2.

If you ignore Tip #1 and decide to go it alone, at least pay very close attention to the following eight tips. Implementing these tips could mean the difference between garage sale survival and utter failure.

 

3.

The key to profitable garage sales is organization. The more you plan, the better the sale. The better the sale, the bigger the jackpot. Organize everything:

 

4.

Clean your inventory and price it fairly. There is nothing worse than a g-sale filled with overpriced junk. It's bad for you and it's bad for business. I like to price items at about 20% of what they might cost new. For instance, if you can buy a new curling iron at the local Shop-Mart for $9.99, sell the used one at your garage sale for $2. If the item is unopened or in pristine condition, I might go as high as 40%.

 

5.

It's very important to get the word out about your sale. If you live in an area where there is a lot of traffic, post large easily-read signs around the neighborhood. If you live in a more remote area, you might need to advertise in the local paper. Be careful, though. Paying for ads can cut into your profit.

 

6.

We have an old saying here at Bell Estate Sales: "you can get rid of your crap, but you can't get rid of your neighbors." So be sure not to piss them off. G-sales generate traffic (if done correctly). Make sure your customers are not blocking your neighbor's driveway. And always alert neighbors in advance that you are going to have a g-sale.

 

7.

When laying out your inventory, think about creating a nice presentation. Make sure everything has a price on it. Group like items together. And don't just dump your stuff willy-nilly on the driveway. Whenever possible, arrange your stock on tables (preferably on tablecloths).

 

8.

Haggling is a fact of life at g-sales. You can minimize this pesky behavior by pricing your items correctly to begin with. You might also post large signs that read: "Prices are as marked. Firm."

 

9.

Make sure you have a lot of change on hand. Since many of your items will be selling for $1 or $2, be prepared to break a $20. I recommend operating your sale on a "cash only" basis. It's no fun dealing with bad checks. Again, if that's your policy, post it.

 

10.

Be firm about when your sale starts and stops. Lots of times "early birds" will show up before the sale, trying to scoop in and get the deals before anyone else. Discourage this behavior.