When you think of spring, what comes to your mind? Some people might think of spring flowers and warm weather. Others might think of rain showers and thunderstorms. For some bargain hunters, however, spring is the beginning of garage sale season.
Garage sales serve to benefit shoppers and sellers alike. Motivated shoppers on a budget will find that they are able to stretch their dollars much further shopping at a garage sale than they are at a typical department store. Sellers, on the other hand, are able to rid themselves of items they no longer need or want and earn some cash, as well.
While garage sales are a great opportunity to clear your house of clutter and fatten your savings account, running a profitable garage sale can require a little bit of work and planning. Following a few simple steps will help ensure that your garage sale is one of the more successful ones in your neighborhood.
1. Post signs around your neighborhood. Your signs should clearly list the date and address of your sale as well as highlight a few of your more valuable sales items. Be certain that your signage is legible from the cars in the street.
2. Organize your merchandise. Even the most determined bargain hunter will be discouraged if he has to dig through piles of merchandise to look for something that will strike his fancy. Consider hanging clothes so they are easily accessible to potential buyers. In addition, group similar items together so that your displays make more of a visual impact. As the day of your sales passes, use the slower times to straighten up any displays that may have become disheveled.
3. Make sure everything is clearly marked with a price. You don’t want to lose a potential sale because the customer didn’t want to ask you for a price. Use stickers or tags to indicate prices on larger items. Try placing smaller items into boxes or jars marked with one price for each of its contents.
4. Reserve a prominent place for a “free” box. A box of items that are available free of charge can be the perfect way to draw customers to your sale. Place items in the box that you were unlikely to sell anyway such as wallpaper roll remnants or toys that have lost their appeal to your children.
5. Allow potential customers to try out large-ticket items. If, for instance, you’re selling the old food processor that you never use, make sure you run an extension cord out to your garage sale location. Customers will want to see that the food processor actually runs.
If you’re willing to put in the effort and time required, a garage sale can be the source of a tidy, little sum. A garage sale really shows that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” So, get to work today, clear the clutter from your home, and start making plans for your sale proceeds.
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Maybe its my age (26) but I do not understand garage sales – get your stuff on E-BAY!
Great idea, a lot of people have junk lying around that could go to a better place
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