Garage sale newbie - please help

[34saving]

Well, it looks like I'm going to end up having a garage sale I've never done this before, so I need some advice from you veterans out there:

1) Good days/dates? Dates to avoid? (I'm in MN and school gets out June 8 or so)

2) Are some items I should definitely have in the sale? (If I can that is . . .)

3) Are there some items that just _never_ seem to sell?

4) I need stuff, a garage, tables and racks, signs, tape/stickers, change, and ?

5) Any advice on common pitfalls?

6) Is it worth it to sell pop/candybars?

7) Anything else I should know?

Thanks!

[2moretrees]

Be sure not to have it on a long or travel weekend. People are usually going someplace so they won't be looking at garage sales

My kids set up a lemonade stand and that seemed to work out well

Make sure it is well advertised. If people don't know about it, they can't come

[gakline]

I've seen a lot of people do Friday mornings...if you can get off of course. Open up early too. Like 7am. Get the early birds. Advertise in the local paper, put up signs the night before. Put them on multiple corners. Have a sign in the driveway (or like Northern WI, stick a ladder in the driveway)

Put any clothes on hangers and don't make people sort through them. Make sure everything is clean (ie. not dusty) Furniture seems to sell well.

Lots of change, and singles.

Whenever we've done sales, we put everything at dirt cheap prices. The object for us is to get rid of stuff not make money. So don't put prices too high. like 10 cents paperback, 25 cents hardcover. Nothings worse that looking for a bargain shopper and someone out to make hundreds of dollars.

Be wary of people just stopping to use the bathroom, so never leave outside unattended. Take them to the bathroom, and don't leave them. Have a changing station or side bathroom available for trying clothes on.

[34saving]

June 4 (and possibly 3) sound okay? 8-2?

Also, advertising in our community paper is $25. Is it worth it? I did find an internet site that sends out an e-mail and advertises online for $5. Would that be okay? I live off of a pretty busy road. . . .would signs be enough?

[mom-from-missouri]

At our last school garage sale, kids sold cans of generic soda for a buck-went over well as it was hot. If it is hot, dont sell candybars-they melt and you lose money. Hotdogs go over well if it going to be during a mealtime-we had a grill doing ours for school. See if you neighbors are iterested. If so, advertise it as a multi family garage sale on such and such a street and split the advertising. You get more business if people know they can park once and shop at multiple locations. You can never have to much change on hand, or too many sacks or empty boxes.

[anewshka]

1st weekend in June?? NOOO!!! Most schools get out 1 or 2 weeks prior to that. At that point, everyone is ready to go on vacation...from my experience. Try next to lat week, but before 4th of July.

[kashi]

34saving, list it on craigslist. It's free and a lot of people visit that site.

[34saving]

Graduation around here isn't until the next weekend. (Commencement is June 10, I think the kids get out June 8.)

[34saving]

Kashi -- thanks for the advertising hint -- looks good

[gakline]

Originally Posted by 34saving

June 4 (and possibly 3) sound okay? 8-2?

Also, advertising in our community paper is $25. Is it worth it? I did find an internet site that sends out an e-mail and advertises online for $5. Would that be okay? I live off of a pretty busy road. . . .would signs be enough?

I remember school getting done around the 8th of June.

How big is the community? Also the paper? I lived in Eau Claire and remember reading the paper for sales. But living in CHicago, I wouldn't check out the garage sales (too far to drive and too many roads).

[34saving]

Hmm . . .I'm in the south metro of Minneapolis/St. Paul. The local paper is just for the southern suburbs. I think circulation is like 60,000. The Minneapolis or St. Paul papers would be way overkill I think. It's a pretty rare occasion that I'll look in the paper for sales, but I'm not a hard core garage saler, so . . .

[kashi]

Personally I would stick with craigslist and put up signs all over the neighborhood. Normally I don't go traipsing off to other parts of the cities to go to garage sales. If I go to one, it's going to be because I saw a sign for it near my house. Of course, I'm not a hardcore garage saler either! But that sounds like the cheapest way to go. Put up a few signs on that busy street and around the block, and you'll get plenty of people, I'm sure.

[mom-from-missouri]

Originally Posted by anewshka

1st weekend in June?? NOOO!!! Most schools get out 1 or 2 weeks prior to that. At that point, everyone is ready to go on vacation...from my experience. Try next to lat week, but before 4th of July.

wow. our schools are not out until around the first week. Best time I have every had one is about 2 weeks before school--esp if you have kids clothes for sale, or things college kids would want-dishes, furniture and etc.

