How To Run A Garage Sale

Garage sale season is very much upon us and many people want to make some extra money with a garage sale. I've run them both personally and professionally and I've worked some ideas to get you the most money and make things run smoother.

1. Make sure everything is clean. Clean things sell easily and more quickly than things that look dirty or that people don't want to handle. This applies to dishes, glassware, silverware, toys --anything that needs to be washed, polished or cleaned. Just because it is a garage sale don't think that you can just dump stuff out and get a good price.

2. Put a price on everything. Many people don't like to ask prices and you will lose sales if prices are not marked. Yes, it is tedious and time consuming but you want to make money. You can also put up signs that say all hardcover books 50 cents or all blouses one dollar. Make it easy for people to figure out what you want.

3. Have at least one extra person to work with you. Never work a garage sale alone. Otherwise things will disappear. Dishes, a toaster, other things. You need to have at least one person watching the people and the stuff all the time. Another person should be handling the money and the wrapping. If you can get a third person, that is even better.

4. Save newspaper and plastic bags for weeks or months beforehand to wrap and hold people's purchases. Lots of people want bags for whatever they have bought even if it is a small item.

5. Have small bills and change for people.

6. Be prepared to haggle. Some people will haggle over any price. Some are legitimately asking for a lower price. If people buy a lot of stuff cut the price. If it's a two day sale cut the prices the second day. The idea is to sell things not to hold on to them.

7. Advertise the sale. Give the usuals of date, time and place but also mention a lot of specific things. The more people that come out the better for you. Put an ad on craigslist, put it in a local paper, or any place that is free. If your community allows it (some don't) put up signs on trees to let people know about the sale and to guide people there.

8. Price realistically. Know what other garage sales ask.

9. Group things together. Like goes with like. The toys go together, the shoes go together, the glassware goes together, the costume jewelry goes together, the books go together. It makes it much easier for people to see what you've got and to see what they want to buy.

Do You Have A Safe?

Do you have a safe for your valuables? Is it also fireproof for your papers?

I've worked with many people who have a safe but few have it bolted to the floor. If it is the type of safe that you contains money or jewelry or other valuables you should have bolted to the floor. Otherwise thieves can just take the whole thing and open it at their leisure.

If it is on an upper floor it can fall if the structure burns. So put it in the basement or on the first floor.

If you only need something small for papers than get a fireproof box at one of the office big box stores. It will hold your important papers so they will not burn.

You should also make copies of the papers and send them to someone who does not live in your aera or scan them to a disc and also send them to someone out of the area. This way at least you have the information until you can replace the originals.