| 1.
Do the pre-planning: |
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Does
your homeowners' assoc. or do local laws prohibit or restrict
garage sales? |
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How/where
will you advertise? |
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The
web (here, for example) |
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Flyers
at local stores (where allowed) |
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Newspaper
(may no longer be as effective as the web) |
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Tell
friends/relatives |
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Yard
signs (buy materials, make signs) |
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Put
price tags on items before the day of the garage or yard sale.
Keep prices reasonable, maybe 25% to 30% of what it costs new.
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If it's
something in a box or packaging, open it up and look inside
for things you may have forgotten about in the box (money, a
receipt, a card, a note). |
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Check
pockets of clothing for money that may have been left there. |
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"Free"
stuff: If you've got stuff you want to get rid of but it's broken
or missing parts, put it in a "Free" box. Be sure
to put a sign on the box: "Broken or missing parts". |
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Got
tables? Borrow some if necessary or maybe use sawhorses &
plywood if you have it. |
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Got
rods to hang clothing? Are you giving the hangars away with
the clothing? If not, post a sign "Hangars not included"
or charge extra for the hangar ("Add 25¢ if you want the
hangar"). |
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Got
"man stuff" (tools, ladders, etc.)? If so, put it
in front so the guys driving by can see it. |
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Got
beverages? People may ask for a drink. Have some paper cups
available or consider selling cans of soft drinks (keep in a
cooler). |
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If it's
in a garage and there's stuff you don't want to sell (your ladder,
wheelbarrow, etc.), put it all on one wall or in a corner and
cover it with sheets or tarps. Put a sign on it: "Not for
sale". (But people will probably still try to nose around
and want to buy it. Be prepared to say no.) |
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You'll
need cash on hand to make change. Consider getting a roll of
quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies. You'll also need some
$1 bills, some fives and some tens. |
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Plastic
bags: Save some so people can use them to take stuff they buy. |
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Clear
plastic bags (i.e., sandwich bags or quart bags). Use them to
put small things in (like jewelry). It helps ensure little things
don't get easily lost--it's easier to see a plastic bag than
two small earrings. |
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Inclement
weather: If it's a yard sale, what will you do if it rains?
If it will be postponed, put that on your signs ("In the
event of rain...") |
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Is there
ample lighting? (If it's indoors, will you need some sort of
lights or lamps?) |
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| 2.
Considerations: |
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Parking:
Is there ample parking available? |
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Date:
Avoid holidays (it will annoy your neighbors) |
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Early
birds: Some people will always arrive early.
If you want to avoid early birds, write "no early birds"
on your signs. |
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Is it
okay with your kids that you sell their stuff? If you sell something
that belongs to a child, and they haven't agreed to it, you
could end up with a major emotional crisis. |
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Can
someone else be there with you, to help? |
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Delivery:
If you're selling large or heavy items (sofa, washing machine,
etc.), somebody who buys them may ask about having them delivered.
Do you have a truck? Know somebody who does? If not, see if
you can find somebody who will deliver, so you can tell a buy
how much it would cost. (Note: Some Home Depots and Lowe's stores
rent trucks by the hour.) |
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|
| 3.
The Day Of The Garage Sale: |
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Make
sure the place looks neat. |
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Lock
up pets or take them to a relative's. |
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When
they buy something, add it all up yourself -- don't take their
word for it. As you do, check pockets or squeeze clothing to
make sure they didn't hide something "extra" in a
pocket. |
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Keep
all valuables (i.e., jewelry) in a conspicuous place, where
you can always see it. |
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Keep
some batteries on hand to use for stuff that's battery-powered.
Decide in advance if you'll let them keep batteries or charge
extra. (Don't give away $3 worth of batteries with a 50¢ toy!) |
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Make
sure an electrical outlet or extension cord is available to
use to demonstrate that electrically-powered stuff works. Keep
it out of the way so that people don't trip on it. |
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Keep
your money in a safe place (preferably with you, wherever you
go). |
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Don't
accept checks, unless you know the person. |
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Don't
let strangers in your house, unless you or a family member accompany
them. |
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Post
a sign: "All sales FINAL" |
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GarageSaleHowTo.info |
