Having a garage sale before your big moving day can reduce the number of items you have to move while also being a source of additional cash to help fund the move. However, a garage sale can be a lot of work, especially if you aren’t properly prepared. To help get you ready for a pre-move garage sale, UF Mover Guys has put together this list of seven tips.
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Get Ready Sooner
A good way to provide full inventory for your garage sale is to do some spring cleaning first. We suggest finishing this anywhere from two weeks to a month before your anticipated garage sale date. Doing a deep clean of your home can help uncover more sellable items. After all, you don’t want to be packing after the garage sale and still be finding items you could have sold. Preparing sooner also gives you more time to focus on packing and securing moving services.
Make An Inventory List
As you decide on what stays and goes, note each item on a spreadsheet or another tracking method. Later, you can decide on possible price ranges for each item. Not only will this help you price everything faster on the day of the garage sale, but it will also be a reference point in case anyone is helping you out during the garage sale. Speaking of help, we strongly suggest you have at least one or two other people because hosting a garage sale can be tough work.
Get Supplies Prepared
While you can go bare minimum on the supplies, especially if you aren’t selling many things, you should prepare everything before the garage sale. Think about whether you want to display items on tables or blankets. What about chairs for you and your helpers? You’ll also want to mark item prices with tags or stickers. A garment rack, shower tension pole, or even sturdy rope tied between two points can neatly show off clothes. We also suggest using smaller bills and coins ready to make change, and maybe even a calculator to help with on-the-fly number crunching. If you’re having a larger yard sale, consider purchasing an inexpensive money box to keep the money organized and secure. Signage can also help advertise your garage sale.
Don’t Shy Away From Advertising
You can’t hope people will just stumble upon your garage sale. The bare minimum advertising is road signs telling people when and where the garage sale will be. It’s usually best to set these up the morning of your garage sale, but other advertisements can be done in advance. Consider expanding your efforts to your social media pages, where you probably have access to a larger audience. There may even be local social media group pages for garage sales. You can also make flyers and ask local businesses if you can post them. No matter where you advertise, be sure to list details about what kinds of items you’ll be selling, especially if there’s anything special or unusual.
Be Prepared To Haggle
A time-honored tradition of garage sales is haggling. Even if you’ve priced every item fairly, there will still be people who try to haggle or bundle other items with their purchase. Consider what price you’re willing to accept for each item, and if someone begins to haggle, you’ll have a predetermined amount you’re willing to accept. If you don’t want to be haggled with or think something is worth more than anyone is willing to pay, consider selling the item through other channels, such as local consignment shops or online platforms.
Have A Plan For Unsold Items
Even the most successful garage sales may not sell every item. Having a plan in place for leftover items can make the next step easier after a long day of selling. You may decide to have another day for the garage sale, but if so, you’ll need to revisit all of your advertising efforts. You can also donate items locally. If you’re over it and don’t want to deal with the hassle, consider scheduling junk removal services. We’ll take care of any leftover items in an eco-friendly, safe, and clean manner so you can focus on more important things.