Do you have any tips for having a succesful garage sale? Also I have a few garage sale question!?

Question

Okay, this summer, I don't think we are going anywhere so I am planning to have a garage to get rid of my family's and my stuff that we don't need and to earn extra money. My parents said its okay for me, but of course, everyone else in my family is helping me out, so I'm not alone. I alread have a few stuff packed and getting stuff cleaned and pricing stuff. So do you have any tips on how to have a very succesful garage sale? This is our first time, so we don't know much about this stuff.

Also, here is some stuff that I am selling. Can you give me some feedback on what you think about the price?
shirts - 50 cents
pants - 50 cents
jackets - 75 cents
board games / boxed games 5 dollars
carft supplies 50 cents per bag
fill a bag of stuffed toys/animals for 2.00 dollars
shoes - 3 dollars per pair
books - 25-75 cents each

that is what i have so far. i will have way more than that. i'm not done rummaging through my house yet. but so what do you think? are the prices fair enough?

and i also have a few questions.
what are some best sellers at garage sales?
on average how much would you make from a garage sale?
are you allowed to put signs up anywhere?
how many hours should the garage sale last, or what time?

so please tell me
some tips, websites that can give me tips
past experiences
what you think about what i have so far
and please answer my questions .
sorry if this is too much but thanks!

Answer 1

Prices: The board/boxed game price is too high unless these are 'new quality' ... if they show any wear, $2 would be a better price. Shoes ... again, only if they are virtually new can you charge $3 ... $1.50 is better. Stuffed animals ... make them 10-50 cents apiece according to size and wear. Any bags you use must be exactly the same size for fairness.

Best sellers can vary. At one sale, I sold some 'memorial cans' at 50 cents apiece ... but the lady wanted all of them and offered me $25 for fifteen cans!

Be very careful about putting up signs. I lived in cities where it was 'illegal' to post any signs on 'telephone or utility poles' ... but that is where we put them (being extra careful to remove them right after the sale ended)

Use heavy cardstock posters (you can buy colored packs of 24"x36" for very little) and PRINT carefully:

GARAGE SALE

(location or address)

DATES

Times (9-5 Saturday, 10-4 Sunday)

Any specialty items for sale



Be sure that you have a good way to make change (get at least $50 in coins-$5 bills) that you can carry with you (an old cigar box that you can tuck into a 'sling bag' when you are walking around). Have receipts available, but give them only when requested.



Think broader ... clothes don't sell well at most garage sales, but things like 'decorative items' and 'collectible items' do, also toys, games, athletic equipment, etc.



Make cookies (at least 12 dozen) and sell them for 5-10 cents apiece. Offer cold water (from a pitcher into paper cups) for free, or fresh lemonade or other cold drink for a quarter a glass. Have someone else tend to the 'food' and have that outside the 'garage sale area.'



Lock up any pets you have (people may actually want to buy or steal them, and some may 'claim' having been bitten and threaten to sue you).



Dress well (not too dressy), and SMILE. Be sure there is an adult on the property at all times (may stay indoors but only with the door open to listen for trouble).



If you can, use places like Craig's List (online) and small newspapers to advertise beforehand ... if it's free, you can say a lot more about your 'goods' and even have pictures on-line.



I've made anywhere from $100-1000 at my garage sales ... the one that brought me the larger amount I sold furniture, kitchen gadgets, a collection of mugs (with extra-large hanger), etc. You can even sell the tables you are displaying things on ... just tell the buyer they can't be taken until you 'close' on Sunday, but you'll mark them 'sold' if they pay for them right away.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Advertise!!!! I had a garage sale two weeks ago, I will say make sure there is a price tag on everything. So people will not have to keep asking you. And if you really would take 50 cent for something ask $1.00 because they will always try and lower the price. Everything you priced sounds good except I would ask a $1.00 for shirts and a $1.00 for pants. I know the point of a garage sale is to get rid of things but you still want to make a few bucks. Good Luck!

Answer 3

Your prices seem fair. Kitchen items sell very well as so toys and jewelry.



Regarding signs, depends on your local government. Call the city you live in and ask if you can put up signs. Some cities will require you get a permit.



The day of the sale, have lots of change and small bills to make change with. Be willing to negotiate. Good luck.

Answer 4

i love yard sales n frequent them often - here is what i look for --

signs with big arrows pointing the way - put them at major intersections and b sure to take them down when yr sale is over.

most yard sales are fri/sat or sat/sun btwn 8 and 2 pm.

depending on what u have to sell it will vary on how much u can make.

for yr stuffed toys fill-a-bag for 2 is nice, but i would also offer individual pcs for 25-50cents.

i think your shoes n board games seem a lil pricey but that depends on the condition of each.

you may want to have drinks n cookies for sale also.

try to have as much stuff as possilbe on tables vs on the ground.

let people negotiate on prices. since this is all clutter from around the house get rid of it all.

good luck

Answer 5

Good Advertising, and all the right prices on the right stuff. To tell you the truth, there is no guarantee that any garage sale is going to be successful. If you don't have the items people are looking for, no one buys. You never know until you try. Good Luck