Did you know it's bad manners to turn up at a garage sale early? Well, you do now.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Read on for more handy tips.
For the seller:
1: Put prices on all the major items, even better, on all items. Or group your $1, $2 and $5 items into separate areas on tables (only one sign needed for each group).
2: Organise a money float — gold coins, $5 and $10 notes.
3: Be prepared to accept lower offers, particularly if someone is buying several items.
4: Have music playing and try to create a welcoming atmosphere.
5: If you’ve pulled stuff out of storage or out of the shed, give it a clean, you’ll have a better chance of selling it for a decent price if it presents well.
6: Have some plastic bags or boxes available for people buying several items.
7: Assess the items that you really think won’t sell and create a ‘Free Stuff’ Box that you clearly mark and put at the front of the sale — this will draw people in.
8: If you are selling electrical items, try to have them working or near a power point where they can be plugged in and demonstrated.
9: As the day progresses keep regrouping the remaining items so that it still looks appealing from the street.
10: Identify yourself as the seller with a money bag or money tin, even a name badge, or by just greeting everyone when they come in.
11: Have some signs out the front to clearly advertise your sale.
Newspaper signs, home-made signs taped to your wheelie bin or
balloons are good.
12: Make sure your neighbours know you are having a garage sale so they don’t get a surprise when buyers start parking on their verges or driveway.
For the buyer:
1: Don’t turn up too early. If the advert says no early birds, abide by the time. If you are early, wait out the front until you see they are ready.
2: Don’t offer $50 notes on small items. Take smaller notes or gold coins and try not to insult with a bag full of silver.
3: Take your own shopping bag.
4: Don’t be afraid to make an offer on something lower than the marked price, particularly if you are buying a few pieces — remember it’s generally a ‘clean out’ for the seller and they don’t really want items left over.
5: If you see three items you like, ask the buyer would they throw the third (and cheapest) in for free.
6: If you see something you like, don’t dilly dally, at least grab it or put it aside or it could be gone before you know it.
7: Don’t let bad weather deter you. Usually the seller is committed and if they have an undercover space they will go ahead regardless of rain.
8: If you are following sales advertised in the paper and don’t have a smart phone, take a local map.
9: If you are serious about buying larger items on your garage sale rounds take a trailer so that you can take the items home immediately — the seller wants to move them on.
10: Even if you don’t buy anything (and don’t feel bad about that) always thank the seller before you leave — they’ve often gone to a lot of effort getting all the items out and displayed.
