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Garage Sale Tips

By
Real Estate Agent with Royal Shell Real Estate - The Koffman Group SL 3310397

Garage Sale Tips Garage Sale Tips

It’s that time of year when spring cleaning begins and everyone ends up with a pile of stuff that they don’t use or need. Or you may be moving soon and don’t want to pack extra items that you don’t use or need. You could certainly donate those items to a worthy cause but if you feel up to it you may want to have a garage sale and try to earn a few bucks.

Here are a few Garage Sale Tips:

  • Advertise on Craig’s List, the local paper, Facebook, blogs, etc. Don’t advertise your exact address until day of sale so you can avoid the early birds.
  • Make sure your directional signs have large letters so they’re easily readable.
  • Make sure everything has a price on it so that buyers don’t have to ask you.
  • Don’t price any item under $15 as people will tend to give you more than you would price it for. I know this contradicts the tip above but I’ve heard it done both ways.
  • Price your items in whole dollars so that you don’t have to fool with change. You can combine items so that they make a whole dollar amount.
  • Organize your items by kitchenware, furniture, clothing, sports equipment, tools, etc.
  • Have a few extra people to help and watch your merchandise and answer questions.
  • Keep all money on your person.
  • Be prepared to negotiate.
  • Only accept cash or credit cards on your mobile device via Intuit or Squareup, for example.
  • End your sale by 12:00 or 1:00 as only serious buyers come in the morning and you’ll be wasting your time with looky-loos in the afternoon.

Garage Sale Brentwood TNGarage Sale Brentwood TN

Information on Brentwood Recyling facility and Goodwill Donation Center.

I am a Realtor in Brentwood TN and I’m having a garage sale this Friday and Saturday, April 25th and 26th 2014. I’ve been gathering and pricing items for almost a month and will be working right up to the last minute to be ready for those 7:00am shoppers. Hope you’ve found these tips useful and if you’re buying or selling real estate in Brentwood TN, please give me a call...615-504-1185.

 

Garage Sale Tips

Comments (17)

Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Hi Jill, I've been seeing more and more garage sale signs lately, these are great tips to follow to have a successful garage sale. Garage Sales are great ways to meet potential sellers if one has the patience to visit them.

Apr 22, 2014 11:14 AM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

     Wear a money belt. 

     Expect to see cars cruising in front of your house at 5:30 or 6:00AM.

    Beware of the "can I use your bathroom?" people that want to get inside your house.  Tell them your husband locked you out or something.

     Don't agree to "hold" anything (furniture, etc.) unless it is paid for up front in cash.

     At 11:00AM  cut all your prices in half.

    

    

Apr 22, 2014 11:58 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I think pricing and organization of the stuff being sold is very important.

If I walk into a place and it is all a miss mash of stuff on tables I just walk out.

Apr 22, 2014 01:28 PM
Jill Winchel
Royal Shell Real Estate - The Koffman Group - Cape Coral, FL
We make it easy. You make it home.

Beth...Good idea about visiting sales to gain clients.

Fred...Thanks for your garage sale tips. I agree with them and safety is key.

William...Thanks for the comment. We don't want anyone walking away.

Apr 22, 2014 10:35 PM
Cy Phillips
Space Simply - President & CEO - Clive, IA

Sometimes it is difficult to let go of the things you loved. With your tips, I am sure that any person will change their mind.

Apr 23, 2014 05:42 AM
Jill Winchel
Royal Shell Real Estate - The Koffman Group - Cape Coral, FL
We make it easy. You make it home.

Cy...That's so true, but if you haven't used something in a year or more you probably don't need it. :) 

Apr 23, 2014 10:24 PM
Richard Daskam
eXp Realty - Signal Hill, CA
Your Real Estate Consultant

I need to forward this to all of my listings!  Thanks!

Apr 26, 2014 06:33 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Jill, Have you had your sale yet? Sometimes it takes two of three to clear it all out.

Apr 28, 2014 12:11 AM
Jill Winchel
Royal Shell Real Estate - The Koffman Group - Cape Coral, FL
We make it easy. You make it home.

Richard...Thanks for passing on my post.

Debbie...Yes, the sale was this past Fri and Sat. Sold some things but have A LOT left and plan to have another sale this Saturday since everything is out on tables in my garage. I listed a few big items on Craig's List, too. Thanks for your tips.

Apr 28, 2014 01:03 AM
A. J. Zaki
REMAX Realty Pros - Boca Raton, FL
Home Finder In Florida

Thank you for the blog. This is great! Have a great week!

Apr 28, 2014 01:21 AM
IRMA Beltran
Century 21 M & M and Associates-Turlock homes Real Estate - Turlock, CA
Your Real Estate Agent 4 Life Always there 4 You!

Great blog, very good tips, thank you for sharing.

Have a Blessed day

Apr 28, 2014 03:08 AM
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

Hi Jill,

These are really excellent tips!  Thanks so much for posting.

Apr 28, 2014 04:54 AM
Diana White-Pettis
Bennett Realty Solutions - Upper Marlboro, MD
GRI, CDPE, CNE, WHC Upper Marlboro Homes for Sale

Excellent tips. Thanks for sharing!

Apr 28, 2014 06:59 AM
Sondra Meyer:
EXP Realty, LLC - Corpus Christi, TX
See It. Experience It. Live It.

Jill, these are great tips.  Being able to accept credit cards at a garage sale on a mobile phone is a major change since last time I held a garage sale.

Apr 28, 2014 01:58 PM
Jill Winchel
Royal Shell Real Estate - The Koffman Group - Cape Coral, FL
We make it easy. You make it home.

Thanks to all for reading my Garage Sale Tips.

Although I had a credit card reader at my last sale, no one asked to use it...all cash sales. Paypal is another company that offers this service. There is a fee each time you accept a credit card but the gizmo is free (for all companies).

Apr 28, 2014 11:00 PM
Jeff Jensen
The Federal Savings Bank/Lending in 50 states - Greenwich, CT

That is a lot of good information which should future tag salers along the way.

Apr 30, 2014 07:44 AM
Chandler Real Estate Liz Harris, MBA
Liz Harris Realty - Chandler, AZ
#ChandlerRealEstateAgent

What a great blog post here.  I look forward to reading more of your posts. Homes For Sale in Gilbert AZ

May 01, 2014 10:29 AM