Clutter Into Cash

The dark shadow of winter has finally left us for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, that beautiful spring sunshine is now highlighting the stacks of ill-fitting winter clothes, puzzles with missing pieces and toys that haven’t been played with since the kids started school last fall. It’s time for a garage sale.

Thankfully, garage sales are infinitely better than what we may remember from our youth. Over are the days of sitting in a lawn chair all day long, hoping at least 10 people show up to rid you of your impulse Target purchases. If you plan well and follow these five tips, your garage sale can be not only profitable, but fun and educational too.

Get the Date and Times Right

Your neighborhood likely has a garage sale weekend once or twice a year. Check your community newsletter and plan your garage sale accordingly to get the maximum number of customers. Nothing ruins a sale faster than finding out it’s a week too late. 

Also, set a time limit. No one should be sitting around at 5:00 in the afternoon waiting for those last Nancy Drew books to sell. Pick an early afternoon time to wrap it up and stick to it.

• Lay It Out
• Shoppers are accustomed to department stores. You don’t have to create a full-on boutique, but do put some effort into your layout. Place your best deals and large ticket items out front to create interest. If you have loads of kids clothes, create a yard sign advertising what sizes and gender you have. Place a few of the best outfits on a hanger or display that are easily visible from the street. If shoppers can see you have good taste, they’ll be more likely to make the trek up your driveway. 
• Create an Experience
• Half the fun of shopping is the atmosphere, and that shouldn’t be forgotten just because it’s happening in a garage. Ever notice that every store you’ve shopped in has music? That’s because no one likes to buy in silence; it’s unsettling. Grab your radio and put on some tasteful tunes. In addition, if the day is hot, ask your kids to set up a refreshing cucumber water stand. They’ll make some additional money and participate in the day with you. 
• Manage Your Expectations
• Repeat after me: A garage sale is not Craigslist. The prices you can ask for items at your home are significantly lower than online selling allows for. People are expecting great deals in exchange for helping you clean out your house. Do some research ahead of time to see what items are going for at other sales and follow suit. If you’ve got a beautiful armoire worth hundreds of dollars, consider saving it for an online ad. 
• Don’t Go It Alone
• Enlist help! Create different job titles like cashier, sales and greeter, then rotate the jobs throughout the day. This will give your kids a chance to “work” for a portion of the profits. After all, a lot of the stuff you’re selling is likely coming from their rooms. Why not let them help get rid of it?
• With a little forethought and help from your garage sale team, the day should be enjoyable and memorable. Take leftover items to a local charity but don’t take them back into the house. Let it all go and revel in your newly decluttered home!

Kim Antisdel is a freelance writer and interior design sales rep for Kansas City and surrounding areas. She lives in Liberty with her husband, two stepdaughters, son and small zoo of rescue animals.