Garage Sale Tips

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I am working on putting together pages of garage sale tips that will be easily accessible at your fingertips.  But for now, I do have the following helpful tips on how to best use this website and take advantage of the tools available to you.

How To Advertise Your Garage Sale
(Garage Sale Checklist Below)

Provide Information for the Early Birds!

1. Are you also planning on advertising your garage sale by placing a classified ad in your local newspaper?  This is still an important step - many people still browse those ads when looking for garage sales. Yet, you can make that classified ad work harder, and not even pay a penny more to provide all the details you wish about your sale.  HOW?  After you supply the basics of when, where, and what time - you can add a few words to describe the categories your items fit into and add the words:  "Details at www.GarageSaleShopper.com" .  You can even add your Garage Sale ID number (if you remember to list your sale online first).

2. How far in advance can you put out your garage sale signs?  Along with your garage sale information, write: "Details at www.GarageSaleShopper.com" on the garage sale signs too!  This way, you can provide details to those who drive around early scoping out the sales -- and make it your best sale ever!

Garage Sale Checklist (Download Checklist as a Word Document)

Items Needed:
 Tables
 Clothes hanging racks (or poles and string to make your own)
 Bags for packing customer’s merchandise
 Your money bag or box
 Extension cord which will allow you to plug in appliances and electronics for customers
 Spiral Notebook
 Advertisement Signs (minimum size 12 x 18 inches)
 Balloons to grab attention of those driving by


1 – 2 Weeks Prior to Garage Sale:
 Call your local city hall to find out if you need a license or permit or any other restrictions you should be aware of
 Gather items for your sale into large boxes or bins
 Ask neighbors if they would like to join in
 Decide on a sale date
 Place an advertisement in the local classified section so that your ad appears at minimum 5 days before the sale.


1 Week through the day before Garage Sale:
 Clean items if necessary – you want every item to make a good impression.
 Price your items. (Use garage sale labels or write your own on masking tape.)
 Set up Tables, Bins, Clothing Racks & Electricity Access
 Block off and define your sale area. Cover items that you do not want to sell that may be inside of your yard or garage, but too much trouble to remove.
 Get change for your money bag.

Day before the Garage Sale:
 Decide on your meals/snacks for the day
 Double-check items on “this” list


Day of the Garage Sale:
 Make sure advertisement signs (and attention getting balloons) are in place
 Put away any pets that may cause a distraction.
 Put on your money bag or place box in a safe place.
 Put bags for packing merchandise in a convenient location.

After the Garage Sale:

 Remove neighborhood sign advertisements
 Take left-over items to local charity or make appointment for them to pick up

Community Garage Sales

If you are organizing a community sale don't forget to post your community sale information on our community sale page .

Other Resources:

Yard Sale Supplies    Quickly Prepare for Your Sale with our Time-Saving Tools

http://win-edge.com/GarageSale.shtml    Set Up and Organize for PROFIT!  How to Have Big Money Garage Sales and Yard Sales...Proven methods will triple your garage sale income!

From WingNut Solutions, Inc:
Garage Sale Management Software    Manage your garage/yard or flea market sale with an easy-to-use point-of-sale software!
FREE eBook    How to run a successful garage sale. (35 pages of good information)