Garage Sale Tips To Make The MOST Money Possible (tips from Pros that make thousands!) (2024)

Today’s topic: Garage Sale Tips, Pricing Tricks, Printables, Signs and Organization Ideas For a SUCCESSFUL Profitable Yard Sale.

Garage sales, rummage sales, moving sales and community yard sales can be a GREAT way to not only make money but to also downsize and get rid of your STUFF in the process – but HOW do you make the most money possible from a yard sale selling your used STUFF?

Let me share with you the best garage sale tips I read BEFORE having my own yard sale that really helped me organize everything, PRICE everything – and yes, BE PROFITABLE too.

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It can be REALLY hard to throw things away when you KNOW those items are worth money to SOMEONE.

Usually, I am not a big fan of garage sales or yard sales, but as things get SO much more expensive, every little extra dollar coming IN really can help.

Decluttering your home AND making money sounds like a win in my book!

While planning my own yard sale, I read a LOT of super helpful advice to make having a garage sale less stressful and more successful.

Below are the tips and tricks I read that made a big difference – and are highly recommended if YOU are planning on selling your stuff at a garage sale or even a community / neighborhood yard sale.

Garage Sale Tips To Make The MOST Money Possible (tips from Pros that make thousands!) (2)

1. How To Have a Successful Garage Sale – Tips from a Yard Sale Pro

Reading garage sale tips from someone with a LOT of experience was my first stop.

All I had to read was…

…my last yard sale netted me over $1200 over a 4-day period and I have consistently made over $1,000 with each yard sale that I’ve had for the last five years…

and I KNEW I found super helpful tips for ME.

Garage Sale Tips To Make The MOST Money Possible (tips from Pros that make thousands!) (3)

Here are 10 ways she ALWAYS makes $1,000+ at every, single garage sale she does:

  1. Planning is EVERYTHING! Get a garage sale planner like this.
  2. Don’t do it alone – have a MULTI-family yard sale.
  3. Location is everything – be “findable” on a well-traveled street.
  4. Have BIG memorable Garage Sale Signs (these signs WILL work haha!)
  5. Put balloons on your signs so they REALLY stand out.
  6. Advertise EVERYWHERE.
  7. Don’t try and sell junky items – if it’s torn, stained or broken, throw it out.
  8. Put Big “eye-catching” items up front so those passing by easily see them.
  9. Keep the entire area clean.
  10. Have a helper.

Best Signs EVER For a Garage SaleI Found It Here10-Pack Yard Sale Signs with BalloonsI Found It Here

She offers lots of great advice – totally worth a read.

Read these tips on SixDollarFamily.com

2. How To Hold a Successful Garage Sale This Summer

This whole article is full of VERY helpful tips… but her pricing tips were especially helpful for me.

Just a few tips she shares as a ‘pricing guide’ for garage sales:

  • Keep your prices LOW so things sell.
  • An ideal starting point for pricing garage sale items is about 10% above your “ideal” price.
  • Don’t bother with items less than a quarter – not worth your time. Just GIVE those items away to garage sale visitors.
  • Put a price tag on EVERYTHING to avoid EVERYONE asking “how mush is this?” all day long.
  • For a higher-priced items, post what the current retail price is. People LOVE a good deal!

Read all her tips on ThriftyGuardian.com

3. Garage Sale Organization Guide – The ULTIMATE List of Yard Sale Tips and Tricks

If I had to pick one ULTIMATE guide to having the best, most profitable yard sale EVER, this Garage Sale Organization MEGA Guide would be my pick.

Garage Sale Tips To Make The MOST Money Possible (tips from Pros that make thousands!) (4)

From free planning checklists to printable yard signs… what NOT to sell AND what sells BEST… to really helpful yard sale pricing tips and display ideas… the whole post is PACKED full of the best tips you’ll find for a REALLY successful yard sale that make the most money possible.

It’s super, SUPER helpful!

4. Garage Sale Hacks To Make The Most Money

Holly has a lot of helpful tips for running a profitable garage sale or yard sale.

The tip I wrote down was one I didn’t even think about when planning…

Making CHANGE for garage sale customers (tip – only accept cash, ok?)

Holly highly recommends getting change from the bank BEFORE the day of your garage sale.

She says she typically has about $100 cash on hand in change ranging from quarters up to $10 bills.

Read all her tips on HollyHammersmith.com

5. 10 Yard Sale Tips That’ll Clear Your Clutter Fast

Also a very helpful article, but the BEST tips she shared are two very important things.

Garage Sale Tips To Make The MOST Money Possible (tips from Pros that make thousands!) (5)

2 Garage Sale MUST HAVES for a profitable yard sale:

1 – GET A GARAGE SALE KIT

Buying everything you need for your garage sale in a KIT is much cheaper than buying necessary items one by one.

2 – Put Signs EVERYWHERE

It’s absolute MUST to “market” your garage sale or yard sale – and this includes putting signs EVERYWHERE.

