How to Have a Garage/Yard Sale and is It Worth It (2024)

Ayard orgarage sale isone ofthebest ways tofree upspace from old household clutter andmake some money.

However, ifyou want asuccessful garage sale, there ismore toitthan just throwing stuff into apile onatable with asign. Infact, there are quite afew steps you can take tohave amuch more successful garage sale.

Wehave put together acomprehensive guide that covers everything you need toknow tomake your garage sale aresounding success. From thorough planning andpricing toeffective advertising andselling strategies, this guide has got you covered.

With this knowledge, you’ll feel confident andready totackle thetask oforganizing asuccessful garage sale.

Setting UpYour Garage orYard Sale

Some people may wonder—are garage sales worth it?

Well, ifyou have plenty ofunused orextra items around your home, then theanswer isoften aresounding yes! Infact, when done with preparation, agarage sale can beincredibly lucrative.

However, one oftheimportant factors ingarage sale success isaproper layout orsetup. Think about those who will beattending your garage sale. Typically, most people have limited time orare just swinging intosee ifthey see anything they want quickly.

Unfortunately, those holding garage sales often set themselves upforfailure byhaving piles ofrandom items ordisorganized chaos that ishard tosort through. Some shoppers may beinterested inrummaging through these piles forhidden gems, but they will befar andfew between.

More commonly, you will see shoppers who stop by, take aloop oftheofferings, andleave when they don’t see anything atfirst glance.

That’s why it’s crucial tohave awell-laid-out garage oryard sale. Byorganizing your items, whether bycategory (such asclothing, toys, orhome goods) orbyhaving tables fordifferent price ranges, you’re taking control ofyour sale.

Ultimately, it’s uptoyou andcan depend onwhat items you are selling. Whatever thecase, having some level oforganization can goalong way inbringing more sales.

How toHave aGarage Sale: Tips forSuccess

Before wejump into thefiner details, let’s look atsome general tips onhow tohave agarage sale.

Check Permit Requirements

One ofthefirst questions toask yourself is, doyou need apermit foragarage sale? Every local area can bedifferent, andthis could bearequirement before starting your sale. Ifitisrequired, don’t try toavoid itandhave your sale under theradar. This can easily lead tounwanted fines that cut anyprofit from your sale.

Don’t Sell Just Anything

Asyou sort through unwanted items inyour home, you are likely toaccumulate quite alot. However, not all ofitwill beworth selling.

Before you put anything onsale, make sure tocheck its condition andfunctions.

Tosimplify this process, you can create three categories foryour sorting: Keep, Sell, orTrash.

The reality isthat some items may bebetter off thrown away ifthey are inrough shape ornolonger work. Ifyou are wondering what not tosell atagarage sale, here isageneral list ofitems toavoid.

  • Antiques
  • Old computers/phones
  • Coins, stamps, orother collectibles
  • Family heirlooms
  • Broken items
  • Personalized items
  • Historical items
  • Items with too much wear

Some oftheabove shouldn’t besold simply fortwo reasons.

  • First, they may beitems people most likely won’t want.
  • Secondly, they may bespecial items that will likely net more profit being sold tospecialized vendors with professional experience.

Set aDate Ahead ofTime

Another good practice istoset thedate foryour sale well ahead oftime. This way, you will have plenty oftime toprepare andget everything inorder. Some people may succeed with aspur-of-the-moment sale, but itismuch less likely.

Ifyou are unsure ofthebest time tohave your sale, setting adate earlier inthemonth isoften agood practice. This iswhen many people have just started their monthly budget andhaven’t spent all oftheir extra funds forthemonth yet.

Additionally, weekends are always better toensure you get asmuch foot traffic aspossible.

How toPrice Items foraGarage Sale

The next tip isonhow toprice items foragarage sale. You want toensure your items are priced fairly, but also that you are getting adecent profit from your hard work. Here are afew tips forgarage sale pricing.

  • 10% rule: Acommon rule forselling atgarage oryard sales isthe10% rule. This means you should price items ataround 10% ofwhat you paid. For instance, ifyou bought anitem for$30, then you should sell itataround $3. This isnot ahard fast rule, but itserves foradvising general orunimportant items.
  • Check online: Some items may behidden gems that are going forhigher than the10% rule. So, don’t forget tobrowse online tosee what price certain items are reselling at.
  • Check other garage sales: Other people’s sales can beagood place toget anidea ofwhat people like forpricing. See what other people have set their prices atandwhat seems tobeselling atagreat pace.
  • Quantity over quality: While itcan betempting toprice everything higher toget more profit, garage sales are often abetter place tofocus onquantity. Offer deals formultiple items tooffload asmuch ofyour stock aspossible.

Where toAdvertise Garage Sale

So, you’ve got your items, decided onalayout, set pricing, andscheduled adate.

The next step istoget theword out about your sale. Let’s break this down into physical andonline methods.

Starting with physical, several tried andtrue methods continue todowell, including:

  • Signs onthecorner ofyour street andstreets close toyou
  • Notes onlocal billboards (Grocery stores, libraries, andmore)

Ifyou are wondering how tomake garage sale signs, check online. Several guides can show you thebest way tomake them andwhat information toinclude.

