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!