Are your garage, basement and closets overflowing from the heaps of stuff you've been saving 'just in case'? If so, it may be time to put those languishing piles to good use-in someone else's home. Rummage sales are a great way to clear out, recycle, and make some extra cash. Follow these suggestions for a successful sale and a clutter-free home.
The storefront
A garage is usually the best place to hold a sale offering shelter and requiring little daily set up and tear down. If your garage is hard to access, hidden from view, or contains valuables that can't be easily hidden, use a covered porch, patio or your yard. Be sure to have plenty of tarps available to protect your goods from rain and for covering at the end of the day.
All in the timing
Plan your sale when temperatures are comfortable outdoors. Typically, the best days to hold sales are Thursdays thru Sundays, with Fridays and Saturdays bringing the most traffic. Mornings bring the most significant flow of shoppers, and the earlier you're ready, the better. If you open by 7:30 or 8 a.m., rummagers will flock.
Displaying your wares
Don't heap your merchandise on tables or leave it in boxes to be ransacked. While some don't mind digging through messy stacks, most people won't bother.
Hang as much clothing as possible. Use a laundry pole or portable closet, or install two support brackets and a closet rod. You can also support a ladder between two stepladders. If you only have a few clothing items, a clothesline will do.
Plenty of table space is also a must. Borrow folding tables, and if you run out, make a table by resting a sheet of plywood over sawhorses, or prop spare planks of wood between chairs. Keep all but big items off the floor for better visibility.
Neatly fold and stack clothing that can't be hung on tables, and label stacks according to size. Organize good toys and complete sets where parents and grandparents will easily spot them. Set up a 'guys' table with hand tools, gadgets, electronics and home repair items. Then place small articles such as jewelry in divider containers or egg cartons, so they're easy to view.
One exception to the disorderly rule is for small toys. Stick all these little goodies in boxes on the ground where young children can dig for treasures to take home. Label boxes according to the price per item or allow kids to choose one as a prize.
Finally, make sure batteries and electricity are available so you can show shoppers that items are in working condition.
Next to new sells
Appearance plays a big role in the sale of used goods and how much they can bring. Wash and dry all clothing and linens, then fold or hang immediately to prevent wrinkles. Wash dust, dirt and grime from toys, tools and household items. Also, repair broken merchandise when feasible.
Priced to sell
Don't overprice, or you'll end up packing up nearly as much as you started with. For big items, look through classified ads or on eBay for average resale prices. But if you check eBay, keep in mind that eBay pricing often isn't comparable to what people will pay at a garage sale. Some top quality items in like-new condition can bring 25 to 35 % of the replacement cost at rummage sales. Occasionally, tools, equipment and other things in small supply can be priced higher and sell for 50% to 60% of replacement cost, depending on age and condition. Most used merchandise will bring 5 to 10% of replacement cost at best.
Advertising
Newspaper classified ads or Craigslist, as well as the more popular online garage sale locator websites, usually bring the best results. The exception is if you live on a main street or a heavily traveled highway. In your ad, be sure to include your address and main cross streets, dates and time of your sale, and what you'll be selling. List big items individually as well as the categories of things you'll sell, like "tools" or "toddler clothing."
Also, post fliers on the grocery store or laundromat bulletin boards. If there are no regulations against doing so, posting signs on nearby corners is a must. Don't forget to put a bright sign in front of your house, too. Balloons tied to your mailbox or a tree can also make your sale more visible.
Tips for success
The bigger the sale, the more traffic you'll get. Go in with family, friends and neighbors and hold one big sale rather than several small ones.
Hold a street or subdivision-wide sale. This will draw people from surrounding areas.
Move big items such as furniture or appliances into the driveway to attract passersby.
Finally, have your items priced. Many people will walk away from a sale with nothing when things aren't priced. They don't want to make an offer that's too low and might offend you. They also don't want the hassle of having to ask the price for every little thing they might consider buying.
Kimberly Blaker is a freelance writer living in Michigan.
