HINTS & TIPS

Shopping at garage sales can be loads of fun for the whole family and quite possibly the best value purchasing around these days!! Here's a few tips you may want to consider before you set of on your day of garage sale bargain hunting…

1. If you know what you want, find out who’s got it! Use our services to determine which garage sales you need on the top of your list, remember… its first in first served!
2. Use our “my map” function to print your list of selected garage sales.
3. Make sure you note start and finish times of each garage sale. Please respect these as most sellers will not appreciate “early birds”.
4. Be 100% happy with the condition of the item you wish to purchase, remember there’s no returning it afterwards, purchases from garage sales are always “as is”. For example, test any electrical items you may be purchasing.
5. Feel free to bargain with sellers, it’s all part of the garage sale fun!

Quick garage sale tips - here are our top five tips for a successful garage sale. If you're strapped for time, these five tips will help avoid some major garage sale disasters!

1. Make sure your home is secured… doors, windows, pets, kids, keys etc
2. Price everything clearly; this will eliminate numerous questions. People will bargain with you, so be sure to factor this into your pricing
3. Create effective signs for the street corners surrounding your home - drive by traffic accounts for a lot of garage sale customers. 
4. Make sure everything is clean and organized, remember presentation is everything!!
5. Get to the bank a few days prior to ensure you have plenty of change (notes and coins) a notebook, calculator and pen are also essential - Be prepared

• Tell your potential buyers exactly what they will find at your garage sale, and the condition it’s in. You probably do not need to list all bric-a-brac and smaller items, but any larger items you have, people want to know about it!
• Upload photos of the bigger furniture/white goods/electrical items etc to help them see exactly what it is you have for sale (you can add photos for free with us under the ‘add more features to my garage sale’ when completing your listing).
• You will find groups of customers attracted to buzz words like ‘retro’, ‘antique’, ‘building supplies’, ‘tools’, deceased estate’, ‘children grown up’, ‘garden’, etc. Appeal to them!
• Buzz words for second hand dealers are ‘jewelry’, ‘picture frames’, ‘antique’, ‘china’, ‘antique’, ‘retro’. Use this to your advantage to get the second hand dealers in! They will be your early birds, but you want to sell the stuff don’t you?
• Often compiling several houses into one garage sale attracts larger crowds. People know that they will find a lot more bargains. If you can get your family/friends/neighbours involved, make sure you let the garage sale world know about it!
• If your place is a little out of the way, include some basic directions in your ad to help people locate you. And of course, good signage on the day is a must!
• Timing – a lot of bargain hunters are up early. Starting your garage sale at 9am is almost too late for some bargain hunters, so you are potentially missing out on the most eager garage sale shoppers. Saturday proves to be more popular for people shopping around at garage sales too, as Sunday tends to be a rest day.
• Depending on your budget vary where you list your sale. Try the local papers and simply use the ad to direct people to your www.whatgaragesale.com.au online ad with lots more detail!

• Have an extension cord and power point handy to test any electrical items you may have for sale
• Consider having some electrical goods plugged in and working to showcase your goods
• If available, have records of last electrical check and tagging date available

• Have artist and painting details on hand for reference.
• List artworks for sale in ad – second hand dealers often look for second hand frames.

• Some music playing in the background will create a positive welcoming atmosphere. Softer music encourages people to say longer browsing!
• Welcome people as they arrive. Acknowledge their presence but let them browse unbothered. Read, chat to your co-garage sale host, look relaxed. Be ready to answer any questions though.
• Have some lollies available for the kids
• SMILE!! Wear your happy face throughout the day!! People are much more likely to buy from you if you give a happy, friendly vibe.

• Ensure all parts are clean .
• Label with model, make and year, and any other specifications.
• Place in a similar area to tools so the men can browse with ease!

• Clearly label size of garments
• Consider selling garments in packs - in snap lock bags clearly labelled, or tied up in a colorful ribbon with a descriptive tag attached. It makes a great and easy gift to give a friend!
• Make sure clothing/goods and toys are clean
• Sell toys as one price fits all

A lot of people can find the true bargainers at their weekend garage sale a little awkward to deal with. You know, the person who fills a box with all your goods and tells you matter-of-factly that they will give you $2 when the marked prices add up to $20! Or the person who offers you an absolute bargain basement price for your quality second hand good at 6am, telling you they won’t be able to come back later in the day when you are dropping prices because they found your garage sale ‘by accident’ and live hours away! Or the person who refuses to move even a dollar to meet you half way on what you think the items should be worth. Let’s face it, if you are not used to bargaining, these situations at garage sales can be awkward to handle.

