If you’re ready to learn how to host a garage sale successfully, you’ve come to the right place. Last year, my neighbors and I put on a single garage sale that generated over a thousand dollars! I was shocked.
My family hosted garage sales growing up, but I never realized how much work they really were until I grew up to host my own. It’s not just finding and organizing all the stuff, learning how to host a garage sale is about learning to price, learning to display well, and learning how to advertise.
I’m sharing the six strategies I used to host a successful garage sale.
This is not a magic formula, but it’s how we hosted the most successful garage sale in the middle of May. I hope you can find the same success!
- Host A HUGE Garage Sale! Customers want options. No one drives by your sale faster than someone who sees two measly tables of clothes and a lonely desk for sale. Come together with multiple families to host a huge sale and make it worth it.
- Sell Refreshments. This tip is especially great for neighborhood garage sales. Customers will get hungry and tired after a few hours out and they’ll be more than willing to spend 50 cent or even a dollar on a cookie or two.
- Let Your Kids Help. My daughter was all too eager to sell old toys and fresh-baked treats. All I can say is people can’t pass up cute kids. The cuteness will help make sales, I promise.
- Don’t Forget Signs. Use a bright, eye-catching color. Make BIG BOLD letters. Include lots of arrows versus writing your actual address because it’s much easier for customers to follow. Make garage sale signs for every busy street, then be sure to lead with arrows directly to your address.
- Rearrange And Reorganize. Nothing turns me off faster than piles of unfolded clothes and disorganized tables. Move things out of the garage and continually condense tables to help customers easily find what they want.
- Post And Repost. Create a fresh post DAILY on Facebook Marketplace and all the other Facebook groups in your area. This helps your post pop up at the top of the Facebook feed. Maybe even post the garage sale on Craigslist. Learn how to post your garage sale on Facebook here.
- Accept Help! Many thanks to my neighbors and family members who helped me host a successful rummage sale last year. Especially with kids, I needed extra hands on deck for answering questions and watching the sale when I needed to run inside. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and say yes when others offer!
- Extend Your Garage Sale Hours. Friday through Saturday sales are old news. Now it’s advertised pre-sales on Wednesday afternoon, full days on Thursday and Friday, and most of Saturday as well. Thursday was my most profitable day by far! If you’re going to host a garage sale, you might as well make it worth it.
This is my daughter selling strawberry ice cream treats we picked up from the discount store just days before our garage sale last year. She had the best time selling at her own little treat stand.
Hosting a garage sale is one of the most fun ways to earn a little extra cash this summer. If you’re looking for more side hustle suggestions, find my list of TOP TEN FAVORITE SIDE HUSTLES on my website.
Comment below with any additions or critiques for this page on How To Host A Garage Sale. It’s so easy and fun when you learn to host a garage sale well!
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