and I'm not really sure how to proceed. You see, I've never had a garage sale and I've probably only gone to about 3 in my whole life. My parents never had garage sales, but I did observe my sister in law having a garage sale once maybe. I'm a total noob.
I know garage sales are supposed to be the thing that frugal people embrace, but I've always had to work 8 to 4 weekdays and never had the opportunity to attend sales on the first day. And Saturdays are for sleeping in late, not getting up like a school day and driving around strange neighborhoods in the dark. Even when I ride my bike around on the weekends and see a sale, I just glance over and keep going. Plus they seem like a lot of work. In my opinion its easier to just post a picture on craigslist. I've sold thousands of dollars of stuff on craigslist in the past but the stuff I need to sell just doesn't seem worth it.
So a friend of mine lives in a community that is having a neighborhood yard sale on the first weekend of November. She invited me to bring over anything I want to sell, since she's done this a bunch. I thought it would be a good way to get rid of those golf clubs I lugged down to FL and haven't used in fifteen years, and the old vacuum cleaners and of course some stockpile stuff like scrubbing bubbles, swiffer starter kits and BBQ sauce. I don't have the big draw items like kids toys or clothes, or tools. So, I'm not really sure what will go and what won't. I also don't know how to price the stuff so that it goes, but not giveaway.
Here's what I'm thinking I need to get set -
1. Tables - I do know that I need to get some tables, which I can borrow. I can get a couple Card tables, and a plastic round outdoor table. Plus I can use some extra plywood from remodeling to make more tables with horseshoes. I have a small 5x8 trailer I can put all this stuff on, or borrow my neighbors pickup truck.
2. Items to sell - I can box up razors, toothpaste, BBQ sauce, swiffers, scrubbing bubbles, candles and air fresheners and all the other stockpile stuff I'm not using as quickly as I want. I also have sporting goods like roller blades, scuba equipment, nerf footballs, golf clubs. I have a box of Tshirts I culled out from the dressing room to donate, so I'll try to sell them too. Also a chainsaw and an electric leaf blower, and a couple vacuum cleaners.
3. Advertising - I'm wondering if it would be good to take pics and place the items on craigslist a week early to see if there is any interest at a higher price. Then I can direct the buyer to the yard sale. Do you think this would work? I could also place an ad in the garage sale section with a map to direct people to this sale.
4. Pricing - Is it better to put price tags on stuff or just tag the table like $1 Table. Or should I just put color stickers on everything and then I know if the red sticker is $0.25 and the blue sticker is $1, etc. Do you think people will switch stickers? I would also have a price list of everything so I can see what sold for what (being the analyst I am) and to verify the prices.
5. Troublemakers - what about the people who will annoy me and just try to basically steal my stuff? Granted I don't have a use for most of it, but I would rather give it away to the Salvation army for free than sell it to a cheapskate for ten cents. What about the people who will try to steal stuff, do I need to watch for that? I have an ipod Nano I want to sell since I have several, and I want people to see it but not steal it. Should I wear it with my arm strap with a for sale note on it?
6. Signs - I'll make a couple directional signs, plus some price signs for my tables.
7. Freebies - I'll have leftover Halloween candy to give away to buyers, plus I can sell SOBE water or something to thirsty people.
Any tips you have from your experiences would be great. I'll keep you posted on my progress. I'm going to start gathering stuff and packing it up this weekend.