While theabove are still definitely effective, online methods are anexcellent way toadvertise your sale aswell these days. Online methods andplatforms include:

  • Craigslist
  • Yard Sale Search
  • Facebook

How toPost aGarage Sale onFacebook

Realistically, Facebook isprobably thebest online platform foradvertising your garage sale. You can make anadforyour sale onseveral places across Facebook, including:

  • Your personal Facebook page
  • Local community groups
  • Facebook Marketplace

You can even cross-post onall three ofthese pages toensure you reach themost people.

Online Garage Sale

Totake your sale inthemodern age, you can even create anonline store forit. While this can take alittle bit ofextra effort, itoffers several benefits, including:

  • Reaching alarger audience
  • Potential toreach collectors forrarer items
  • Easy categorization ofitems
  • Offer multiple payment options

Anonline store foryour sale could potentially lead toamuch better return onyour items inthelong run. Even better, ifyour store does well, you can start flipping thrift shop items orhit other garage sales foritems tosell.

Looking toLaunch anOnline Store?

Ifyou are looking tostart anonline store, Ecwid can help. Our easy-to-use selling platform can beintegrated across multiple platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, andmore. Even better, you can get your store started today forfree!

How to Have a Garage/Yard Sale and is It Worth It (1)

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  • How toFind theBest Place forYour Pop-Up Store
  • Creative Offline Marketing Ideas toBoost Your Business
  • How toHave aGarage/Yard Sale andisItWorth It
  • How toPrice Your Garage Sale Items
How to Have a Garage/Yard Sale and is It Worth It (2024)

FAQs

How to Have a Garage/Yard Sale and is It Worth It? ›

Successful garage sales involve (and require) a lot of preparation like making signs, placing ads, getting permits, pricing items, and getting up before dawn on the day of the sale to set everything up. Don't forget the post-sale work, too—taking down those signs and disposing of anything that didn't sell.

What is the average profit from a garage sale? ›

With proper planning and garage sale pricing, though, you can potentially earn between $500 and $1,000, depending on how much you have to sell.

Are garage sales a good way to make money? ›

Hosting a garage sale can turn rarely used items into extra cash for a big splurge, paying off bills, or donating to a good cause. A successful sale takes lots of planning, prep, and execution, so before you post any signs, use these tips to make the most cash possible for all your hard work.

Is it better to price things at a yard sale? ›

A yard sale or garage sale is a great way to earn some extra cash. To have the most successful sale possible, remember to price everything. Garage sale pricing is essential! You will sell more items, make more money, and be able to enjoy your sale if you price your stuff.

Is it better to have a garage sale or sell online? ›

But you can earn money on the site without making anything. Your vintage goods may take longer to sell online than in your garage — but you'll probably nab a much better price for a lot less effort.

What is the best month to have a garage sale? ›

Early spring (around late March, April, and May) is the most popular time for a garage sale. It's just after winter, when people are eager to head outdoors, and will give you time for some spring cleaning, so you'll know what items you want to sell.

How much cash should you start with for a garage sale? ›

Sometimes I've started with only $30 but always make sure and have the 10 $1 bills because a lot of people will buy a one or two dollar item and give you a five. I also make sure I have a few more $1's and $5's in the house in case I need them.

What is the best payment method for a garage sale? ›

The last thing you want is to lose all of your profits because they weren't properly stored in a safe location. For your own convenience and that of your customers consider taking credit card payments. This way you can reduce the need to make change while also limiting the amount of cash that's needed on hand.

How to sell stuff without having a garage sale? ›

You can also sell your clothes through websites such as, Poshmark and ThredUp. It is as simple as snapping a picture of your clothes and posting them on the Poshmark app. Or, order a shipping bag from ThreadUp and send them a bundle of your clothes. Selling your clothes has never been easier!

How to display garage sale items? ›

After all, you want people to buy, so you have to put your best foot forward. Use tables (that aren't for sale) to display your wares. This makes it easy for people to see the merchandise without bending or squatting – and will help keep items from getting broken underfoot. Create displays that draw people in.

What is the easiest way to price garage sale items? ›

To optimize your garage sale pricing, consider the item's condition and original retail price. Items in excellent condition can be priced at 50% of retail, while good conditions might be closer to 25%-30%. Sticking to the ten percent rule is a common strategy, where you don't charge more than 10% of the retail price.

What sales best at a yard sale? ›

Baby & kids clothing, toys, and gadgets sell super well as well as kitchen stuff (dishes, cookware, etc). Adult clothing can sell, but it's generally not as popular as kids clothing. If you don't have many of the best selling items, a garage sale might not be worth your time.

What is the best color for yard sale signs? ›

Bright colors draw the eye. White lettering on a red background is a popular choice for yard sale signs, because red creates a sense of urgency, and the two colors contrast well for easy readability.

Is a garage a good selling point? ›

As such, having a garage built or a private parking area developed is a wise move, as you stand to benefit from it while you remain in your home and you should be able to sell at a higher price when you move on.

What are the benefits of a yard sale? ›

The upside of garage sales

The obvious advantage of a garage sale is that you can make some quick cash, and you don't have to worry about shipping anything. Knowing you are having the sale might inspire you to declutter and get rid of items that are no longer necessary in your life.

Does garage affect home value? ›

The average ROI of a garage addition is 64% to 81%, which equates to an estimated $20,000 to $35,000 addition on your home value. Buyers like having a garage to park their car in, especially in nastier climates. Not only will a garage add value to your home, but it will also likely make the home easier to sell.

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