How to Organize a Garage Sale
As a Professional Organizer, I love to promote different ways of getting rid of clutter. Having a garage sale is a great way to do this. However, there's an irony to putting together a good garage sale.
You want to sell your stuff to make more space in your home. But it TAKES a lot of space to sort and organize it! So how do you go about planning your sale in an organized way?
Here are some tips to maximize the potential for earning some cash from your garage sale so you can take back some much-needed space.
- Set your sale date and stick to it! Make it a priority. This will force you to move forward with your preparations so you'll be ready on time.
- If you don't have the space to prepare for a garage sale, MAKE the space for it. A guest room, basement storage area, or your laundry room makes a good temporary place to sort. It will only be a mess for a short time while you prepare.
- Sort! Sort! Sort! Use cardboard boxes or plastic bins to sort your stuff. Think of it like a department store. Have boxes for kitchen, clothes, books, etc. When you find something in your house to sell, you'll know right where to put it. Keep things sorted this way for your sale to make it easy for your buyers to find things they're looking for.
- Enlist the help of family and friends. The more help you have, the more fun it will be. A team effort will give everyone a sense of accomplishment.
- Purge as if your life depended on it! Remember, just because you put it up for sale doesn't mean anyone will buy it. But it's worth a shot to free up the space in your house. Do you love it? Do you need it? Do you use it? If not, try selling it.
- Rent some tables from a party supply store. They are very cheap and you will easily make the money back from your sale if your display is well organized. Have them delivered the day before your sale to give you plenty of time to set up.
- ADVERTISE! Put an ad in your local classifieds. Many local papers have free garage sale ads. But even if it costs a few bucks, it will be well worth it for the extra traffic it will generate. Put up signs in your neighborhood. The bigger the better, so people can see your address.
- Price things to sell, but leave room for negotiation. Don't take the lowball offer personally. Get as much as you can for the stuff and get it out of your house! Remember, you're trying to make money, AND free up space.
- There will be a lot that doesn't sell. Have a plan to unload it after your sale. Try your local FreeCycle group, or charities like the Salvation Army or a local women's shelter. Just don't bring it back in the house!
- Reward yourself and your helpers when you're sale is over. It's been a long hard day, and you'll need a break! Use your earnings and go out to dinner or buy that new item you've been pining for, now that you have room for it!
Written by Teri Keene - the founder of Keene Spaces, a professional organizing service in Quincy, IL. http:www.keenespaces.com.
Copyright 2008, Keene Spaces
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How to Organize a Garage Sale
