Tips for a Successful Garage Sale

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Tips for a Successful Garage Sale

What to Sell: Shoppers are more likely stop for full tables. Dealers and collectors visit sales, so clearly display one-of-a-kind items. Dressers, bookcases, baskets, tables, toys, and tools attract traffic. Make sure appliances work.

How to Price: Tag all items. Be prepared to haggle. Garage sale experts say 10-30% of retail is a fair price for most items.

How to Display: Clean everything. Large items bring the most foot traffic. Items sorted by size and type and organized on shelves or rack fetch higher prices. Clearly mark your sales area. If you have a sale in your garage, cover anything you want to keep.

How to Advertise: Place an ad in a newspaper. Partner with neighbors and split the cost. Make neatly lettered signs to direct traffic to your house (but take them down when the sale is over).

When to Sell: Check the weather when planning your sale. Even if your sale is indoors, bad weather keeps customers home. Saturday is often the best day for a sale, but in some places, people favor Thursday or Friday sales. If you're new to an area, ask around.

What to Do with Leftovers: Store them for next year. Give them away. Have them picked up by a charitable organization; keep a receipt for tax time.