Holding a successful garage sale prior to a big move can be a great way to get rid of unnecessary clutter and make your move much easier. A garage sale also offers a great way to earn extra cash to help pay for a moving company, moving truck rental, or other expensive aspects related to your move. Before you start sorting through your belongings and preparing for a garage sale, there are a few things you will want to do to increase your overall chances of success.
Check Local Laws and Regulations
Prior to making plans for your garage sale, make sure that your local laws and regulations permit you to hold it on your property. Depending on where you live, you may be required to obtain a permit to hold a garage sale. If you live in a condominium complex, you will want to check with your homeowner’s association regarding any special rules that you should know before having a garage sale.
Take Advantage of Free Advertising
Advertising is key to ensuring the largest possible turnout at your garage sale. There are many types of cheap and even free ways to alert the neighborhood about your garage sale including:
- Post ads on Craigslist and other social media sites such as Craigslist, Facebook and
- Place fliers or announcements up on local businesses bulletin boards.
- Place plenty of signs around the neighborhood on the day of the garage sale so people can find your home.
Keep Pets Inside During the Sale
You may have the friendliest dog in the world, not everybody is a pet lover. A few of your shoppers may be allergic to your dog or other pets whereas others may be uncomfortable around them. It is best to play it safe by keeping your pets inside during the garage sale.
Price Items Strategically
No matter how well you have taken care of your belongings, understand that they are still going to be purchased second-hand at your garage sale. Keep in mind the following when pricing your sale items:
- Aim to receive no more than 25 to 30% of the original sale price of each item.
- When pricing items, make sure the tag is easily visible and clearly labeled.
- Round to whole dollar amounts to save you some hassle. It will make it a lot easier for you to provide change for an item that sells for $5 as opposed to one that sells for $4.65.
Don’t Be Afraid to Haggle
Finally, be prepared for buyers eager to negotiate with you about the sale price of certain items. In most cases, as long as they are not offering a price that is even remotely close to the asking price, it is probably not worth negotiating. After all, the goal of your garage sale is to get rid of unwanted items before the move.
Follow this advice as you plan for your pre-move garage sale, and you will be ready for the big day. You might even have a little fun in the process!