You may or may not be aware, but the second Saturday in August is known as “National Garage Sale Day.” This year, the “holiday” occurs on Saturday, August 8, 2020, which also happens to coincide with “National Bargain Hunting Week.”
Doing a garage sale is a great way to earn some extra money, and clear out unneeded items, especially if you’re thinking about selling your home or moving.
In celebration of “National Garage Sale Day,” below you’ll find five tips for having a garage sale and making it a success.
Five Garage Sale Tips for Success
Clean up and Clear Out
As you’re scouring your home for items, be mindful of things that you want to keep, sell, donate, or trash. A good rule of thumb is if you encounter anything you haven’t used, or didn’t know you had, within the last six months, it’s probably time to part ways.
Get Organized
You can make separate piles for each of the four categories: Keep, Sell, Donate, or Trash. Alternatively, you can dispose of anything you want to trash right away.
Price Aggressively
People who attend garage sales are looking for bargains. And yes, that coat you paid $100 for and want to sell for $75, probably isn’t going to sell. A good rule of thumb is to price items at one third to one-quarter of their new value. So that $100 coat would be priced somewhere between $25 and $33. You can also do a quick online search for what like items are selling for on resellers like eBay or the Facebook Marketplace. A word of warning: don’t be sentimental with things as you might overvalue and consequently overprice them.
When labeling, be sure the price is visible. You can use labels, tape, tags, etc. but always make sure shoppers can see the price. It also provides an opportunity for “negotiation” when people buy multiple items.
Staging Matters
Just like selling a home, how you have items displayed can have a real impact on the success of your sale. You need to place statement pieces front and center so that people that are driving by have a reason to stop. This is especially true of community garage sales where multiple neighbors may be having garage sales of their own. Placing furniture, yard tools, and electronics in front are sure to draw people to your sale.
It’s also a good idea to have items placed on tables, providing a convenient shopping experience for people looking for bargains.
Donate Items that Didn’t Sell
This tip is pretty straightforward, but if you’ve decided to part ways with an item, it needs to go. So if for whatever reason you didn’t sell an item, you can donate it to an organization like the Idaho Youth Ranch, Goodwill, or the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, to name a few. Just make sure that the item(s) are in good condition and still function.
The Last Word
Hopefully, you’re excited to celebrate “National Garage Sale Day” and are eager to implement the tips provided above. Whether you do a garage sale or not, it’s still an excellent opportunity to get organized and clear out some of your home’s clutter.
Photo Credit: iStock.com/KatieDobies