Turning your unwanted stuff into cash has never been easier. You’ve got options like Craigslist, eBay, Nextdoor, Facebook Marketplace, and niche marketplaces like Sellcell for electronics or Kidizen for kids’ stuff. But sometimes, the best way to sell a bunch of stuff fast is the old-fashioned way: a garage sale.
Hosting a garage sale isn’t a walk in the park. If you don’t plan and run it well, you might end up with less cash, a bruised ego, and a pile of stuff you still need to get rid of. But don’t worry, you don’t need a marketing degree to pull off a successful garage sale. Just follow this simple four-step process.
Step 1: Plan Your Sale
Don’t just decide to have a garage sale on a whim. Start planning weeks or even months in advance.
First, pick a date. The best days for garage sales are Saturday, Friday, and Sunday, in that order. Mornings are best, as many garage sale enthusiasts like to get an early start. The first week of the month is also a good time, as many people have just been paid. In terms of seasons, spring through early summer is prime garage sale time, with fall being a good second choice.
Also, consider what else is happening in your town when you’re planning your sale. You don’t want to compete with big events like high school graduations, but you do want to coincide with events that bring lots of people to your area, like arts festivals or community-wide yard sale days.
Once you’ve picked a date, start gathering the stuff you want to sell. Go through your attic, basement, garage, closets, and anywhere else you might find stuff you don’t need anymore. Don’t underestimate the value of what you find. Garage sale shoppers will buy all sorts of things, from old CDs to unused perfume to electronic accessories.
Next, check if you need a permit to host a garage sale. Many towns and cities require them, and you don’t want to risk a hefty fine. If you live in a community with a homeowners association, check their rules about garage sales too.
Step 2: Promote Your Sale
Start advertising your garage sale at least a week in advance. Newspaper classifieds can be a good option, especially if your local paper is well-read. Mention any particularly enticing or valuable items in your ad, and include your address, phone number, and the date and time of your sale.
You can also advertise your garage sale for free on websites like Craigslist, Nextdoor, Garage Sale Finder, and Yard Sale Search. These sites let you describe your sale and list individual items in more detail.
If it’s allowed in your area, make signs to advertise your garage sale. Use bright poster board and dark markers, and write "garage sale" and your address in big letters.
Step 3: Prep for Sale Day
The week before your sale, make sure you have everything you need. This includes chairs, a table for making change and bagging items, a cash register or money box, enough surface area to display everything, enough rack space and hangers for clothing, and stickers or tags for pricing.
Also, make sure you can accept payments. You’ll need plenty of change to break larger bills, and you might want to consider accepting electronic payments through apps like Venmo, PayPal, or the Cash App.
Before you price your items, sort them into categories like clothes, books, home goods, toys, etc. Then, price your items. Don’t overprice items expecting buyers to haggle. Some will, but many won’t bother and will just walk away from high-priced items.
Step 4: Host Your Sale
On the day of your sale, give yourself at least an hour before it starts to set everything out and put up signs. Greet everyone who comes to your sale, but don’t follow them around or offer unsolicited commentary. Be prepared to haggle, but always have a firm "bottom dollar" in mind.
At the end of the day, you’ll likely have some stuff left over. You can sell valuable leftovers individually on online marketplaces, or donate less valuable leftovers to a nonprofit or thrift store.
Hosting a garage sale is a lot of work, but it can also be very rewarding. You’ll end up with a less cluttered home, and some extra cash in your pocket.