[DeNovi]

I have a garage sale EVERY year.. If i havent used in a year its in the sale..

yes we sale bottled water and canned pop not brand name for .35 cents a can or li more..

prices very low to get rid of the stuff..

the second day i generally price stuff 1/2 off on that day..
not on big ticket items tho..

I have sold stoves for $ 50.00, appliances toaster etc
1 - 2 $ make sure yo have an outlet so they can test
products.

$ 50.00 in singles. (2) 10.00s.. you will/or may get alot of $ 20.00... if you do make sure someone can go to the bank or store to get change for you. Also make sure you have Roll of each Quarters - 10.00, Dimes - 5.00,
Nickels - 2.00, pennies - .50cents..

No Personal Checks what so EVER.. if they want it. they can put a deposit down and come back..

Good Luck and last year my total sales were

$ 650.00 dollars~

[jodi]

I don't know if you have already decided on dates yet...but around here (Upstate NY) eveyone does Friday and Sat. - or only Sat. No one does Sunday sales anymore. Be specific in your ad - I have to pick and choose between sales, so I will be more likely to go to one that says 'baby clothes', 'books' or whatever, rather than one that just says 'garage sale'. If you have antiques and/or collectibles, list them in the ad. They catch the eye of collectors.
Price low, especially on clothes. I refuse to pay more than $.50 per item of children's clothing, except for rare exceptions. I hate going to a garage sale and finding $2 on a kids shirt - a waste of my time to stop, because I can buy a shirt in the store for that on sale. JMO - your area might be different if people are willing to pay more.
Bowling balls rarely sell - anything that is too dated (clothes, furniture). If I have things that probably won't sell, but I don't want to add them to the landfill, I will put them in a free box. People have taken broken appliances, torn clothing, etc. this way. At least it doesn't go to waste. People can use the parts or the fabric for something else (don't put the free box at the end of the driveway where people will stop first - we have had people check out the free box, find things, then leave!).
I usually don't buy food unless it's a neighborhood type sale, where I have been there a long time (btw, these always catch my eye in the paper and I make a point to hit them), it's a really hot day, or it's kids selling lemonade. I also have been known to buy an occasional baked good just because it looks good but I don't think I have ever bought candy. I would stick to baked goods, hot dogs, soda - things you can reasonably eat yourself if they don't sell.
HTH - good luck.
jodi
Oh yeah, put signs all over. I had heard once to plan on how big to make your signs - then make them twice as big. Be specific with arrows/directions- I hate searching for a garage sale. And be sure to take them down after the sale!

[34saving]

Thanks for the tips! I'm planning on Saturday, June 4 and maybe June 3. Some people around here start on Wednesday, but that just seems crazy to me! Now I'm in the process of pricing stuff . . .wow . . .what a process! Any hints on CDs? How about collectables like TV Guide? Would $2.00 be too much for a shirt/overall 18mo outfit new with tags? I'm trying to tag ten things a day . . . I didn't know it would require soooo much thought! (I'm used to eBay where I set the minimum and people bid it up, not a garage sale where I set the maximum and people try to get it for less . . .)

[Jenlee]

Just remember that people are going to bargain with you. Personally, I wouldn't spend $2 on an outfit from a yard sale, but if I saw $2 and they took $1.50, I might buy it. My mom, on the other hand will not pay more than 50¢ a piece and this is including clothes for older grandchildren.

[DeNovi]

are the outfits new? I would do like $ 1.50 or 1.25 people will ask for less as long as you are willing to to that.. or look for a resale shop and see if they will do the clothes on consignment for you. might make more money doing it that way.

kids clothes usually go for like 10 cents. 25 cents. 50 cents. no more than a $ 1.00 but this is Wisconsin.. Illinois was pretty much the same too when i lived there over 4 yrs ago..
as long as you are willing to go down on your prices you should do ok

if there is something you dont want to go down on mark FIRM on that
piece so they wont ask you for it cheaper

[34saving]

Thanks for the tips on clothes. Okay, the next big problem: My husband is ready to part with a big TV Guide collection (mostly from the 80s). Any ideas on how to price?

[DeNovi]

If you have all the series.. i would ask for at least like .25 cents a book? i am not positive. if there are only at random i have no Idea
check ebay and see if any one is saving them.. hope that helps you