I have been organizing and sponsoring a Community Garage Sale for the Walnut Green Homeowners located in the Northgate community of Walnut Creek the last 4 years. I've had quite a few agent friends ask how I do it so I thought I'd just write a blog outlining the process and time frames.
WHERE TO START OR HOW TO SELECT A COMMUNITY: If you have a farm area, that's a great place to start. My farm includes 228 homes within a planned development. If you don't have a farm, select a specific neighborhood and keep the number of homes manageable. Your own neighborhood may be a good place to start. Pick a date/time for the event...I choose a Saturday and it runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. I set a sign-up deadline date 2 weeks before the actual event.
What's the best time of year for the garage sale? Some local agents do them in the June and July months, but I do mine in September. My farm has a lot of families with school-age kids so they prefer it right after school starts when they're all back from summer vacations. Of course, your timing will also be dependent upon your geographical areas.
TIME FRAMES: The following is my list of activities that fall within the given time frame. I have this set up as an Excel spreadsheet so it's easy to follow and use as a checklist. I also enter these dates into my Outlook calendar as appointment reminders.
4 Months Prior to Event: "Save the Date" postcards. I personally walk my farm and drop these under every home's front door step. It's great exercise and a chance to mingle with some of the homeowners who are out and about. If this will be your first time organizing the event, I have a letter I'll be glad to share with you..just email me.
2 Months Prior to Event: Produce and distribute the full details of the event on 8.5" x 5.5" postcards. Once again, I hand deliver them to each doorstep. I encourage them to respond/sign-up via email or call my cell phone. See sample below.
1 Month Prior to Event: Post on my website and Facebook Fan Page. You should be getting a good idea how many are signing up so start thinking how many signs you'll need. I bought most of my signs at the hardware store (get the ones with arrows pointing or you'll have to make your own!) For the main arteries into and out of the community, I have special "Community Garage Sale" posters I stick over the top of my A-frame Open Home signs.
2 Weeks Prior to Event: This is the sign-up deadline date. You now have a good idea how many homes are participating. Pull up and print out a Google street map of the area. Mark the participating homes and figure out how many signs you'll need...and order a few more for those who beg to be added after the deadline!
1 Week Prior to Event: Send out a reminder that the event is only a week away! This is easy for those who signed up under their email address...and for those who didn't, I have a letter I personally drop off at their home. In this reminder notice, I explain where my signage will be, what days my ad will run, their neighbors that are also participating and any other pertinent information I may have for them.
Monday of the event: I place the ad in the local paper to run Thurs., Friday and Saturday. I state the time, number of families participating and location where the maps can be picked up.
Wednesday of the event: 1) I order my balloons and tell them I need to have them ready for pick up no later than 7 a.m. on Saturday. As you can see from the photo above, I have 2 setsof balloons for my banner site. The main artery signs get 2 balloons each. Since I have about 15 to 20 cul-de-sac streets, I have stopped ordering balloons for those directional signs (car wasn't big enough to hold them all! Ha!). 2) Print up final maps. These are 2-sided. One side has my info/verbiage along with the addresses participating and the flip side has the Google street map with the participating homes highlighted down each street. I usually have Kinko's or someplace print them and have 175 copies printed. 3) Post on Craigslist, Facebook and tweet the coming event.
Day of Event: 1) at 6:30 a.m., I put up my banner and brochure boxes (I use my brochure boxes to put my maps in). 2) at 7:00 a.m., I go pick up the balloons. My husband follows me in his car as I put signs out and I direct him which signs get what balloons; 3) The last thing I do is put the maps of participating homes in the brochure boxes because there are lines of 'early birds' waiting at my banner site!; 4) Let the party begin...and it is a party!! Since this is a close-knit, family community, I encourage them to get the kids involved. They are great...they have cookie, coffee, donuts and lemonade stands! There are hundreds of people walking the streets and everyone is having a great time!
During the Event: I go to each participating home and take some pictures and video shots. Some are camera shy, but the kids usually aren't! I go as quickly as I can because a lot of the homes are all sold out within the first couple of hours!
After the Event: 1) Around 1:30 I pull up all my signs and banners. 2) Within the next couple of days, I produce a video of the event and send the link out to all participants along with a thank you for participating. Here's a link to last year's video if you are interested: 3rd Annual Community Garage Sale.
As you can see, this is A LOT of work, but the effort is so worth it! Once you've organized the first one, your systems will be in place for the following years. I will be glad to send anyone the letters, postcards, ads and excel spreadsheets I use if you send me an email requesting them. They are in Word, Publisher and Excel file formats. Just enter "Garage Sale Files" in your subject line.
This event is totally sponsored, organized and paid for by me...no cost to the participants. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to either email me or add your comments/questions below.
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