- Visit other garage sales to gain ideas on how to set up and display merchandise. Note items that are on display, ask questions about their sales, times, days, advertising. Ask which items are selling well. You can formulate your own opinion from the information you receive.
- Advertising is of the utmost importance. Without it, your sale may not meet your expectations. Do all of your advertising at least five days before the sale. Be sure to ask permission before posting signs at certain locations, especially private property, such as: your church bulletin board, supermarket “community board”, beauty shop, neighborhood nursery school, and local library bulletin board.
- An ad in your county or community newspaper is bound to give your sales a boost. Covering as much area as possible is necessary considering that only about one out of every twenty people who read your ad will show up. It is not a good idea to put your home phone number in the ads, as this will generate calls from people who want to come early or who want to know what you are selling.
- You can design your own advertising flyers on a plain white sheet of paper by stenciling, drawing, or lettering. The flyers can then be reproduced in quantity and on various colored sheets by using a personal copier or copy service for about four cents per copy.
- Signs for your sale can be made from large piece of cardboard. These signs should measure at least 24” x 24” in order to be seen easily from a distance of 50’. White signs with black lettering are easiest to spot. The signs are best places at the entrances to your neighborhood. You may wish to place signs at the curb near your closest neighbors’ driveways that read “Please do not block driveway”. You may also wish to place a sign in front of your home that reads “Thank you for coming”.
- Saturdays and Sundays are the most popular days for garage sales. Spring and summer seem to be the most successful seasons.
- Do not be surprised if customers begin arriving as early as 7:00 AM! The “best deals” are expected then. The bulk of any Saturday sale is usually sold by 11:00 AM, with the heaviest time between 8:30 and 9:30. Sunday sale are more sporadic throughout the day.
- In presenting your merchandise, consider cleaning, brushing, or scrubbing anything that is greasy, dirty, muddy, or rusty. Displaying clean merchandise may take some extra time, but it may very well double your profits. Good looking displays attract shoppers and make items easier to sell.
- Display your prices in bold, large letters on self-adhering or hanging labels, in a conspicuous place. This is the first thing shoppers will try to find. Try to have two people handling the cash box to avoid a line and the possibility of leaving it unattended.
- When your sale is over, do not forget that your last order of business is to remove all signs and flyers from your neighborhood. Do not leave them overnight.
If you have any additional questions about moving, or selling and buying real estate in the Twin Cities, Call Realtor David Olson (www.DavidOlsonRealEstate.com) at 952.314.9446
