Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 26

Thread: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

  1. #1
    BrunetteGoddess
    Guest

    Default Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    I need to have a garage sale in about 2 weeks right before I leave and pretty much my entire house contents need to be sold off.

    I could really use some advice, tips, etc. on how to have the most successful and profitable sale, as this money I make will be money to move and live off for a while.

    Thanks in advance!

  2. #2
    God/dess Mastridonicus's Avatar
    Joined
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Paradigm City
    Posts
    6,784
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 12 Times in 7 Posts

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    Do it in a bikini. Seriously. You'd get more people looking at your stuff. Swear it.

    No other advice tho.
    People are not ruled by their memories.

  3. #3
    God/dess
    Joined
    Nov 2004
    Posts
    2,352
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    Well you should put an add in the newspaper for one , and make a few of those nail up garage sale posters . I have done a few GS and never advertised and had plenty turn out but I wasnt leaving town so it wasnt critical to sell everything .
    They are all going to bargain hunt so mark it moderate because any good GS custy will bid low . It's pretty hot in AZ still so it's a tough time of year to do this , people dont wanna GS shop in 110 . Good luck hope you sell it all .

  4. #4
    BrunetteGoddess
    Guest

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    I know CJ, AZ seriously fucks up my mojo At least I'm not in Phoenix, and I live south of Tucson, so it's about 10 degrees cooler than Tucson.

    I have a problem though: I live in a gated community, that you can only access with a gate code, or you find the person's name and call them to buzz you in. The number that is set to call us was our former home phone, which we don't have anymore, only cell phones, and we don't have time to change it. There's a gate code we give to friends to get in, but that won't work. I can't just post the gate code on my signs or my association will be pissed, because what's the point in being in a gated community if the code is pasted in public right?

    So how do I have my sale if people can't get in?? I know people in my neighborhood have had sales before, but that was when we still had construction going on, so our gate was open until 6pm to let contractors in and out. But now construction is done, and the gate stays closed all day and night.

    What do I do? I was thinking maybe put on the sign : "Call for gate access" and put my number on the sign?

    Also, how do I find out if there's any rules in my community with the association for garage sales? I tried emailing them and they don't respond!

  5. #5
    God/dess greenidlady1's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2005
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    4,183
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 14 Times in 12 Posts

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    Well an ad in your local paper is great for starters with the time and date, very brief description of items (household items, clothes, dishes, etc.) then of course your address. Then you want to place neon signs with big black writing on them at the top of your street and/or the nearest main intersection.

    Some tables to set your items on would be great, try to make it somewhat organized so people can see what you have. Get little blank stickers and put prices on all items as well. A lot of people will try to bargain with you on the price and as the day progresses you can let things go for cheaper so you don't end up hauling it all off. You'll also need a change box with change already on hand as well. Try to start your sale by 6:30am because most people that go to sales (I use to be one of them) like to start early. I can't think of anything else right off. Good luck with your sale, hope it goes well.

  6. #6
    cameron_keys
    Guest

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    If it is that hot I'd put some stuff inside if you can. If people have the option of going in and cooling off they'll stay longer. BIG signs saying MORE INSIDE so they know.Also..refreshments. Cool drinks..water, lemonade, iced tea. All good. You can sell them if you want or just give cups away...nice incentive again. to stay longer and therefore buy more.
    Lots of signs ....make sure that your city doesnt require a permit for a GS...believe it or not..many do.And while they dont usually enforce it...Murphys Law says you'll be the ONE to get fined!!
    Start EARLY..like crack of dawn early. The hard core GS shoppers start looking for them then.
    Have some music playing in the background. Something fun that will appeal to a lot of people...aka no hard core rock or rap! Make it a party and more people will come.

    Make sure you have money to start out with..people will need change.

    If you have anything like clothes..hang them up...dont lie them on the ground. Just a rope strung between trees is fine. Makes the clothes look more appealing.

    If you have a pickup or know someone that does thats willing to let you borrow..you can offer to deliver big items like furniture. People sometimes dont buy stuff like that only because they have no way to get it home. Put right on the item that you can deliver it for them locally. Charge enough for it to cover gas.