At a recent garage sale we held, we were faced with all these scenarios and more. For a lot of our quality items we wanted appreciation of its true worth (and appreciation of our labour in setting up the garage sale to sell the items!), and didn’t want to give in to the people who will try anything, to get something for nothing. But how to go about this aim without being rude?

A great line one of my garage sale helpers used was this: “We have already marked the item down to a price that is well below what it is worth, and are only prepared to do fair deals on its price”. This line soon sorted the wheat from the chaff, and most people were happy to recognize that they were already getting a bargain, without the need for further reduction.

• Label the size of beds clearly.
• If selling lamps/clocks, have extension cords handy to plug in to test the item.
• Consider a package price for bed and bedside tables sold together.

• Display in a box/container with the spine up for ease of reading the title
• Consider ‘one price fits all’ and label clearly

• If you have many bric-a-brac items, place on a table as a 'one price fits all' or sell in bulk
• Price clearly

Click here for tips about garage sales in Brisbane

• DO display on a clothing rack and consider pricing the rack as 'one price for all'. Avoid heaping clothes into a pile and making people rumage. Quick easy sales = profit for you!
• Price should be 5-10% of original price. Children's clothing can sell for 15 - 20%.
• Hang belts off clotheshangers so they are easily seen.
  
• Arrange shoes so they are prominent – women notice them! If they are designer shoes, draw attention to it!
  
• Hang hats on a hat stand if you have one or think of creative ways to showcase your hats.
  
• Men’s ties should be hung so they are easily seen.
  
• Consider having a mirror handy for people to 'try them on' and to see what the colour/style looks like when held up.

• Check old crockery for well known names - take them to a second hand dealer instead or use ebay!
• Add tags that give name, year and place of origin. Collectibles increase in value (monetary or sentimental) with a story.
• Add photos of collections and collectibles in your whatgaragesale.com.au listing. Describe their condition.
• Mention band names of records you may have for sale.
• Use key words such as 'retro' or 'antique' in your listing and create signs to draw attention to collectibles at your garage sale.

• Clearly label with brand and year of manufacture
• Be open to negotiations
• Have computer and accessories set up for easy testing
• If available, have records of last electrical check and tagging date available

• Place large items for sale towards the front of your display area. This will help with visibility from the road and also make it easier to move these items once they have been sold.
• Make sure furniture is clean and in good repair if possible.
• 'Suggestively sell' your dining room table with a vase of flowers, placemats or setting set up, and signed 'is this your new dining room setting?'

Make sure your note in your advertisement whether you allow early birds or not. If you do allow early birds, expect them to be there at least an hour before the opening time as listed. It is recommended to only allow early birds to garage sales that can be set up the night before. This allows you to be clear about what you are and are not selling and the prices before haggling starts. It also prevents customers from getting impatient as you still set up your garage sale!

The garage sale "free box" is a common sight at many garage sales, and generally contains things that the owner thinks no-one will pay money for. Usually placed in a prime position(close to the front) and with a good sign, the "free box" can definitely help attract passers by to your garage sale. While some(perhaps most) people are happy to take advantage of a free item, our personal garage sale experience has shown that a number of people may also feel somewhat uncomfortable taking a free item from you, So perhaps another strategy here could be, having a ridiculously low priced .20 cents or .50 cents box to allow for these types of shoppers.

• If possible place large furniture items towards the front of your garage sale display, especially good if they are visible to passing traffic, and they will be easier to move once sold.
• Make furniture look comfortable! Some well placed cushions or accessories can make a big difference.
• Ensure your furniture is looking as good as it possibly can, with a quick vacuum and clean.

• Label plants well (if known). If you know how to best care for the plants, put the instructions on a tag.
• Clean garden items so they are free of dirt (a quick brush/spray down should do it!)

