A garage sale is one of the easiest ways of disposing of unwanted possessions and is considered an environmentally responsible way of keeping items out of landfills. Decide when to hold your sale. Weekends are best except for holiday weekends when many people are away. Mid-spring and mid-fall are generally the best garage sale periods. Even if you are moving in the summer, it is a good idea to hold your garage sale in the spring. Getting rid of excess items often makes your home more attractive to potential buyers as it appears more spacious. Most sales are set up in front of the home; in the garage, driveway or across the lawn area. If you have a large porch, use it for the more expensive items in case it suddenly starts to rain.
It is better to price each article in advance of the sale so potential purchasers have an idea of what you expect to get for the item. A general rule of thumb is to charge between 40-50% of the store price if an item is new and 10-20% for used or older items. Make the items as attractive as possible by cleaning and dusting them before you put them out. Put a price on everything with self adhesive tags and be sure to include the size if you are selling clothing items.
Put a notice in your community newspaper and advertise it as a Moving Sale’ instead of a garage sale. If you are selling furniture items be sure to include that in your ad along with your address, date and time of the sale. Put a notice of sale up on bulletin boards at your local supermarkets. If you have a computer/printer make up a flyer and have your children deliver them to houses in your neighbourhood. Put a large sign on your lawn and on streets around your neighbourhood.