A garage sale is definitely one of the strategies I give the sellers I am working with when it comes time to declutter and list their home for sale in Gwinnett County, Georgia.
Garage sales also come in handy when it’s time for my clients to pack and move after their house has sold.
While I personally am not a fan of garage sales, as a homeowner, they can be a great way to get rid of unwanted items and make some extra cash. It especially helps if your house is on a main road. In Georgia, we have a lot of subdivisions and getting high traffic can be challenging. Nevertheless, here are some tips for having a successful garage sale…
A well-planned garage or yard sale can give you extra space in your home, get rid of unused items and make some money but it needs some of the same considerations that any business needs to be successful.
- Start early to research and plan
- Promotion is key
- Display items attractively
- Price items right
- Organize checkout
Determine the date of your sale, remembering that there are exceptions, but Saturdays are generally the best day. Experienced garage-salers believe that a well-planned one-day event will do as well as a multi-day event. Serious purchasers will look for the “new” sale and most people don’t come back multiple days.
Recognize that the first day of the sale will have the most people. Everyone will be looking for a bargain but some of them actually want to purchase things for them to resell at their own sales.
Advertise in local newspapers and free online classified sites like Craigslist. If several families are going together for the sale, mention that in the ad; it will be a big draw. Mention your bigger-ticket items like furniture, equipment and baby items.
Garage sale signs can be purchased at Home Depot, Lowes and you may be able to score some at the Dollar Tree or Family Dollar. Or you could have them made at Office Depot or FedEx Office. Signs need large lettering so they’re easy to read without too many words on them. Remember that people will be driving when they see them. Most important info: Garage or Yard Sale, address, date and time. Directional signs are also important along with balloons and streamers to attract attention.
Consider using the service Square so that you can take credit cards. The cost is 2.6% + 10¢ per swipe and you can do it on your smartphone or iPad. You’ll need to sign up at least two weeks in advance to receive your reader.
You will be amazed at what sells and what doesn’t. If your goal is to get rid of some things regardless, put those items in the sale and at the end of the sale, donate what you can to Goodwill and the balance goes to the dump. If you can’t bear to do that, box them up and try again next year or possibly, at one of your neighbors’ sales.
Other supplies you’ll need will be:
- Labels and markers for pricing items.
- Newspaper and clean, grocery bags to wrap breakables.
- Tables to display the items.
Unless you’re having an estate sale, keep your home locked. You don’t want people wandering through your home while you’re outside. If you start to accumulate a lot of money, take some of it inside. Don’t discuss how much money you’ve made during the sale or how successful it has been.
People will want to bargain; it’s the nature of the game. Consider this strategy: less negotiations early in the sale and possibly, more toward the end of the sale.Attachments area
Other supplies you’ll need will be:
- Labels and markers for pricing items.
- Newspaper and clean, grocery bags to wrap breakables.
- Tables to display the items.
Unless you’re having an estate sale, keep your home locked. You don’t want people wandering through your home while you’re outside. If you start to accumulate a lot of money, take some of it inside. Don’t discuss how much money you’ve made during the sale or how successful it has been.
People will want to bargain; it’s the nature of the game. Consider this strategy: less negotiations early in the sale and possibly, more toward the end of the sale.
Are you are looking to sell your starter home and buy your next home in or near Gwinnett County, Georgia?
Whether you are looking to move up into more space or to downsize, let’s chat! (404) 857-2508
You can also schedule a 15-minute phone meeting .https://calendly.com/soldbynat/15min
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