If people don’t know about your sale, they won’t come.

If it’s not easy to FIND your sale, they won’t come.

Best-Rated Garage Sale KitI Found It HereGarage Sale Signs Value PackI Found It Here

She also mentioned checking with her HOA (Home Owners Association) and/or your city zoning office BEFORE you even start planning your yard sale to be SURE there are no restrictions.

You can read all her tips on UnclutteredSimplicity.com

6. How To Have a Yard Sale Tips – $1065 In ONE Day

The whole $1056 from a ONE DAY garage sale absolutely got my attention.

The best tips I got from her articles was what items sell BEST.

Garage Sale Tips To Make The MOST Money Possible (tips from Pros that make thousands!) (6)

The 9 best-selling items at a garage sale are:

  • Clothes (always a best seller!)
  • Baby/kid items
  • Kitchen gadgets
  • Household decor
  • Tools
  • Shoes
  • Video games
  • Electronics
  • Cheap furniture

Funny, I never thought about selling old SHOES, but hey ya never know, right?

She also mentioned that most yard sale shoppers are only willing to spend about $1 – $5 on an item – and that her garage sales usually have about 80% of her items priced UNDER $5.

That’s a good tip!

You can read all her tips on HustleAndSlow.com

7. Tales of a Town-Wide Garage Sale

This was a good read mainly because I’ve always wanted to participate in a multi-family garage sale type set-up and she shared some good advice on how all that works.

She also shared this free pdf of garage sale tips that are worth a read.

Her motto for her garage sales is: “Everything Must GO

And she prices everything with that in mind.

Also, AFTER her yard sale is over, she IMMEDIATELY sorts of the items that are left into donate and trash boxes and then gets rid of that stuff too (that’s MY kind of plan!)

You can read all her tips on OrganizedArtistry.com

8. 31 Garage Sale Tips and Tricks – Pricing and Set Up Ideas

Heidi has a few golden nugget tips for having a garage sale in her article.

One thing that stood out to me was about the ‘cash only’ tip from a previous article.

This article recommends having something like a Square Up or PayPal card reader so you don’t miss out on sales because people don’t really CARRY cash anymore.

Another interesting tip she shared was about pricing EVERYTHING for $1.

The most successful sale I ever had was placing an ad for a $1 Sale, then selling everything for a dollar–even the old bicycles. Clothes were $1 a bag. I didn’t even have to price & tag anything. Someone said I was nuts, but I netted about $400!

If your mentality for YOUR garage sale is EVERYTHING must GO – then the whole everything for $1 is a smart way to accomplish that.

You make some extra money and….

EVERYTHING gets GONE.

You can read all her tips on TheFrugalGirls.com

Best Signs EVER For a Garage SaleI Found It Here10-Pack Yard Sale Signs with BalloonsI Found It Here

Successful Yard Sale Tips

Below are more resources to show you how to have a SUCCESSFUL yard sale or garage sale – and MISTAKES to avoid.

Garage Sale Tips To Make The MOST Money Possible (tips from Pros that make thousands!) (7)

1 – How to Have A Successful Yard Sale: 7 Winning Strategies – Figuring out how to have a successful yard sale isn’t an exact science, but a few strategies can help you make the most of your time and energy — and bring in the most cash… continue reading

2 – How to have a Successful Garage Sale – Tips from a Yard Sale Pro – How to Have a Successful Garage/Yard Sale – Have you had a yard sale before but didn’t make any money? These 25 tips will teach you how to profit every. single. time… continue reading

3 – 10 Yard Sales Mistakes To Avoid and Make Money – there are many yard sales mistakes people make that we guaranteed have cost them a loss of sales, which equals loss of money… continue reading

4 – 10 Secrets to Having a Successful Garage Sale – While I don’t consider myself the “Garage Sale Queen” by any means, here are a few of my recommendations for holding a successful garage sale… continue reading

Ready To Get Rid Of Your STUFF?

More helpful posts to read:

How To Downsize and Declutter Your Home When You Have Too Much STUFF
Moving Tips and Tricks – Too Much STUFF? Should You Sell EVERYTHING?

Must Have Items For a Profitable Yard Sale:

Best-Rated Garage Sale KitI Found It HereGarage Sale Signs Value PackI Found It Here

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Garage Sale Tips To Make The MOST Money Possible (tips from Pros that make thousands!) (10)

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Garage Sale Tips To Make The MOST Money Possible (tips from Pros that make thousands!) (2024)

FAQs

Garage Sale Tips To Make The MOST Money Possible (tips from Pros that make thousands!)? ›

As you can tell from this article, the devil is in the details. With proper planning and garage sale pricing, though, you can potentially earn between $500 and $1,000, depending on how much you have to sell.

