How to Have a Successful Garage Sale and Earn All the Cash (2024)

Hosting a garage sale can turn rarely used items into extra cash for a big splurge, paying off bills, or donating to a good cause. A successful sale takes lots of planning, prep, and execution, so before you post any signs, use these tips to make the most cash possible for all your hard work. For more on a successful garage sale, we turned to Tanisha Porter, a professional organizer and owner of Natural Born Organizers in Los Angeles, and Shannon Quimby, a Portland, Oregon-based garage sale expert and designer.

How to Have a Successful Garage Sale and Earn All the Cash (1)

1. Have a goal for your garage sale.

"The first thing people want to think about is the why," Porter says. "You need to know if you are holding it to recoup money, to generate income, or to pay it forward and make sure the items you are selling are going to a new family to live on again." Knowing why you're holding a garage sale can help you stay focused and motivated.

For Quimby, the original purpose of her annual garage sale was to raise money for extra materials for her DIY makeovers in her new home. But the simple sale turned into 17 years of running an epic event each summer with several friends. "We all make money, which ultimately makes a bigger and better sale. It's a win-win," Quimby says. "We also get to let go of stuff, make some moolah, and have less clutter at home. I use the money I make to go toward our vacation."

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2. Check out the competition.

Take the time to walk through other local sales before you hold your own. You'll gather intel on what works, what doesn't, and how to price everything to sell. Go online and click through your community's message boards or newsletters, as well as online apps like Nextdoor, to note the words and descriptions that grab your attention and make you want to check out a sale.

3. Pick a date.

Fridays and Saturdays are generally the best days for a garage sale. Consider holding one the first weekend of the month, when many people get paid and have more discretionary cash. Set the date at least a month out to allow time to gather and price sale items.

4. Start collecting items.

Sort garage sale items into categories, such as kids' gear, kitchenware, linens, and workout gear. This will simplify your setup. If your sale is so successful it becomes an annual event, like Quimby's, you can collect sale goods all year. "I make it a goal to put one thing toward the sale every day—even if it's just a pair of earrings," she says.

How to Have a Successful Garage Sale and Earn All the Cash (3)

5. Price as you gather items.

Don't plan on pricing the night before the sale. You'll be too stressed and tired to make good choices. Instead, price items as you gather them. "Pricing takes forever. And you want to price ahead of your sale; otherwise, you'll lose money if people come and you don't know what you want for an item," Quimby says.

Porter also recommends thinking like your customers. "People who are coming to a garage sale want to bargain hunt," Porter says. "They're expecting everything to be at a deep discount. It may be brand new and still have the original tag on it, but since you're selling it out of your garage or on your lawn, people expect a bargain."

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6. Use inexpensive tags.

Minimize expenses by choosing low-cost tags. Pick up stickers from a discount store or use masking tape and a permanent marker. To make your own tie-on versions, tear up brown paper bags into tag-size pieces and punch holes in them for stringing.

7. Write up a pricing sheet for clothes.

Put together a clothing price sheet so you don't have to price each piece separately. Quimby's typical prices range from 25 cents for socks to seven dollars for coats "because clothing has got to be priced cheap," she says. Place price sheets in clear sheet protectors and post several around the clothing. For easy reference, you can also tape a price sheet next to the cash-out area.

8. Advertise your garage sale strategically.

Start posting online ads and hanging flyers, and a few days before the sale, tell everyone you know about it in person and on your social media. Call it something catchy but simple, such as "Shannon's Huge Sale!" or "Friends' Ultimate Group Sale!" so your sale stands out. If you have sought-after items, such as kids' toys or clothes, specialty tools, craft supplies, or collectibles, note that in the ad.

Always include your full address, the days of the sale, and times. For online sites, request that your notice posts a day or two ahead of the sale and stays up through the last day. Promote your forms of payment in ads (and on the day of the sale), especially if you'll accept credit cards and online payments and apps like Venmo.

Quimby never pays to advertise her sales since there are so many free online options. Here are some of her favorites:

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How to Have a Successful Garage Sale and Earn All the Cash (4)

10. Post physical garage sale signs.

Hang easy-to-read, weather-proof signs within a mile of your house with heavy-duty tape, or use the existing nails on wood poles (where allowed). Quimby writes the days, times, and address with chunky markers for easy-to-read signs that can be reused for the next sale. "All your signs must look the same, so people know it's for the same garage sale, and they must be readable from afar, even if you handwrite it," she says.

Hang the signs high at both ends of your street and at nearby busy intersections where a driver can easily read them. Drive past them to verify their readability. Some communities have regulations about how and where to post signs, so research this before you start. On the day before your sale, you can also use sidewalk chalk to draw arrows pointing to your house with words like "Sale!" and "This Way!" Quimby says this entices neighbors to check out your sale because they'll feel part of a scavenger hunt.