  7. #7
    God/dess greenidlady1's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2005
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    4,183
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 14 Times in 12 Posts

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    If they don't respond I'd try to go ahead with it, at least you tried . Put your phone number in your ad and on your signs. Just put call for gate code then put your phone number down.

  8. #8
    BrunetteGoddess
    Guest

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    ETA:

    I don't have much to spend. The newspaper charges like $50 for even a small ad, so I'll probably just have to post on CL....

  9. #9
    God/dess Mr Hyde's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Tampa
    Posts
    4,035
    Thanks
    278
    Thanked 586 Times in 346 Posts

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    Don't look at it primarily as a way to make money, look at it as a way to get rid of stuff you don't need/want anymore. Don't bother putting prices on stuff...let people ask you what you want for your stuff, and then tell them. Have lots of dollar bills and small change on hand. Be ready to go an hour and a half before you advertise the start...garage sale freaks will show up that early.

    And I like the bikini idea...

  10. #10
    BrunetteGoddess
    Guest

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    Quote Originally Posted by cameron_keys View Post
    Lots of signs ....make sure that your city doesnt require a permit for a GS...believe it or not..many do.And while they dont usually enforce it...Murphys Law says you'll be the ONE to get fined!!
    Where exactly do I find my local laws like if I need a permit, and sign ordinances?

  11. #11
    cameron_keys
    Guest

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    Hmmm.gated community..thats tough. Usually they frown on these things.Can you call them? You dont want to end up making money at the sale just to have to pay it in fines.
    Pain in the ass I know..but do you have a friend with a non-gated home that you can have it at? Maybe just list the larger things like furniture on craigslist. Or have a list of those things with pictures at the sale and invite interested people to come see it.

  12. #12
    BrunetteGoddess
    Guest

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    Quote Originally Posted by cameron_keys View Post
    Hmmm.gated community..thats tough. Usually they frown on these things.Can you call them? You dont want to end up making money at the sale just to have to pay it in fines.
    Pain in the ass I know..but do you have a friend with a non-gated home that you can have it at? Maybe just list the larger things like furniture on craigslist. Or have a list of those things with pictures at the sale and invite interested people to come see it.
    No, unfortunately i don;t have another place to have it. But like I said, I know people in our community who have had sales already. I think our neighbor did once, maybe I'll ask him. If they would frown on GSs, I'd actually laugh. I know this community is snooty, but we are also normal people!

    And my association is a PITA to get a hold of

  13. #13
    God/dess greenidlady1's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2005
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    4,183
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 14 Times in 12 Posts

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    Another idea is to have it in front of a vacant commercial building.

  14. #14
    cameron_keys
    Guest

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    Well if your neighbor did it, then that would def be your best rescource. Ask what he did, how he did it, if he needed a permit...and how succesful he was.

    And for the record..I too agree with the bikini thing. And for posted pics of the event!

  15. #15
    BrunetteGoddess
    Guest

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    I wish my parents hadn't moved yet, they used to have them and tons of people came at their old house...

    Now they moved to Benson, AZ, so that's a no go..

    I don't know about a bikini....I'm pretty self conscious lately.

  16. #16
    cameron_keys
    Guest

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    Whatever...I saw your pics...I'd buy whatever you sold if you were in a bikini!!

    And I'd offer my house to you to use...but I dont think it would do you much good being thousands of miles away and all...LOL!

  17. #17
    BrunetteGoddess
    Guest

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    Quote Originally Posted by cameron_keys View Post
    Whatever...I saw your pics...I'd buy whatever you sold if you were in a bikini!!

    And I'd offer my house to you to use...but I dont think it would do you much good being thousands of miles away and all...LOL!
    Hey, we'd make quite a team! LOL. BTW, R just went to San Diego to interview with a company from Tampa and he said it went well. However his old, psycho, bitter boss was also there (convention) so R doesn't know if the guy will be an asshole and bad mouth R. Cross your fingers! I'd love to meet you FL gals!

