Garage Sale Tips

Allied has created a garage sale tutorial to help you plan an execute a successful garage sale. To make sure a garage sale is something you can handle, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you have time to organize and hold your garage sale?
• Do you have items that are viable for sale?
• Is your house in a location that is conducive to a garage sale?
• Do you have family or friends to help you with your garage sale?

If you answered yes to the above questions, you're ready to hold your garage sale! Remember that your garage sale can be both personally and financially rewarding. Not only will you clear the clutter from your home, but you can make extra money along the way. Furthermore, getting rid of items you don't want or need anymore can help you save money on your household shipping costs.

Garage Sales Tips: First Steps

• Make sure your municipality or homeowners association allows garage sales, and if so, what types.
• Find out if there are permitting requirements by calling your local municipalities office.
• Check to see if your homeowner's coverage provides liability for injuries a person may sustain on your property.
• Consider a block sale by asking neighbors if they are interested in having garage sales as well.
• Ask if your community has a website where you can advertise your garage sale.
• If you plan on hanging signs to advertise your sale, make sure it's legal in your town or city.
• Get friends and family to help with your garage sale.
• Start saving shopping bags, plastic grocery bags and boxes.

Garage Sales Tips: Get Organized

Get organized by determining what you will and will not sell. If you have not used it in the last five years, you can live without it. Sell it!

• Make a list of all the items that you want to sell.
• Consider selling items that may cost more to ship, such as swing sets and other outdoor recreational furniture. It's often cheaper to buy furniture new at your new location rather than pay to transport it as part of your move.

Garage Sales Tips: What to Sell

Below you will find a list of items to sell in a garage sale. Sell these items, as they are typically some items that move fastest during a garage sale. Mind you, that what is considered as junk to one person can be someone else's treasure. Use common sense when pricing these items, and make lower price tags for those items that may not be in the best condition.

• Small and Large Appliances
• Photography, Video and Audio Equipment
• Baby Furniture, Toys, Clothing, etc.
• Books
• Bottles, Jars and Containers
• Fishing and Boating Equipment
• Kitchen Appliances and Accessories
• CDs, DVDs, Records, etc.
• Furniture
• Fitness Equipment
• Gardening Tools
• Bicycles
• Mirrors, Lighting, Frames, Art
• Patio and Lawn Furniture
• Guitars, Drums and Other Musical Instruments
• Plants (Remember, most professional moving companies will not transport plants as part of your shipment, so it's best to sell them, throw them away or transport them yourself)
• Rugs and Carpets
• Sports Equipment

Garage Sales Tips: Set the Price!

Remember, price the items in your garage sale according to their worth to others, not their personal value to you! Retain objectivity by asking a friend to help you in setting the price. Realistic and fair pricing will move more items faster than higher priced items.

• Charge 20% of the original cost. This includes excellent, good, fair and working conditions.
• Price used clothing and books lower.
• Remember to leave room for bargaining with your items. Everyone loves a great bargain.
• Label items that don't work as to not have a buyer purchase something that they think functions but actually does not.
• Be certain to secure a tag to each item and record the costs on a sheet.
• When you look at the items that you want to sell, be honest. There are some good items and there are some not so good items. That's okay. A way to ensure that those undesirable items will sell is to bundle them by putting one or two great items with one or two less than great items!

Garage Sale Tips: Bring in the buyers

Your garage sale is comparable to a store. Merchandise your items in a way that appeals to buyers. How good something looks does matter, so consider the following garage sale tips when preparing items for your garage sale:

• Wash, dry, iron and fold or hang all clothing
• Arrange similar items together at the sale
• Use signage to label areas of your garage sale
• Merchandise items as they would be at a store
• If you are having a block sale, color code all your belongings so you know what's yours
• Polish silver or brass.
• Wipe and clean all glass and mirrors

Advertise Cleverly and Aggressively

• Use signs, balloons, flags and banners
• Post your garage sale on the Internet, local websites for your community and the like
• Run ads in the local papers
• Place signs on trees, store windows and wherever else is permitted

Garage Sales Tips: Be safe

Garage sales will still attract the bizarre, dishonest person in addition to all the honest buyers. Make sure you're safe during the garage sale by using the following tips:

• Always have two people at your garage sale, at all times. The more eyes, the better.
• Place all your items outside the garage door and shut the door. Try not to permit access to your home if possible.
• Use a fanny pack or money belt to keep the money you will use to make change on you at all times.
• Lock the doors to your residence.

Wow, you did it!

Congratulations! You have successfully completed a garage sale by using Allied's garage sale tips. Do you have leftover items that you were unable to sell during your garage sale? Consider donating them to Goodwill, the Salvation Army or local charities. Clear the clutter and make some extra cash by planning your garage sale today. Happy selling with garage sale tips from Allied.