’t be exhausted .  
 
Let go of personal attachment to items and just let them go, otherwise you’ll be having them back in your house.  
 
If you decide against a yard sale, donate to the Nearly New, MCC, Superthrift, or any other local charity shops in town.  
 
Best of all have fun. They can be stressful, but rewarding.

Let's face it, a lot of what's been said here is pure rubbish. "Price everything at rock bottom and get your haggling gloves on".  
 
Freebie bins create the perception of worthless garbage, as does setting prices too low.  
 
Price fairly, and if things don't sell, congratulate yourself on supporting a worthy charity.

Blue_Guru said "Let's face it, a lot of what's been said here is pure rubbish. "Price everything at rock bottom and get your haggling gloves on".     Freebie bins create the perception of worthless garbage, as does setting prices too low.     Price fairly, and if things don't sell, congratulate yourself on supporting a worthy charity. "

Have you held a yard sale, Guru?  
Aren’t you just a ray of sunshine...lol.  
 
Some people enjoy holding them for a social/neighbour aspect and to have fun getting rid of stuff. You might think the advice is trash, but the OP was looking for tips and people gave it.  
 
C’mon dude or dudette, give people some credit for taking the time to have one of these sales and to chime in.

Having a sale on the 20th (child tax credit day) has brought great results if you have lots of kids items.