Monday, June 1, 2009

Garage Sale Update...

Since I received such wonderful advice from y'all regarding my garage sale, I wanted to update you on how it went. I MADE BANK!! We made right at $1000 on Saturday, and still had enough stuff left to make a donation to Goodwill and get a tax writeoff.

(Signs available at this link. )

Just in case any of you feel inspired now to have your own garage sale, I will pass on the tidbits of wisdom that worked and were so generously shared with me.

1. ADVERTISE! I put in on Craigslist, in the newspaper, and on the little "Swap Shop" radio program that they have locally. I also put out signs and put up a balloon on the signs at the intersections.

2. Price fairly, and negotiate. I tried to price things so they would move. I did all of my shirts, pants, skirts, and pj sets for $1. I priced shoes at $2, and kids clothes were mainly $1, but they were in great condition and name brands.

3. Towards the end of the day I started slashing prices. I went half off on most items. I also started a "Bag Sale" per some advice I had gotten from a cousin. I told people everything they could fit in a bag was $3. I laughed hysterically at how full some of these people were stuffing their bags.

4. I made BIG price signs on posterboard with all the prices listed so they were clear. I also tagged all the individual stuff, like dishes and bed linens.

5. I got plenty of change ahead of time and kept it on me. I also did not let people use my restroom. I felt bad about that, but was way too busy to go inside with them, so I figured better safe than sorry.

6. I also told friends and relatives that I knew would be interested in clothes, etc. that they were welcome to come over ahead of time and get what they wanted first. I had several people take me up on this offer, and it was a win win situation.

7. I set things up very clearly. All kid and baby stuff was together. All the bed linens, curtains and pillows were together. Clothes were seperated by size and labeled. We hung a rope between trees for a clothesline. I had a table for the kitchen stuff, a table for the electronics, etc.

Lon and I put our signs out at 5:30am and we had advertised that it would be from 7am-2pm. People were watching us put out the stuff and were completely shopping by 6:15. I had planned on taking pictures once I got it all set up, but we were swamped the whole day, so I am gonna show you the pics of my garage on Friday afternoon, as we sorted and priced.


Now catch your breath. I know those pictures are shocking and you are wondering how all of that stuff was in my house. It wasn't. Lots of it was in the garage or a storage building from when we moved almost a year ago. Point being, it is all gone now! I am still doing the happy dance. I hope this inspires you to have a garage sale of your own. If you do, let me know how it goes!

9 comments:

Bamawhitney said...

WOW!!! Congratulations on a great sale!!!!!

Anne said...

WOW! That is a great garage-sale total! I could only HOPE to make that much from a sale!

Tricia said...

Congrats on the garage sale total!
That's fantastic! Thanks too for all the great advice.
*Tricia

Tina said...

Wow, you have inspired me. We moved almost two years ago and I still have the garage sale stack. Now I know that is money just sitting there. Thanks for all the tips!!

Jennifer R. Hamilton said...

How much did you sell your stuff like your jumperoo for? I just don't want to give it away, but I also don't want it sitting in my garage anymore. I am having one hopefully in a few weeks. My blue bedroom is over run with stuff to be sold! I still have to go upstairs and clean out up there though. And $1 for clothes...yikes, I don't know if I can do that on every piece!! I might have an anxiety attack! So glad you did good! Watcha buying with all that moolahh!?!?

Mandi Shandi said...

To answer the above questions, I started my jumparoo at $20, but it sold for $10. I held off until the end of the day to sale it for that. I had lots of offers for less, but felt like $20 was fair. Like I said I just wanted rid of it and knew I would be donating anything left for free, so any money was better than nothing.

And, what am I spending that moolah on, a bathing suit, some stuff for the house, a flower bed, and bills. It was spent before I made it, in my mind anyway.

Bryce's momma said...

Congrats on your yard sale success. Mine is this weekend! I wanna shop from your pics. i have that same jumperoo. I would so have gave you $20 for it! That is the best entertainer ever! I would like a second one for our next baby (to leave at my mom's house) or I would have donated it to our church. Aren't the $3 bags hilarious to watch? Fun fun!

BlueCastle said...

Oh, Good JOB!!! That's awesome! I'm so impressed. :)

Mandi @ Sweetly Home said...

Awesome!!!!!! Girl, $1000?! I hope you have lots of fun spending your dough!! thanks for the great tips and the link for the yardsale sign. I'm having a sale later this year and will definatly be referring to your post for ideas.

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