Wow, it seems like only yesterday that there was snow falling and drifts up to our knees. Actually, for some of us, snow WAS falling yesterday, and drifts were up to our knees. However, a little snow underfoot will not stop an intrepid lot from making an appearance this weekend. It’s Garage Sale Season across this great land. Just as sure as the first bird’s chirp, garage sale signs pop up in your neighborhood like scotch broom on the highway median.
Gildshire isn’t about vast generalizations, but we are willing to make an exception this time. It seems to us that there are two types of people living in a subdivision near you, and there is little common ground between them. There are garage sale lovers and garage sale avoiders. In this, the first in a two-part series, we’re going to share some ideas for getting the most out of a garage sale that you host. Next week, about this time, we’ll share an article about getting the best buys at a garage sale you attend.
What do we have for the avoiders? Well, we can’t talk you into a garage sale any more than we can convince garage sale lovers not to go to the next one they see. So, you are dismissed. Come back tomorrow for Gildshire Sports.
For the rest of you, here are our best ideas for getting the biggest bang from your own garage sale. Some of these ideas are common sense, but some of them are a deeper dive into what makes a good garage sale. Let’s see what we can learn together.
Make it Clear, One Day Only:
Pick a Saturday with a good chance for nice weather and go for it! You and your best bud do not want to lug the heavy stuff in and out of the house twice, much less three times.
Be Firm About Starting Times:
This one is related to the one above, but it’s a separate issue. Just as sure as there is a Crock Pot for sale (Your new Instant Pot is pretty great!) someone will try and get in early. Don’t allow it, because early arrivals don’t deserve to get a jump on those who followed the rules.
A Garage Sale is Not a One-Person Show:
We’re pretty good at prognostications, so let’s give it a go. Sometime Saturday, you will want to pee. You don’t want someone making off with the riding lawn mower while you make water. Enlist the help of at least one friend who can spell you while you take care of business, and also to keep you company in the garage.
Make the Atmosphere a Fun One:
Keep a bucket of ice filled with free bottles of water. Put someone in charge of music, and tailor the tunes to the age of the crowd that’s there at any one time.
Mark Prices Clearly…Then Be Flexible:
You put this stuff out because you don’t want it anymore. If you let something go for less than the listed price, two people win. Also, that buyer will be first in line next year or the year after when this all starts again.
Think of Your Garage as a Costco with an Oil Spot on the Floor:
Bulk pricing! If you’re selling vinyl records for 50 cents a copy, sell 10 for $4.00. Price books to sell by the shopping bag full. You want to clear the shelves by the end of the day.
Don’t Obsess Over What You Paid for the Item:
It was $80 at Macy’s, and you wore it for three years. Now it is a $3.50 garage sale item that you won’t have to cart to Goodwill. We can’t stress this one enough, put the original price out of your mind.
Feng Shui Your Sales Floor:
Place the bulk of the items on the edges and keep the middle section of the garage as clear as possible. This arrangement provides for an orderly flow of traffic. Movement psychologists (grocery stores hire them before opening the doors to a single customer) tell us that people veer to the side of their dominant hand first. So keep the bigger ticket items on the right. That is unless you have an inordinate number of left-handers in your friend group.
The Best Garage Sales Spill Into the Driveway and the Yard:
Your garage appears dark from the road, and you want to impart a sense of welcome and abundance. So hang balloons and banners, and allow some sale items to be in the driveway.
We hope that your garage sale is both fun and profitable. Go get em’!