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Related Reading
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 Garage
Sale Magic!: How to Turn Your 'Trash' into Cash
Over 60,000,000 people go to or conduct their own garage
sales every year. Garage Sale Magic! is the #1 book on garage
sales, written by America's garage sale experts. Now you
can get the easy step-by-step approach that Michael and
Pam Williams have used scores of times over the past 20
years. Their sales take in over $2,500 every time, over
a three day period. See how Michael and Pam Williams do
it, enjoy their light humor and illustrations, and above
all, have fun! The authors also created the Garage Sale
Magic! video, which follows the Williams at three separate
garage sales, and shows you how they handle each of the
step-by-step lessons from their book. The video is narrated
by TV star David Leisure.
 Garage
Sales 101
Garage Sales 101 is a book that describes in detail how to
have a fun and successful garage sale. It includes tricks
of the trade, what a person should and should not do, suggestions
on how to draw a larger crowd, how to compose a sound newspaper
ad, and a collection of humorous stories. It concludes with
a monthly guide on what to do at various stages of holding
a sale. The book is written in a humorous yet informative
manner, with several illustrations that add to the book's
character.
Decorating
With Great Finds: 82 Ways to Use Finds from Antique Stores,
Garage Sales & Attics (Arts & Crafts for Home Decorating)
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Grappling
with the Garage Sale Giant
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Are you cluttering up corners with things you don't want,
but just can't throw out? Well, before you break down and
cart it off to the junkyard, remember this. Your trash could
be someone else's treasure. Why not hold a garage sale,
make some stranger happy, and pocket a little money? It
doesn't have to be a major hassle. Just follow these tips.
Before the sale:
• Check for restrictions in your neighborhood.
The last thing you want to do is offend your neighbors. Your
city may also have garage sale restrictions.
• Decide on your sale days. Thursdays, Fridays,
and Saturdays are the best days for selling. Sundays are a
waste of time.
• Advertise
your sale on the Web at these sites:
•
Clean your goods. Now some people will tell you to polish
every item, but I wouldn't go that far. Just make sure everything's
dust-free and reasonably clean. Otherwise, it probably won't
sell.
• Keep plastic bags and newspapers available for
wrapping and carrying customer purchases.
• Prepare for early birds. They'll always show, especially
if you place an ad in the newspaper. If you don't want
them there, say so in your ad. Otherwise, get someone else
to put up your signs while you watch the goods. And
if your ad says your sale starts at 8 a.m., you'd better be
set up at 7:30.
• Hook up an extension cord so people can try
out any electrical items.
• Set up display tables. Hang
a clothesline to display clothes or other hangable items.
Try not to display things on the ground because people don't
like bending over to search through things. If you have no
alternative, place items on a tarp or sheet.
At the sale:
• Don't sell unfixable items. If
something's broken, but fixable, you may still be able to
sell it cheap if you mark it that way. Otherwise, stick it
in a box marked "free" along with other unfixable
items. Someone may take it for parts.
• Put books and the interesting stuff out front to
draw in customers. Also, if you have any tools, put a tool
table out front to draw the male shoppers, who otherwise may
not stop the car.
•Display fragile items out of children's reach.
Make sure they are placed on a sturdy display table.
• Dishes, glasses, and cups sell better in sets.
Books, on the other hand, sell better individually.
• Create a pleasant atmosphere. Don't let the
dog out. That big guy who won't get out of his car is afraid
of your toy poodle. Play some nice background music so customers
won't think you're listening to their conversations. If it's
really hot, think about providing your customers with some
cool water.
• Expect bargain hunters. Some people love to
haggle, but if it's early and you're comfortable waiting for
another purchaser, tell them you'll come down if you don't
sell it by 11.
• Get a good price for high-dollar items by pasting
to the item a sales ad showing what it would cost new.
• Keep rearranging as items sell. Move items that
were hidden before into better position. Space out items so
it doesn't look like all the good stuff's gone. This keeps
you busy when sales slow.
After the sale:
• Take down your signs. You don't want sale hunters
driving by at all hours. Besides, some communities will fine
you for leaving signs up too long.
• Donate your leftover items. Donations are often
tax deductible. Don't forget to get a receipt. Try Goodwill,
the Salvation Army, your local library, or the local women's
shelter.
• Clear out whatever you can't donate. Don't save
it. Trash it.
Written by Iris Wolfe
When do you like to hit the garage sales?
E-mail
us.
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On the Web
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GarageSaleHunter.com
The Yardsale Queen
Home & Garden Television
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Money
on the Side
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So you're hoping to make a bundle on your grandfather's
old rocker? Well, don't sell it at a garage sale. You probably
won't make a mint on your sale, but these tips can help
make it worth your while:
• Keep a calculator handy for adding up multiple
purchases.
• Don't take checks unless you're prepared for
the risks.
• Make smart change. When someone gives you
a large bill, leave it out until you've given them change.
They can't say they gave you a $20 when their $10 is still
sitting there.
• Keep prices even. Make it easy on yourself.
Price things at 25 or 50 cents instead of 40 or 70 cents.
• Guard your money. Wearing a fanny pack means
you don't have to worry about keeping one eye on your money
and another on customers.
• Start with some change. Try starting with
$50 worth, like a $20, a $10, two $5s, five $1s, and five
dollars in quarters.
• Beware of "helpers" totaling their
own items. They may be honest, helpful folks, but
they could be trying to get more for free. If necessary,
tell them you have to total it yourself so you can pay your
brother his portion later.
• Price everything. Items can usually be priced
at about 1/3 of their new value. However, clothes
usually won't sell if priced more than $1 and books
should go for 25 cents for paperbacks and 50 cents for hardbacks.
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Advertising Tips:
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Place signs at large intersections nearby.
• Place an ad in the newspaper. List any large or
special interest items, especially furniture, baby items,
books and children's toys.
• Don't place signs on utility poles or trees. All
the leftover staples and nails are hazardous to electrical
workers.
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