Money-Makers - Garage Sale Novice Needs Help!

Most of my maternity stuff sold quickly. You just can't expect to get a fair price for them at a garage sale. I am contemplating doing the same thing as I have a lot of baby stuff to get rid of too. I've done the Once Upon a Child too and felt ripped off. I guess they only give you 50% of what they would sell it for. Good luck!

I don't know that Garage Sales are a huge money maker, but here are my tips...

Make sure you have plenty of stuff - people don't want to stop at a sale with 4 boxes in the driveway.

Price everything - I know this sounds like a lot, but you can bulk price things to make it easier. "Everything in this box $1" or "Board Games $1"

Sort your items - people don't want to dig through a pile of clothes that include mens, maternity, and baby items all together. Sort boys from girls, and general sizes (Girls 0-18mo; Girls 24mo-3T). Make it manageable for shoppers to find what they're looking for.

Clean is best. No one wants your old boots with mud caked on the bottom. And if people see a couple of stained clothing items, they'll dismiss the whole group before they even check it out.

Friday and Saturday usually works best... not Sunday.

LOTS of big colorful signs. Only put them in the area between the sidewalk and private property. Signs put up in the median, or in the grassy area between the sidewalk and street often get picked up by the town. Make sure people can find your house based on signs from the make roads.

If you choose to advertise, use a local paper, like the Denton RC. Craigs list is a free option, too.

Make sure you have plenty of change (coins, singles, 5s, etc.) A good apron with pockets makes it easy to carry your change, and allows shoppers to know who to ask when they have a question.

Have lots of plastic bags (the kind you get at the grocery store) available, along with an extension cord and outlet, if people want to test an electronic item.

Good luck!
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For your maternity and children's items/clothes you would get a better return from Divine Consign or JBF, the tagging- pricing, may sound daunting, but it is super easy. Divine Consign is all computerized so pretty easy to make the tags. Since their price guidelines are between retail and garage sale you get a better return since people will be willing to pay for name brand items vs $1-3 at a garage sale. Divine Consign is over for this season, but if you have spring/summer items you can hold on to them and in January they will announce with the spring/summer sale is.

I've done both and would recommend doing a garage sale first then if you have a bunch of baby and maternity items left then try the consignment sales. Definitely Fri. and Sat. are best days for garage sales...and early morning start (7-8). I've done both pricing everything out and pricing nothing...either way people ask and then haggle, so it's easier just not to tag anything. Make sure things are pretty well sorted to start with. We advertised on craigslist and also put about 5-7 signs out as well. Baby clothes and items move very quickly at garage sales, so you will probably get what you are asking at first, later in the day not so much. I would just be firm on prices you want to try to get and other stuff you want to move then be negotiable. I know you tend not to make too much for stuff at garage sales, but it is all yours vs. consignment sales where they keep a certain percentage of selling price of each item (not to mention all the tagging, pinning, etc. and drop off/pick up at specific times). And if you don't have clothes that are name brand and in great condition, then they don't tend to take them since they get so many clothes. But a plus side is you don't have to host the sale, they do that part for you which some find completely worth it. The pricing and tagging are easy, it's just time consuming and something you have to plan out ahead of time so you'll be ready to drop off when they are open. Both are a great way to sell off your old items for extra $$. Good luck!

I usually start with a consignment sale, then garage sale, then donate the rest. I really like Bye-Buy Consign here in Lewisville. (www.bbconsign.com) Their next sale is October 8-10 for Fall/Winter items.

I get the most $$ for baby/kid items, clothes & maternity there. The hanging, pinning, tagging is not hard at all. It might take a bit of time, but I feel it's well worth it. I take all my "unsold" items back and put them in a garage sale and then donate all that's left there.

As for a garage sale, Friday/Saturday are the best. Craig's list is a great place to advertise and FREE!! Signs are always good, but make sure to check your local city rules concerning garage sale signs. In Lewisville, we need a permit too.

Feel free to contact me concerning Bye-Buy Consign here in Lewisville. I'm full of tips if you need any to get started!!
J.

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I usually price bigger ticket stuff overpriced because people want to feel like they are getting a deal, then take some money off of it. I usually have really good luck with that tactic on big ticket stuff. Clothes usually sell for pretty cheap though no matter where you go. I usually will offer to throw in other clothing that hasn't done well if they buy more or if they look remotely interested I will say "I'll sell 3 for the price of two" or something like that. Good luck! I would definitely price everything. I HATE HATE HATE gonig to a gs when nothing's priced. My mom and I usually walk away when there's no prices because who wants to sit there and ask every solitary thing...imo it's annoying. Yes, it's time consuming to price but it does help imo and esp. if you want people helping you - that way they know what you want too and you don't have to do the whole sale by yourself...

Fridays & sat are the best.Make sure you have alot of signs.Baby clothes are great sellers. Don't price anything either because you always have people ask for less.
Hope this helps. Also try www.refundcents.com they have information on garage sales.

I've had good luck bundling together items and selling them as a lot on Craig's List. I seem to make more on kids clothes that way. That being said, I never give my address out until they tell me when they're coming. Most of the time they show up, but occasionally they don't. Also, make sure they pay you in cash and say up front you don't have change. Overall, I've great luck selling that way and it is easier than a garage sale!

If you do have a sale, Fri. and Sat. are best. Price everything, and be prepared to haggle. If you just want to get rid of it then this is the way to go. Just know you may not get quite as much $$ back.

Good luck! I always sell my kid's old stuff to buy new clothes for the next season. :)