What makes a great garage sale?

[alexcold]

So my mother moved, and we decided to get rid of all the unneeded clutter from the house. I was wondering what defines a great garage sale? What can the individual doing it have, to make it successful.

[tyleratwork]

Put arrows on your signs.

[felixdd]

So my mother moved, and we decided to get rid of all the unneeded clutter from the house. I was wondering what defines a great garage sale? What can the individual doing it have, to make it successful.

Free coffee/lemonade

[AmberMoon]

Here are a few tips I think would help

Prices already on items before you open the garage sale
Clean Items before putting them out ( Nothing worse then dirty plates :P )
Do not clutter the items on top of each other, give items space to be picked up
Hang Clothes if you have them for people to see without having to dig
Easy access to a plug to test out electronics to show they are in working order

[calcuu]

Here are a few tips I think would help

Prices already on items before you open the garage sale
Clean Items before putting them out ( Nothing worse then dirty plates :P )
Do not clutter the items on top of each other, give items space to be picked up
Hang Clothes if you have them for people to see without having to dig
Easy access to a plug to test out electronics to show they are in working order

+1

Couldn't have said it better myself. One thing I hate is seeing dust on some items that people put out so definitely clean everything first. Also, post signs everywhere near you neighbourhood and watch the weather forecast!

[myversa]

Also good direction on the sign is important too.

[SwiZz]

- play music in the background
- throw a raffle for a small gift certificate, and buying an item gets you one entry maybe?
- as other people said, clean everything before you sell
- don't haggle people. perhaps price things slightly higher than what u really want it to sell for, and then when someone's looking at it say, "i'll give it to u for X dollars less"....
- attractive family members + relatives as the cashiers / sales people

[navyseals]

great items at great prices

[Dimension]

Have a fairly well-lit garage. I have been to some garage sales and I couldn't make anything out. It was so dark in there, the natural sunlight wasn't suffice.

[George W. Bush]

I always stop when there are attractive people selling their crap. Nice to chiat chat, check 'em out and just hang around.

[SwiZz]

I always stop when there are attractive people selling their crap. Nice to chiat chat, check 'em out and just hang around.

Just don't piss off the fathers by flirting with the daughters.

[Rocketo]

having some hot girls pose in scantily clad clothing will definitely get the crowds in

[flexwong]

just watch the simpsons episode where president bush moves in. do what homer does, the singing and dancing on top of the table, it's bound to attract people and sell things. :D

[Coltsfan]

I had a garage sale last year and asked a lot of the people how they heard about it. Most of the people said they saw my ads on Craigslist and Kijiji. In my ads I mentioned sought after items and name brands to peak interest.

I agree about proper signage with arrows, dates, times and address clearly marked that someone driving by can read easily. Use a bright coloured paper too.

Expect to have people come by the night before or up to an hour earlier and ask if they can have first dibs.

Have lots of change on hand. You'll be surprised how many people will whip out a $20 on a $3 purchase.

If you can try to have items on tables, even on upturned storage bins or cardboard boxes if you have to.

[Ryan]

Listing it on the RFD Garage Sale Locator:
http://www.redflagdeals.com/deals/main.php/garagesales/

[legendofxix]

Start early, I mean super Early. 7-8AM kinda early.
Thats when most people are out for their morning strolls/excercise before work.
If you start late you'll see theres no buisness between 2-4PM and then give up.

[DeltasInTheSky]

just watch the simpsons episode where president bush moves in. do what homer does, the singing and dancing on top of the table, it's bound to attract people and sell things. :D

Ah Ah Ah, Table Five, Table Five, Ah Ah Ah, Table Fiiiiiiive, Table Fiiiiiiive.

[molala]

make sure everything is clean and cheap...i had a garage sale earlier this year and i had this brand new set of mug with lid (ceremic and genuine disney winnie the pooh) for sale for $5..and ppl bargain it to $3...i had an extra dvd player for sale for $8..and people bring it down to $5...(damn...i should of just kept it myself!!)i did the raffle draw thing but it didn't work out....so i would say advertise on rfd, kijiji, and craiglist@

[Ziggy007]

I would say hot bikini chicks having a car wash, but that's just me

[DaVibe]

Keep the tips coming. I'm helping someone with a garage sale this weekend.
I won't be there, but I'm doing all the prep work.

[CheapScotsman]

The number 1 thing I've seen that will get people out to your garage sale is ...

Have a block sale. Get a bunch of houses on the street to do it all at the same time. It attract lots of people cause they don't have to keep driving to get to the next one

Bonus ... no early birds cause you just advertise the block, not the house. People have to "wait" until people start/get setup.

[gei]

So my mother moved, and we decided to get rid of all the unneeded clutter from the house. I was wondering what defines a great garage sale? What can the individual doing it have, to make it successful.

ebay/craigslist.

it will fetch you a lot more money.

garage sales are very 70's

[Cruel_Angel]

Hand water out to people walking down the street. Just pick up a cheap case, and ice it down. As people pass by, give them some water and they'll be sure to stop and check things out.

Make sure everything is displayed nicely, not to cluttered. Place the things that you want to get rid of for sure at the front, to ensure everybody sees it.

[goJays]

good signs and easy directions

oh ya, FREE FOOOOD!!!

[OceanDrop]

+1 to starting early...we advertised that we were starting at 8am, so we starting setting up at 7:30am, and there were 3 cars already waiting in front of our house, and we had about 12 people show up before 8am!

Also, if you have old vinyls or sports cards, advertise them. We did, and most people came to check those out (as opposed to furniture, toys, etc.)

[alexcold]

thanks for all the feedback. I placed the ad in craigslist, kijijii, rfd garags sale and people are calling already asking if they can come now for the collectibles and vinyls. So hopefully it will be a nice turn out.

[h2o-]

Everything everyone posted above + everything for FREE on your lawn