Hosting a Garage Sale
By Marie Collier

Was one of your New Year's resolutions to get organized? Or maybe you are just in a spring-cleaning mood to clear out clutter. Why not get motivated and turn that clutter into cash with a neighborhood garage sale?

Getting Started

Invite neighbors to a planning meeting. Select a date and time for the sale well in advance and make sure all neighbors are notified. Some neighborhoods even pick two dates, such as one in the spring and one during the fall. Make sure dates do not conflict with holidays or other important events. Selecting a date at least a month or more ahead gives people time to collect and price items and allows for someone to place an advertisement in the newspaper. Decide ahead of time how to pay for advertising (i.e., is one person willing to cover the cost, or will all participants chip in, or will it come out of homeowner's association funds?). 

Have someone contact a local charity thrift store to arrange for a truck to come at a designated time after the end of the sale to pick up items that people wish to donate. Make sure participants know what time to have items at the curb and how to label them clearly for pick up.

Encourage neighbors to participate. Garage sales are a good way to recycle and keep useful items out of landfills. It helps people shop within their budgets. It is a great way to get to know neighbors better. People get rid of items that are no longer being used and free up valuable space that can be used for other things. Large sales have a summer festival feel about them that attracts shoppers and makes the sale fun.

Advertise
The key to a successful sale is getting lots of people to come and shop. Promote the sale in as many ways as possible. Advertise in the classified section of the newspaper as well as smaller local publications. Provide directions and make sure they are correct. Include a list of unusual and desirable items that are likely to pique interest. If you do not want early shoppers, be sure to specify no early birds in the advertisement. Be prepared for the fact that some people will still show up early anyway.

Advertise through appropriate Internet sites. Use word of mouth or email to inform friends, relatives, co-workers, and other groups about the sale. Put up flyers on community bulletin boards.

Get Ready
Look for rummage items in as many places as your time and energy allows. Sort through closets, cupboards, drawers, shelves, and toy boxes. Clean the garage, basement, and storage unit. Now might be the perfect time to volunteer to help your elderly aunt clean her attic. Make sure items are clean and in good working condition. Label any items that need to be repaired. If there are items that are not likely to sell, consider having a box with free items. Many stores sell stickers with prices preprinted on them, which makes pricing items easy and quick. Gather small bills and coin to use for making change the day of the sale.  Purchase or make signs.

The Day of the Sale
Have large waterproof eye-catching signs at the entrance of the neighborhood or subdivision. Some subdivisions invest in signs that can be reused year after year. Attaching balloons to signs attracts attention. You may wish to have additional signs directing people to the participating houses. Make sure signs are easy to read and understand.

Consider selling a simple beverage or snack. It may encourage people to linger a little longer and hopefully buy more stuff. Cold beverages are good for hot weather; hot beverages sell well in cooler fall weather.

Have items clearly priced and arranged in a way that is easy for shoppers to sort through.  Place items that might be used together near each other. Hopefully the customer will buy both items (such as a book light beside some books, etc.). Have an extension cord handy if there are any electrical items customers might want to try out. You may want to use thumbtacks and sheets or tarps to cover items in your garage that are not for sale. 

Be prepared to barter over prices, because many garage sale shoppers offer less than the sticker price. Having a half-price sale the last couple of hours may be a good way to get rid of some of the harder to sell items. Have bags or boxes handy for customers who need them for their purchases.

Make sure someone takes down all of the signs when the sale is over. Remember to put donation items out by the curb for pick-up. You will be tired by the end of the day, so have something easy for dinner (many families opt for having pizza delivered). Then relax and enjoy counting your profits!        

Marie Collier, RD, LD of Boise is a registered dietitian and always enjoys a good garage sale!