Jan Herrington sells items at her home during the Dupaco Community-Wide Garage Sales on May 11, 2019, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (B. Kaplan photo)
How to host a successful garage sale
If you’re in declutter mode at your home, consider turning your unused stuff into extra money by hosting a garage sale.
Get your FREE Sales Kit!
We’re here to help provide you with the resources to make your sale successful! Beginning April 1, 2021, stop by any Dupaco branch for a FREE Sales Kit. The kit includes price stickers, yard signs, balloons and a tip sheet. We encourage you to use your own social networks—people networks included—to spread the word about your sale. Happy thrifting!
Try these tips to help you make your sale stand out—and potentially earn more cash:
|1| Advertise your garage sale
You can’t have too many signs directing shoppers to your home. Remember, some shoppers rely solely on signs to find the sales.
There could be two or three ways to get to your house, so make sure your sale is well marked.
Consider publicizing your sale on Facebook as well. Just make sure you’re clear about when your event begins.
|2| Give every sale item a price
You don’t want to confuse shoppers with an overly complicated pricing system. Rather than use a color-coded system to denote prices, take the time to put a price sticker on every item. The exception: If you have a box of DVDs or books that are all the same price, make a visible sign that clearly communicates that.
Using masking tape and a Sharpie marker to price everything is the best way to go. You want the prices to be easy for people to find.
Learn how to price your garage sale items >
|3| Make yourself available
Avoid reading a book or visiting with a friend throughout your sale. Instead, greet shoppers and make them feel comfortable.
Ask if they’re looking for something special.
|4| Have bags on hand at your garage sale
While some shoppers will buy one or two items, others might hit the jackpot at your sale—and need a way to get their purchases home.
Keep some bags at your check-out table for those times.
|5| Give your sale curb appeal
Attract drive-by shoppers by placing some of your best items toward the end of your driveway.
Another idea: Create a table for the guys near the street. Then they have something to look at while their significant other checks out the rest of your wares.
Keeping as much of your sale outside instead of in the garage helps keep it more open.
|6| Have cold drinks available
If it’s a hot day, consider having cold drinks on hand for shoppers to purchase. Advertise your beverage selection with a sign that’s visible to drive-by shoppers.
Shoppers might come to your sale just to buy a bottle of water and end up buying something else as well.
