For All the Garage Sale Veterans

Hi T.
I've always kept around $50.00 in change, lots of singles and fives and a couple rolls of quarters, nickles and dimes. I am very interested in the crib and stroller and am in need of a playpen and highchair for my fast growing grandson. I am a stay a home christian gammie who watches a busy 9 mo old get into everything...lol I'm not sure what the charge would be but if you go on craig's list to see what the prices are for the type of items you have you would be better able to set your prices. Please PM me so we can talk, I really need the highchair, stroller and playpen right away...

D. from Detroit

Hi, T.!
I just had a garage sale and had $50 on hand for change. It included quarters, singles, fives, and tens. I didn't have any change other than quarters because I priced many items at 50 cents or $1.50, etc. I sold a pack and play that looked like new, still in the original box, with instruction manual for $40. It really depends on the condition of the items. I sold a stroller for $20. If your items are in good condition, don't feel bad to price them up a little because people will always haggle with you and you'll probably come down on the price anyway. Good luck and make lots of money! :)

Our multiple's club does two garage sales a year. We have a general suggested pricing spreadsheet that we use as a guideline. If you'd like a copy, send me an e-mail address and I'll send it to you. (I tried to copy and paste and it didn't work here)

For change, I usually start out with maybe $30 in tens, $30 in fives and $50 in singles. I round off all my prices and totals so there's no coin involved. I keep my money in a fanny pack instead of a cash box so it's with me constantly and not sitting around. I maybe keep $30 in it, with the remainder in the house, by the back door.

Keep the door to the house locked as well. One person may try to distract you so a pal can run through your house without you knowing it.

Keep the cordless phone out in the garage with you as well so you're not running in the house to answer it with a garage full of shoppers.

Another idea - if there's things in the garage that are not for sale, cover them with a sheet, drop cloth, tarp, etc. I don't need someone to scope out my DH's tool cabinet then break in while we're on vacation and steal it.

If you can team up with a neighbor, do so. Combine items to be sold at one house and have the two or three of you available to rotate and man the sale in pairs.

And, finally - no one gets to go inside your home to use the bathroom. You can't be in both places at once and your primary goal is to man the garage sale.

Best of luck and have fun!

Hi T.,

I am not sure about pricing, but if you have a pack and play, I might be interested in it. Also depending on what you are doing with any leftovers, if you were going to donate to good will, I would be interested in them. I am having another garage sale as a fundraiser. I am walking in the Breast Cancer 3 Day in August and I still have to meet my fundraising minimum of $2300.00. I made $600.00 at my last fundraising garage sale as I did not price anything, all items were by donation, and all proceeds go to the Breast Cancer 3Day.

If you have the time I would HIGHLY encourage you to post the big baby items on Craig's list. I did this for the sale we had a couple weekends ago and it was GREAT. I got way more than I would have received just by selling the items at the garage sale ($100 for a jogging stroller, $40 for a double stroller, etc.) I told all of the purchasers to bring cash and to pick up on the first day of the sale. That way, I could sell the items in case anyone backed out.

Good luck!