Are you tired of all those bits and pieces that keep piling up? Before tossing them out, make a few extra dollars by hosting a garage sale. You’d be surprised how much cash you can make by selling off your old junk.
Tip 1: Make sure you’re doing it right
The last thing you want is to get in trouble over a little garage sale. Do some research on the council regulations regarding garage sales in your area. This will help make sure you won’t be handing over your hard-earned cash to pay a fine.
Tip 2: Do some groundwork
You’ll want your garage sale to get as much exposure as possible, so a great thing to do (other than just put up cardboard signs) is to do a bit of digital marketing too. Check Facebook for community groups for your area and let your local neighbours know you’re having a garage sale. Doing a bit of marketing online is an easy and free way to get the word out.
Tip 3: Organise your inventory
To make it as easy as possible for potential buyers to browse and find particular objects they’re interested in, organise your inventory. For example, group DVDs together, put all your electronics on one table and keep appliances together. The more logical your setup, the more likely your garage sale will be a success.
Tip 4: Figure out pricing
Whether you have a few tables that are marked ‘Everything $1’, ‘Buy one get one free’ or you just want to pre-price everything, it’s important you know how much you’re willing to sell everything for. Having a rough price in mind will help decide what’s a good deal and what your bottom price will be.
Tip 5: Be willing to negotiate
People love to bargain-hunt, and part of this process is haggling. Your buyers are going to want the cheapest price possible, so be prepared to negotiate your price. Remember, it’s best to let it sell for 20-30 per cent less than not at all!
Tip 6: Remember to have plenty of change
Your primary (and most likely only source) of payment will be cash, so be prepared to have plenty of change on hand. Keep it inside a money belt that you can wear, so your cash is always on you and no one can swipe it.
