Whether you’re trying the KonMari method or wanting to make a quick buck, garage sales are a great way to make more room for things you actually need. You also get to make new friends when your neighbors come over to check out stuff you’re selling. In fact, garage sales are observed to foster a sense of community within the neighborhood.
Hosting a successful garage sale in West Valley isn’t as easy as it looks on TV. It requires a lot of planning, record keeping, and some elbow grease. You might have to spend a bit of money as well. If you don’t have any use for a broken appliance, have your appliance repaired first before selling it. You’ll get more profit selling a functional item; especially if it only needed minor fixing.
See if You Need a Permit
To avoid hefty fines, check with your city government if you need a permit to run your garage sale. Some cities offer free permits for yard sales. Check your city’s website if they have an online form to fill out for your certificate.
Gather the Items
Now that you have your permit, you can confidently carry out your plan. Start by wearing old clothes (because you will get dirty) and place a box in the middle of your living room. Grab a cloth or garbage bag and go around the house collecting things you don’t need. Deposit them in the box and move on to the next room, and so on.
Classify Everything
Once you’ve collected everything and detached yourself from their sentimental value, group them up into smaller boxes or racks. Keep things specific. If you’re selling clothes, classify them into tops, bottoms, outerwear, etc. For electronics — chargers, computer components, accessories, etc. Label everything according to their group. You’ll thank yourself once you’re setting up everything on your yard.
Set Your Prices
With everything organized, it’s time to price each item. The popular one-third rule is a great place to start. This rule says that when you’re selling a used item, price it at around one-third of the original cost. This won’t always apply to everything you sell, but it should give you an idea.
Some items can be worth close to their original price depending on their newness. You can also gather similar things and sell them as a bundle. This is great if you want to sell everything as soon as possible. When in doubt, search it up on sites like Craigslist and gauge how much each item goes for.
Let Everyone Know
One of the best things about setting up a garage sale today is that you can easily advertise it online. Websites like Garage Sale Finder and Yardsales.net can get you on the map of your local buyers. Some even use the websites to find deals across cities.
You should also use social media sites to let your family and friends know about your sale. Exhaust every outlet you use — from Facebook to Instagram. Make sure that the date, time, and location of your event shows up on every post.
Set the Stage
The presentation is just as important as the items themselves. Dust and polish everything clean. Make sure you have enough tables for your stuff. Use the categories you created earlier to label zones on the table. Place your items in their respective zones, and you’re good to go.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help from family and friends when running your yard sale. It will get hectic once a lot of people come to ask about items and haggle for them. Keep a close inventory of your items and their price, even if you’ve labeled them already. Once your sale is over and you still have leftovers, don’t fret. You can always send them to a charity. You’ll rest easy knowing your house is cleaner and your pre-loved stuff didn’t go to waste.