• Choose your day carefully; be aware of any event, holiday or inclement weather that may affect the number of potential customers you attract to your garage sale. Saturday is the most popular day to have a garage sale.
• ADVERTISE!! ADVERTISE!! ADVERTISE!! ADVERTISE!! ADVERTISE!! Advertising is THE key to getting lots of visitors to come to your garage sale. You can use a variety of methods to accomplish this, some mediums offer better value than others and it really comes down to what you’re prepared to spend.
• Preparation is vital to the success of any garage sale; gather the items that will be up for sale. Have everything nice and clean, in working order (if applicable) etc. Presentation is everything! Consider having your sale set up the night before. You most likely will get people arriving as soon as your garage sale is ‘open’.
• Items that AREN’T part of your garage sale should be totally out of sight.
• Have a sufficient quantity of change on hand, both notes and coins. A calculator, pen and paper may also be useful.
• Make sure your house and vehicle are secure, keys, purse, wallet and the likes are all in a safe place. It also pays to have any animals and children suitably entertained. If your kids are old enough, they would probably love to help out in selling off their own items for a slice of the profits!!
• If you have family or friends who have unwanted goods, try combining forces. Greater variety of goods and more people to take shifts manning the sale!
• If having a garage sale before Christmas, offer a gift wrap service! Your goods could be the perfect gift!

• Keep jewellery items close to your point of sale to avoid theft. If possible, place in a clear, lockable container.
• Ensure you name jewellery items in your listing to encourage second hand dealers to visit looking for a bargain!
• Take the time to clean and shine your jewellery for optimum presentation.

• Sell toys and clothes in bulk
• Have toys within reach of children for easy inspection
• Have batteries on hand to test battery operated toys
• Consider letting your children sell their own toys for a slice of the profit!

• Put all kitchen in one location. Consider selling sets only as a set
• With kitchen goods, add a personal touch. Write up some of your favourite recipes and attach them to the pot/bake ware

Here at whatgaragesale.com.au we see a lot of people choosing to donate garage sale profits to their local charity. We also know many of you drop off unsold goods to charity stores post-garage sale.

When we heard Ray O'Donnell from St Vincent de Paul speaking on the radio about the effect garage sales have on donations, we thought we would contact him to see what items are most in needs by charities. The list follows:

Men's clothing
Beds & mattresses
Bric-a-brac
Accessories
Books
Linen & Manchester 

No white goods!

If you have unused goods around the home that fit these categories you might now choose to simply donate them to your local charity store. They will be appreciated by many a needy person! Or if you have them left over at the end of your garage sale, seriously consider donating the goods. You might make a donation whilst you are there and make a huge difference to someone's life.

If you are in Brisbane holding a garage sale, consider the Sandlewood Community op-shop. Found on Beaudesert Road at Moorooka, the Sandlewood op shop is a not-for-profit organisation that gives away clothing, homewares, toys and more, to  displaced and disadvantaged community members.

They are looking for any of your unsold garage sale items that are in good condition (ie in a suitable condition that you would give to family members) as they provide free start up packages to members of the community who are marginalised, vulnerable and disadvantaged.

Rather than driving around Brisbane looking for a charity bin please message us and we  will organise to pick up your excess stuff. Goods accepted include men womens and  children's clothing and accessories; homewares, small electrical apliances like jugs and  toasters; sheets and other bed linen; ornaments; pots and pans kitchenware; crockery; cutlery and any item which we can recycle.

Find out more at http://www.sandlewoodopshop.com.au/   

• Ensure all bedding and curtains are clean, free of marks.
• Attach notes with size and fabric specifications.
• Consider selling any bedding with beds you may have for sale as a package deal.

• If possible place large furniture items towards the front of your garage sale display, especially good if they are visible to passing traffic, and they will be easier to move once sold.
• Make furniture look comfortable! Some well placed cushions or accessories can make a big difference.
• Ensure your furniture is looking as good as it possibly can, with a quick vacuum and clean.

• Label the size specifications of desks.
• Clean all chairs free of marks. Consider ‘orange power’ fabric cleaner.
• Sell desk organisers as a bulk price.  

