Planning a successful garage sale before you move
No matter how long you’ve lived in your home, you’ve likely collected items you don’t want to bring into your new home. The issue a lot of homeowners have is whether they should sell, donate, or keep certain items. Selling items in 2020 has become easier with the help of websites like Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp, but what if you don’t want to deal with shipping or having to physically meet people? A classic garage sale may be the answer for you and your families items.
To plan a successful garage sale, a lot of things need to be taken into consideration. When will it take place? Where will it take place? How can you get your things organized?
When will the garage sale take place?
Choosing the right time of year to have a garage sale is important. A time should be chosen that makes people want to come outside. The nostalgia of a garage sale also involves the feeling of comfortability. Of course, when deciding to move, people don’t take the weather into consideration so you may have to make a couple sacrifices. If you have the ability, choose a late summer, early fall date for your garage sale. People will still feel comfortable outside which will lead to their decision to browse the garage sale a lot longer.
Get the word out
Once you’ve worked out the little details of your products, start to get the word out about your garage sale. You can easily make flyers, post on your social media, and even get a garage sale sign for the day of the sale to point out where you are located. Just make sure the word gets out and don’t be afraid to promote some of the more eye catching products you want to sell!
Organize your things for the customer
Organization is key in a garage sale. It not only makes your life easier, but it makes your possible customers’ lives easier as well. Sort your things into different categories and have those categories labeled. This will help with people browsing by easily pointing out where certain items are located. For example, put all the kitchen items together on one table and any lighting items together on another.
Label all of your items with the price stickers sold in Walmart, Walgreens, and even Dollar Tree. These color coated “price tags” will help customers recognize prices so you don’t have to deal with a lot of back and forth… other than the people trying to regociate.
What you don’t sell
A plan for what you don’t sell is important. This may be where you begin to sell on Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp. You may decide to donate the products you didn’t sell, either way it is all up to you. If you’re really not sure what to do with those products, pack them in a box to bring to your new home. Don’t unpack the box until you are at least 75% organized at your new home, and by unpack, we mean open the box. No matter what you do with these items, make sure they don’t clutter your new home!