11. Have all the essentials ready.

The week before your garage sale, gather necessities and stash them together. Arrange to borrow lots of tables, including one for the cash-out area. "Call your friends, your neighbors, your parents, your cousins—anyone you can think of who will let you borrow one," Porter says. Stock a cash box with a variety of bills for change (this can be an old toolbox or crafting box, as long as it's sturdy and has shelves or dividers to separate the bills). Have an extension cord, lightbulbs, and batteries on hand, so people can test whether items work. Here are some other items Quimby suggests:

  • Calculator
  • Chairs
  • Clear, zip sandwich bags
  • Cooler for drinks
  • Hand sanitizer placed in multiple spots and at checkout
  • Music
  • Paper clips
  • Pens
  • Plastic grocery bags
  • Receipt book
  • Safety pins
  • Scissors
  • Sold tags and "I Live Here" tags to mark items that are not for sale
  • String
  • Tape
  • Tape measure
  • Tarps and umbrellas
  • Treats and drinks

12. Prepare digital tools if needed.

Buy an inexpensive credit card reader—for example, Square—and download online apps like Venmo so that you can accept credit cards or online transfer payments. Quimby says you might have to pay a processing fee if you take cards, but the increase in sales usually makes up for it. Be sure to have a working hot spot, especially if your Wi-Fi can get iffy. Download an app to record sales, which can be especially helpful for group sales.

13. Set up the day before.

Give yourself a day ahead of the garage sale to set up. If items will be kept outside overnight, cover them with large tarps or old sheets to keep them protected. Porter recommends setting up your sale like it's a fun shopping experience. Put your borrowed tables to work so everything is easy to see, and no one has to bend over to look at something. Use books or sturdy shallow boxes as risers on tables to add varying heights and more focal points.

Quimby sets up different "rooms." For example, she places all the kitchen or living room items together. Within these zones, arrange coordinated vignettes that resemble a store display window. If people can see the items easily, they're inspired to buy more. You can also designate a kids' section. This is where you want to put things down low so they're at kid height. "You want the kids to play with the toys because if the kids are active and playing, the parents get to shop longer," Quimby says.

14. Make sure everything is in good condition.

All sale items should be clean, unwrinkled, and in good condition. Pump air into tires and balls, and install working batteries in anything that needs them. Throughout the day, have a helper go through and fluff or fold clothing, assemble new outfits, and rearrange table pieces. Quimby says people might come back the second day to see what's new or what they missed and buy more.

15. Arrange clothing thoughtfully.

Hang clothes so they're easy to see. You can string a clothing line between trees or poles, hang clothes on a fence, or, if you have one, bring out a clothing rack. Take the time to display clothes in complete outfits—they're more likely to sell. You can also group items like T-shirts or shorts into sets of three to five and label them with their sizes. If you have handbags, dress coats, suits, or sports gear that can fetch higher prices, separate them into their own area and identify them as specialty items.

16. Showcase jewelry and eyewear.

Set up an area for small items like jewelry, sunglasses, and readers next to the cash-out table. Pin jewelry on a cork bulletin board or use hooks to hang pieces on a window screen. Organize by style so more formal or kid-friendly pieces are grouped together. Always keep earrings together.

17. Group linens in sets.

Bundle sheets and pillowcases into sets and label them with their sizes (twin, queen, etc.). Group napkins together and lay them beside tablecloths, so people can easily pair things. Combine towels into sets that include a washcloth, hand towel, and bath towel. Wrap all bundles neatly together using twine or string.

18. Sell drinks and individually packaged treats at checkout.

Stock coolers or buckets full of ice to sell drinks at the checkout. Small snacks can also be an easy way to boost profits. "Our friend had a baking business, so she brought individually wrapped cookies and sold them for $1 apiece. Each day she sold out in an hour and a half," Quimby says.

19. Be prepared for negotiations.

Use your intel from the competition to help price items fairly, but be prepared for shoppers to negotiate. Before the sale, determine the lowest price you're willing to accept, Porter says. Quimby starts with a fair price and doesn't barter on the first day of her sale (or with any early birds), but she will negotiate on subsequent days to keep things moving.

20. Think twice about allowing holds.

Holds create a hassle, Quimby says. "I learned from experience that most people don't come back, and if they really want it, they'll usually buy it once they know they can't put it on hold." For people who buy something but need to fetch a vehicle to pick it up, you can pleasantly remind them what time the garage sale ends and that everything leftover will be part of a donation pickup. That way, they're incentivized to return by the end of the sale.

21. Plan for an after-sale pickup.

Set up a donation pickup at the end of your garage sale to get rid of anything that remains. "Nothing that went into the sale should go back into your house," Porter says. Some charities require a month's notice to schedule one, so plan ahead. Then, at closing time, let people keep shopping but start moving items to the designated pickup area so you can wrap things up. Also, set up times for returning any borrowed tables.