• Ensure outside furniture is clean. Dress tables up with a candle or two
• Place large items for sale towards the front of your display area. This will help with visibility from the road and also make it easier to move these items once they have been sold

• It is acceptable to sell items at a garage sale for around 30% of its original price. Clothes are lower, selling them for around 5 - 10% of their original price.
• Price items slightly higher than you expect to sell them for, expecting buyers to bargain with you.
• Price all items clearly, either individually or in groups.
• Consider using colored dot stickers to indicate a price and have plentiful price charts on display. Simple, easy to price, easy to interpret! Eg. Red sticker = $1, Blue sticker = $2, Yellow sticker = $4, Green sticker = ask me the price (for bigger items such as furniture).
• If you have large amounts of particular items, try selling them in bulk at a discounted price... ‘fill a bag for …’, ‘three things for …’ or ‘the set for…’ People love an easy bargain!
• Do not knock down your prices too early, but recognise the point of sales drop off, and then start lowering your prices! 
• Know your early bird strategy. If they want to bargain perhaps they need to come back late in the day?

• Ensure you list all the home and garden renovating supplies you have for sale in your ad. People are always looking to save money on renovations!
• Have a tape measure and scraps of paper handy for measurements.
• Sign area that later pick ups available, with full payment (you are having a garage sale to make sure items are sold!).
• Consider a package price for selling items in bulk.

.

99% of people that will visit your garage sale are honest, be aware of the 1% that aren't.

• Ensure all doors and windows are locked during your garage sale
• Draw curtains/blinds to prevent would be theives 'casing' your house for theft
• Consider 'roping off' your garage sale area to keep customers where YOU want them!

• Take the time to map out your garage sale prior to setting up. You want to be making the most of your layout and space!
• Place unique and 'man' items close to the front (within view of the road) to encourage drive-by traffic to stop.
• Place larger white goods/furniture closer to the front of your garage sale for ease of loading onto a trailer/boot.
• Park your cars away from the front of the house for ease of access for your customers.
• Place items of a similar nature close together.
• Ensure electrical items are within reach of a power source for testing.
• Cover tables in a coloured cloth if possible to make items 'pop'
• Suggestively sell. Set up tables with a vase/setting with a sign saying 'is this your new dining table?'. Similarly, have the TV, DVD player, CD system playing to showcase it working.
• Ensure items are adequately protected from the elements.
• Place a well signed ‘free box’ at the front of the garage sale to encourage traffic to stop and come in for a look.
• Set up a children’s table with crayons and coloring in papers to help parents with young children.
• If you have a innovative item you make as a side business, sign it well and draw attention to it! Your garage sale is a great way to get the word out. Have business cards handy.
• Hang signs indicating a ‘no-return policy’. Also hang signs mentioning that later picks up available upon full payment. ALWAYS provide receipts of payment.
• Have cold drinks available for purchase – buy the drinks you don’t mind drinking if they are left over!

Before you head out to shop at a garage sale, keep the following buyers tips in mind…

1. Ask yourself are you going to the garage sales for fun or are you on a mission? If you’re going for fun, be sure to be wise and know what your budget is ahead of time – take only that much money with you so you cannot impulse buy and throw your money away! If you’re in need of something, know what the need is and write it out. Take note of measurements so you know it will fit when you get it home!
2. Keep in mind what you already own. Sometimes you could find yourself purchasing something that is exact or similar to another item at home.
3. Do a comparison walk through if there are several garage sales in the neighborhood. This will give you an idea of fair market value. Sometimes sellers will write a higher price, building in the expectation that you will negotiate your price. If the seller will not come down in price and you do not want to pay what they are asking, decide whether you really need this item and if so, could it be found at another garage sale?
4. When buying clothing, check for stains, rips, and broken zippers. Some stains can be removed, but it can be harder to do the other repairs.
5. Test all electrical items to make sure they are in acceptable working order.
6. Try asking for a discount when purchasing multiple items. Many sellers are willing to negotiate on a ‘bulk purchase’ rather than negotiate every individual item.
7. When buying toys and electronics, make sure that they are working properly and that there are no corroded batteries. Most stuffed animals are machine washable or can be sanitized with a good cleaner.
8. If it’s raining don’t forget to bring an umbrella or raincoat.
9. Make sure you have small notes and change to make your purchases with.
10. When bringing children discuss with them ahead of time how much they are allowed to spend, that way they will be more focused on choose something that they really want instead of just going nuts over everything. Always be respectful and keep a watch on your children, especially the little ones.
11. Try not to negotiate too much on price, especially on things that you know are dirt cheap. Smile, have fun, be kind and your garage sale experience will be a fruitful one.
12. The best time of day to go to a garage sale is early in the morning if you want first pick. At the end of the afternoon, usually between 4 and 5, you might find items marked down or even free, but keep in mind there will be less variety as well
 

