Tips for Staging a Successful Garage Sale

Tips for Staging a Successful Garage Sale

It seems there are few things more purely American than the weekend garage sale. Whether you’re heading out for your Saturday morning walk or are in the car running errands, chances are good you will come across more than a few entrepreneurial households dedicating their weekend time and energy into converting a selection of worldly possessions into cold, hard cash.

And while it’s true that certain segments of the population love nothing more than cruising garage sales, that is no guarantee they’ll show up at your driveway. Here are few steps you can take to make sure your sale is a rousing success.

Permit Me: Before you prep for your sale, check your city or county government website for permit requirements. If you do need a permit, most places make it super simple: You can easily apply online, and usually don’t have to pay a fee. And it’s definitely worth looking into a permit, as the fine you might receive could cancel out the money you made at the sale.

Clean House: Let’s face facts – a garage sale provides the perfect excuse for decluttering your house. Now is the time to clean out that hallway closet you’ve been using simply to store stuff. And while you’re at it, dig through your garage, basement, attic, other closets, cabinets and under all the beds. If you don’t use it or wear it often, it probably needs to go. The result for you will be extra money and extra space.

Start Sorting: Once you’ve collected your items, sort them into three basic categories: Keep, Sell and Trash. Your main goal in this step is to get rid of the junk that’s been cluttering your house and find a permanent home for those items you wish to keep. What’s left is what’s going on sale.

Set the Date: Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings are usually the best time to hold a garage sale but here’s an insider tip: Consider scheduling your sale on the first weekend of the month, when people have just reloaded their personal spending and fun money. And here’s another tip: Don’t forget to check the forecast before you hang up signs around the neighborhood. Rainy days keep buyers away.

Be Prepared: A successful garage sale can easily eat up the lion’s share of your weekend, so take steps to ensure it runs as smoothly as possible. For example, make sure you have a table and chairs set up in the designated area to cash people out. (This will also help you stay comfortable.) You’ll need some space to show off all the one-of-a-kind items you’re selling, so set out tables, blankets, boxes and storage containers. Whatever you do, make sure breakable items are supported on a stable surface.

Swipe Those Cards: It might seem odd to say this about a garage sale, but you are sure to increase sales if you accept digital payments. Download a free app like Venmo or PayPal to your smartphone or check out services like Square or Stax. It’s true, cash is always king, but taking other forms of payment can improve your bottom line.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.