How to Have a Successful Garage Sale and Earn All the Cash (2024)

FAQs

How to Have a Successful Garage Sale and Earn All the Cash? ›

Not only is pricing clearly important, but so is pricing right. If you price things too high, no one will buy. You will often actually make MORE money by pricing things lower. It's easy to get emotionally attached to your items or remember how much you paid for the items and price them way too high.

How much cash should you start with for a garage sale? ›

Many experienced sellers recommend having $100 in cash for your garage sale. Not only is this a good amount to get your sale started, but it also makes it easy to calculate your profit quickly.

What is the best selling item at a garage sale? ›

Items To Sell at Garage Sales
  • Antique Type Items. “Anything that is antique or vintage should do very well at your garage sale,” said David Bakke at DollarSanity. ...
  • Boys Clothing. ...
  • Costume Jewelry. ...
  • Fishing Gear. ...
  • Tools. ...
  • Homemade Craft Items. ...
  • Toys and Games With Missing Pieces. ...
  • Scratched Nonstick Pots and Pans.
Oct 14, 2023

How to make extra money at a garage sale? ›

Offer Profitable Extras

Whether you make them yourself or pick them up from Costco or Sam's Club, selling snacks and drinks during your garage or yard sale can take your final total over-the-top. It doesn't have to be fancy; cookies, snack bags of chips and bottled water will sell really well.

How to be successful in a garage sale? ›

How to Hold a Successful Garage Sale
  1. Don't wait until the last minute. ...
  2. Contact your local government. ...
  3. See if neighbors want to join in. ...
  4. Schedule the sale. ...
  5. Advertise. ...
  6. Price your goods. ...
  7. If it's junk, recycle or donate it. ...
  8. Display items nicely.

What is the best month to have a garage sale? ›

Early spring (around late March, April, and May) is the most popular time for a garage sale. It's just after winter, when people are eager to head outdoors, and will give you time for some spring cleaning, so you'll know what items you want to sell.

Is it better to price items at a garage sale? ›

Although not everyone puts price tags on their garage sale merchandise, pricing your merchandise in advance will make the day of the sale less hectic for you. Additionally, it may make customers more likely to buy.

What is the fastest way to organize a garage sale? ›

How to Organize a Garage Sale
  1. Get Rid of Everything You Don't Need.
  2. Organize Your Items.
  3. Reorganize Your Garage.
  4. Create Lots of Signage.
  5. Online Advertising is Key.
  6. Create a Fun and Welcoming Atmosphere.
  7. Display Your Best Items.
  8. Place Price Tags on Your Items.
Aug 23, 2021

How do I attract people to my yard sale? ›

Four ways to bring in scores of people to your yard sale
  1. Promote your yard sale on social media. Social media is the place we live and the air we breathe. ...
  2. Post yard sale signs around your neighborhood. ...
  3. Put an ad on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace (or both!) ...
  4. Sign up on yard sale sites. ...
  5. A final reminder.
Feb 23, 2022

What is the best weekend for a yard sale? ›

Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings are usually the best time to hold a successful garage sale. Consider scheduling your sale on the first weekend of the month—when people have just gotten paid and haven't spent all their fun money yet.

What is the best time of day for a yard sale? ›

The best time to start is early morning, generally around 7 a.m., according to garage sale culture. There really is a groundswell of people who enjoy coming to garage sales, and they often will be there as soon as you open, to get the best merchandise.

What are the disadvantages of a garage sale? ›

They can be a fun way to get to know your neighbors or meet interesting people. One of the largest downsides is that people set aside things for a garage sale and then never have one. The unwanted items continue to take up space in their homes and create a mountain of clutter that can often become a fire hazard.

How to display items at a garage sale? ›

How to Stage a Garage Sale
  1. Make sure all of your merchandise is clean, polished and ready for display. ...
  2. Use tables (that aren't for sale) to display your wares. ...
  3. Create displays that draw people in. ...
  4. Place larger furniture items in an area that won't be damaged by wet grass or weeping, sappy trees.

How much petty cash should be on hand? ›

The small amount of cash that a company considers petty will vary, with many companies keeping between $100 and $500 as a petty cash fund. Examples of transactions that a petty cash fund is used for include: Office supplies. Cards for customers.

How much money should you have for a change at a garage sale? ›

Get two rolls of quarters, a stack of 50 $1 bills, 10 $5 bills, and 5 $10 bills. Do it two days before the sale so that, if you forget, you can still get the change on the day before.

What to use for cash box for garage sale? ›

Ditch the clunky, heavy cash box that can be easily stolen, and just wear a fanny pack. If you're only dealing in bills, your fanny pack is guaranteed to be light, and not watching a cash box frees you up to assist any potential customers.

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