Tag Sales — just another way to describe a garage sale — are wonderful ways to clear unused items in a house, and they can also be a lot of fun. Here are my favorite difference-making tips to keep in mind when planning your sale.
Create a buzz: When placing an ad in the paper or online, make it catchy and fun, and tell a little about what buyers will find. For example, “Golfers’ delight’ or “Deals & steals are to be had.’
When to sell it: To help with separation anxiety, simply identify items that have not been used within the last couple of years. If you hate something but you’re keeping it because someone gave it to you, this would be a good time to let it go.
Show it off: Create visibility by displaying items at the end of the driveway, as you would see in a department store window. Within the sale area, prompt buyers by grouping items together in their own sections, such as clothes and accessories, electronics, tools, kitchenware, and toys.
Set the scene: Big ticket items sell faster — and for more — when they are staged as if ready to use. For example, doesn’t a dining table and chairs look more enticing with a few place settings and flowers on it than sitting bare?
Get neighbors involved: Double your inventory by inviting neighbors well in advance to participate in your sale. You can combine items into one large sale by pricing items with color-coded dots to keep track of who sold what.
Finally, never put unsold items back into your home. In some areas, relief shelters and other non-profits (such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill) will even pick up your contributions and give you a tax deduction. The feel-good part of any tag sale is knowing nothing will be wasted.