| ="body"> | | | | Large poster boards with general pricing guides can be |
| Ever tried selling your stuff by having a garage sale? If | | | | posted to sell clothes and books. |
| you haven't and really want to try it or if you've tried | | | | · Schedule a charity to pick up the stuff that |
| but the sale failed, read on to find out what makes a | | | | doesn't sell the week after the garage sale. That way |
| garage sale successful. Without planning and | | | | your garage won't be filled with leftover stuff that |
| preparation, your first garage might soon be called | | | | didn't sell. |
| your last. Yes, you can actually make money but you | | | | · Make sure you have plenty of change- |
| must put time and effort into the sale. So, if you don't | | | | different dollar bills and coins, when you open the |
| have a full weekend to devote to the sale or if you | | | | morning of your sale. |
| don't have help from your family or friends, don't take | | | | · Clear out all those shopping and grocery |
| on the challenge. Good support and help from others | | | | bags you've been saving. You can now use them up |
| makes the sale a lot easier. | | | | as people buy things. |
| Weeks (or months, depending on how fast you want | | | | Supplies to Advertise your Sale: |
| to prepare) leading up to the sale, spend time going | | | | · Buy Flag Banners and Balloons (found at |
| from room to room in your house looking for things to | | | | party supply stores) for your front yard to catch |
| sell. Be thorough, making sure to open every closet, | | | | people's attention |
| drawer, and cabinet in the room. Don't forget to look at | | | | · Make Garage Sale Signs on Poster |
| your furniture and what's hanging on the walls. If you | | | | Boards-include your address, an arrow pointing people |
| no longer use or like the item, put it in your garage sale | | | | towards your house & time of the sale. |
| pile. People are very surprised at what sells, but the | | | | · Place an ad in your local town's newspaper. |
| obvious no no's are things that are stained, broken, | | | | The newspapers usually have a section specifically |
| missing pieces, or torn. Everything else might be worth | | | | dedicated to garage sales listings. Placing an ad insures |
| trying to sell. | | | | traffic to your sale and it doesn't cost much. This is |
| Some people that have a garage sale each year | | | | definitely a must. |
| gather things year round and designate a shelf or table | | | | Optional Supplies to Consider: |
| in their basement to hold things until the sale weekend. | | | | · If you don't have enough tables to place your |
| That might be something to consider if you want to | | | | items on, try asking family, friends, or neighbors to |
| slowly gather things over months. After you've | | | | borrow theirs. If all else fails tables can be rented at a |
| gathered items in one spot, sit down and pick out a | | | | low cost. |
| weekend to run your sale. A one or two day sale will | | | | · Save your hangers from the dry cleaners so |
| do but make sure you get a garage sale permit from | | | | that you can hang some of the nicer clothes. Two |
| your local government. Most villages or suburbs will | | | | ladders and a pole create a makeshift clothing rack. |
| have guidelines and be sure to get those guidelines | | | | Get creative by looking around the house or garage to |
| early so you know what is and isn't allowed. | | | | see what you can use. Boxes or crates can hold |
| Essentials and Must Do's: | | | | books on the floor and the furniture you're selling can |
| · Buy Garage Sale pricing stickers (found at | | | | hold a few items as well. |
| your local office supplies store) and price everything. | | | | |