On the day of your garage sale, you need to put out all the major signage (in accordance with local council laws). Think weatherproof signage. WATERproof if you can! Signs need to be sturdy cardboard or similar, or attached to a sturdy backing (like a crate/box). Drive by cars do create a wind current so make sure you use a sturdy nail, gaffa tape or similar to ensure it doesn't get blown down during the day. Your garage sale sign needs to be large enough to be read easily by drive-by traffic and needs to include ‘garage sale’, the street name and an arrow pointing the way!

If you live on a main road, opposite a park or similar, consider placing a BIG sign up outside your house for a week or two beforehand. It is a ‘teaser’ that tells people a HUGE garage sale will be at your place, lots of bargains to be had, with the date. The sign in the photo was hung for a fortnight prior to this garage sale in Bondi, Sydney, on the house. The house sat opposite a well-used park and encouraged many visitors to the day. As the sign is on your personal property, you will not be breaking any council laws.

• Invite customers to trial your sporting and fitness goods (with a sign).
• Beware of health and safety though - keep these goods ‘supervised’ and make sure children do not lift heavy items

 As the weather warms, we inevitably get active again as the countdown to Christmas begins. We move into ‘spring cleaning’ season and the garage sale boom starts in late August, with the boom lasting all the way to November. 

Following are our hottest tips when preparing your ‘spring clean’ garage sale:-

1. Get variety at your garage sale. Combine with family members, friends, work colleagues or neighbours to increase the variety of good on offer at YOUR garage sale. When advertising your garage sale, use the power of internet advertising to your advantage. List as many categories of items as possible, and draw attention to unique items with photos and detail to make your garage sale as enticing as possible to ANY shopper.
2. Make your goods look appealing. Cleaning your items and ensuring that they work properly is only the first step. How can you showcase them on garage sale day to greatest possible effect? Think too with Christmas on its way, can you wrap baby/children’s items, or other goods in hampers/cellophane etc to make it an appealing gift? Also allows you to sell in bulk!
3. Make your layout easy to navigate and access. Put your items on tables if possible, put items from like-categories together, and hang all clothes up. Place the largest items at the front of your garage sale to draw in drive-by traffic - also helps shorten the carrying distance for the person who buys your goods!
4. Create a great vibe. Summer is coming and enjoy the feeling that brings. Put on some great light hearted music, use some colourful sheets/table clothes on the tables, create some garage sale signs with a summer themed design (make sure you adhere to local council laws) and wear summer themed clothing. Your vibe will help make the customer feel relaxed and happy, and they will equate your goods with that feeling!
5. Price for competition. Recognise that at a garage sale, people EXPECT a bargain. In the spring cleaning frenzy, people will have choice in where they go, so factor that into your prices. Remember you are having a garage sale to get rid of these things, not to pack them away at the end of the day! 

Click the following link for a comprehensive guide to your spring cleaning routine!

The Ultimate Spring Cleaning Guide

 Any items you are selling that are not worth putting a price on, consider putting in a free box. Make one for adults and one for the kids and offer it to anyone who makes a purchase to rummage through. A great way of clearing out knick knacks, without adding to landfill.

• Keep tools, automotive and marine in the same area
• Ensure tools are well cleaned
• Make sure you have an extension cord on hand to test all power tools

• Have an extension cord and power point handy to test any electrical items you may have for sale
• Showcase the TV/Stereo working with music/DVD's playing
• If available, have records of last electrical check and tagging date available

• Place large items for sale towards the front of your display area. This will help with visibility from the road and also make it easier to move these items once they have been sold
• Make sure whitegoods are clean INSIDE and out
• Label whitegoods clearly with all specs (specifications)
• Consider being open to negotiations on price for whitegoods
• If available, have records of last electrical check and tagging date available