How do you succeed in a garage sale? ›

How to Hold a Successful Garage Sale
  1. Don't wait until the last minute. ...
  2. Contact your local government. ...
  3. See if neighbors want to join in. ...
  4. Schedule the sale. ...
  5. Advertise. ...
  6. Price your goods. ...
  7. If it's junk, recycle or donate it. ...
  8. Display items nicely.

What is the average profit from a garage sale? ›

As you can tell from this article, the devil is in the details. With proper planning and garage sale pricing, though, you can potentially earn between $500 and $1,000, depending on how much you have to sell.

How do I draw attention to my garage sale? ›

Don't overthink your garage sale marketing too much. Grab some blank posters and balloons from the dollar store. Post signs at both ends of your street and at nearby busy intersections where a driver can easily read them. If you want to advertise in the local paper or church bulletin, do it at least a week in advance.

What are the disadvantages of a garage sale? ›

They can be a fun way to get to know your neighbors or meet interesting people. One of the largest downsides is that people set aside things for a garage sale and then never have one. The unwanted items continue to take up space in their homes and create a mountain of clutter that can often become a fire hazard.

What month is best for garage sale? ›

Early spring (around late March, April, and May) is the most popular time for a garage sale. It's just after winter, when people are eager to head outdoors, and will give you time for some spring cleaning, so you'll know what items you want to sell.

What are the best hours for a garage sale? ›

Most garage sales last 3 – 4 hours, typically from 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., or 9:00 a.m. – noon. Some garage sales may even go until 4:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. depending on how popular it is, or how many items remain after peak hours.

Is it better to have a garage sale or sell online? ›

Selling online will get you the most money but is time consuming. Selling at a yard sale will get you pennies on the dollar but you will unload it fast. Do both. Pull the cream of the crop for listing and unload the rest at the yard sale.

Is a garage a good selling point? ›

In cities with scarce parking, a garage can command a considerable premium, making homes far more attractive to buyers who value convenience and security. Conversely, in areas where outdoor space is more coveted, the functionality of a garage as a flex space can be a critical selling point.

Does a garage sale affect GDP? ›

GDP measures the total value of all goods and services produced within a country's borders over a specific time period. Garage sales are considered the resale of used goods and are typically not included in GDP calculations. Let's break down the reasons why this sale doesn't impact GDP: 1.

Where is the best place to post a yard sale? ›

Sites like YardSaleSearch.com, Gsalr.com and GarageSaleFinder.com—and their mobile apps—enable garage sale enthusiasts to browse sale listings and even map out a route of their favorites. You may also want to do a quick Facebook search to see if you have any active garage sale groups in your area.

How do you write a catchy garage sale ad? ›

Concise (longer is not always better) Specific (mentions brand names where appropriate, especially for items in high demand) Spelled correctly (seriously, run it through spell check) Focused on what makes your sale unique (“Three-family sale,” “Moving sale,” or “Done having kids!”)

How do I advertise my garage sale on social media? ›

List things on your post of what you're selling. A lot of people will roll on by if it's mostly clothes. Look for facebook page's that say's garage sale's in your area,then put your advertizement for yard a sale. Plus put sign's around the neighborhood,in your yard,and so on.

Is it better to price items at a garage sale? ›

Set Prices in a Simple, Honest Way

Nearly new items can be priced higher, but used or worn items should be priced accordingly. Use round numbers that are easy to add up, like $1, $5, $10. This makes transactions quicker and easier for both you and the buyer. Remember, many garage sale buyers expect to haggle.

What not to sell at a yard sale? ›

Creepy, Tacky, Inappropriate | Things You Should Never Sell at a...
  • Used Underwear: Nope. ...
  • Medicine. ...
  • Taxidermy Animals: Since other people didn't shoot it or catch it, don't sell it.
  • Personal Hygiene Products. ...
  • Adult Movies: OK…that's just ALL I got to say about THAT.

Can you make money from garage sale? ›

There are now more ways than ever to get cash for your unwanted stuff. You can take things to consignment stores, sell on eBay or Craigslist or use any number of direct selling apps on your phone. But when you want to sell a lot of diverse items quickly, you still can't beat a good old-fashioned garage or yard sale.

What is the best day for a yard sale? ›

Saturday is the most popular day for a garage sale, but if you have a lot of items, consider adding Friday and even Thursday to make it a multi-day event.

How do I protect my yard sale from rain? ›

COVER YOUR ITEMS WITHOUT LOOKING LIKE YOU'RE COVERING YOUR ITEMS: With a little extra effort, you can rainproof your yard sale in advance. Just put all your small items in clear Ziplock sandwich bags. Most clothing items, for example, will fit in gallon bags. You can also assemble matching kids' outfits in these.

Do you need a permit to have a yard sale in Texas? ›

If you have a garage sale or sell personal items through the internet or an advertisem*nt, you may need to obtain a Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit and collect sales tax. Texas sales tax is normally due when you sell tangible personal property.

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