    As far as the bikini, I'm sure I'd piss off too many snooty rich peopel and housewives; it's a wealthy golf course community with no sense of humor

  18. #18
    cameron_keys
    Guest

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    Quote Originally Posted by BrunetteGoddess View Post
    As far as the bikini, I'm sure I'd piss off too many snooty rich peopel and housewives; it's a wealthy golf course community with no sense of humor
    And that would be fun too. In fact..that would be my prime motivation for doing it!! God I'm a bitch....

    Seriously..you're leaving anyway..what do you care what some snotty WASPS think of you? Make your money girl!

  19. #19
    BrunetteGoddess
    Guest

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale


  20. #20
    Featured Member cottoncandy's Avatar
    Joined
    Apr 2004
    Location
    North
    Posts
    761
    Thanks
    11
    Thanked 34 Times in 21 Posts

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    Living in a good neighborhood/gated community could work in your favor especially if you advertise in the newspaper. People who go to garage sales read the newspaper and look for the ones in the best neigborhoods to go to. Ritzy neighborhood= ritzy items for sale to alot of garagesale goers. That said in garage sales people are somewhat looking for bargins too. If you have high end designer clothes I think you're better taking pictures and listing it on ebay. Real designer clothes on ebay can go high! The furniture and other stuff in your house you should probably sell in the garage sale as it would be too bulky to ship.

  21. #21
    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Home
    Posts
    13,598
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 28 Times in 23 Posts

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    The most successful garage sales I've seen are the multi-family ones. The ones where people park in one spot and hit more than 3 garage sales do really well.

    Do any of your neighbors want to do a garage sale?

  22. #22
    Alaska
    Guest

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    Make really good signs. Colorful, exciting, fabulous, better than everyone else's.

    Arrange everything NEATLY!!!!!!!!!!!

    Can't tell you how many I just drive by cuz all their crap looks so ugly just laying there.
    Try to get as many tables as you can. Fold and hang clothes!

  23. #23
    God/dess Zabrina's Avatar
    Joined
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    2,892
    Thanks
    17
    Thanked 42 Times in 30 Posts

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    Its going to be a tough sale with the gate keeping customers at bay. I think you'd have much better luck taking pics of items and listing them on craigslist. At the very least, you need to post pics of your good stuff to get people interested enough to come over, especially since the gate will be blocking all the drive-by chance customers.

  24. #24
    BrunetteGoddess
    Guest

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    Quote Originally Posted by VenusGoddess View Post
    The most successful garage sales I've seen are the multi-family ones. The ones where people park in one spot and hit more than 3 garage sales do really well.

    Do any of your neighbors want to do a garage sale?
    I have no idea and really no time for them to decide to do so. I have 2 weeks to set it all up.

    That, and my neighbors don't really talk to each other, they kind of all keep to themselves.

  25. #25
    God/dess
    Joined
    Apr 2007
    Location
    The Diner State
    Posts
    5,085
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Advice on How to have a successful garage sale

    If you aren't already on your local Freecycle list (, sign up now! Post that you'll have free stuff at your house after a certain hour, or the next day. Those folks will come and carry anything left away!

    Ads in the paper are good, at least around here. I swear people are up waiting with baited breath for the paper boy and then head out at 7 am.

    As for finding out laws, you'll probably just have to go down to the office and ask them in person. But better safe than sorry. Can you arrange to have the gate open for a specific period of time that morning? Like 7-2 or something?

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Garage & Yard Sales
    By R-209 in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 09-25-2008, 08:09 PM
  2. There is a black widow spider in my garage
    By LuckyOne in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 24
    Last Post: 04-09-2008, 03:16 PM
  3. there's a chipmunk living in my garage...
    By Mia M in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 03-31-2008, 11:02 AM
  4. Go Shopping........... in my Garage!
    By GoldCoastGirl in forum For Sale & Wanted
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 02-25-2007, 05:38 AM
  5. Stripper garage sale!
    By Paris in forum For Sale & Wanted
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 02-02-2005, 04:12 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •