When it comes to spring cleaning, or any cleaning, garage sales are the way to go! You may not sell everything, but it is worth a shot. If you follow these tips below, you can become a garage sales expert!!!
1. Do Buy or Borrow Folding Tables (or Make Some from Sawhorses and Plywood). If you borrow your breakfast table from the kitchen, thatās the one thing every shopper will want to buy āeven if itās clearly marked ānot for sale.ā Theyāll ask about folding tables too, but not as often
2.Location, location, location: If you donāt live on a well-traveled street, or live in a spot with no parking, maybe itās time to make a deal with a friend or family member in a better spot.
3. Do Group Like Items Together. When you group like items together, the goods look more abundant and makes for a better display. Also, shoppers looking for something specific can find it faster ā and theyāre more likely to buy multiple pieces.
4. Do Clean the Goods Before Putting Displaying Them. Dusty furniture, sticky glassware, and stinky, stained clothing scream of neglect. Clean, well-tended pieces appear more valuable. Spritz old coats, draperies and curtains, and upholstered furniture with something to get rid of the musty smell if theyāve been in storage. Make antique wood furniture shine with a fresh coax of wax.
5. Donāt Go Overboard Cleaning and Prepping the Merchandise. Itās one thing to polish the copper and wash the dirty clothes, but donāt iron the outgrown onesies or refinish the furniture. You wonāt make enough money to recoup the time you invested.
6. Do Display Small Valuable Items Close to the Checkout Area. Keep valuable objects close to the house or at the checkout table so you can keep an eye on them, especially if theyāre small or fragile. If you donāt, jewelry and real silver may walk away when youāre not looking. And, delicate ephemera (vintage paper items) may be damaged by shoppers that donāt appreciate its value.
7. Do Place Breakables Out of Childrenās Reach. Some shoppers let their children run wild ā and those who do will probably refuse to pay for your now-broken collection of carnival glass.
8. Do Display Big Showy Pieces Closest to the Street. Place desirable sale merchandise at the street end of your yard or driveway, especially seasonal items and large pieces (such as furniture). Even if youāre setting up most of the merchandise in the garage, itās makes the sale look bigger and better ā and it gives drive-by browsers a reason to stop.
9. Do Display Adult and Big Kidsā Clothing on Hangers. Hang the clothing on racks and arrange it by size. It looks better, itās easier to look through, and itās less likely to end up on the ground.
10. Donāt Place Tables and Clothing Racks Too Close. Donāt place tables and clothing racks so close together that shoppers canāt comfortably get through. Not every shopper is a size two. If space is an issue, you donāt have to cram everything into the garage. Spread out across the driveway and yard. It makes your sale look bigger anyway.
11. Do Display Baby and Small Childrenās Clothing on Tables. Fold and stack baby and young kidsā clothing on tables ā and arrange it by size and type. It takes up less space than hanging them, and little pieces are easy to straighten and refold.
12. Do Have an Outlet or Extension Cord Handy Customers expect to check electrical items.If you donāt have an outside outlet, run a heavy-duty extension cord from your house or garage. Keep a light bulb on hand for testing lamps too.
13. Donāt Sell Merchandise Thatās Damaged Beyond Repair or Recalled. Donāt sell dangerous or destroyed merchandise. The money youāll make isnāt worth it.
14. Do Remove All Non-Sale Items from The Area. Remove all portable objects from your garage, porch, or yard before the sale. If you donāt, every other shopper will ask for a price on your potted plants and garden hose. If you canāt move it, mark with a sign that says āNot for Sale.ā Some will still ask, but not as many.
15. Do Straighten and Rearrange the Tables During Downtime. Yard sales get hectic and shoppers make a mess of the merchandise. When you have a moment, do some straightening before the next wave of shoppers arrive.






.jpg)