10 Tips For Holding A Successful Pre-Move Garage Sale

Sep 19, 2023 Garage sales are among the best ways to get rid of unwanted and unused things in your house. Conducting one before moving house is suitable because you can reduce the moving and packing load for your hired expert removalists in Adelaide. Additionally, it helps you take things you really want in your new home, which is important to prevent clutter. Hosting a garage sale takes planning since it is easier said than done. You have to choose whether to conduct it online or traditionally by keeping household items in the yard. Thus, here is a complete guide outlining 10 tips for holding a successful pre-move garage sale. Have a look.

1. Sort Your Property Contents

Go on a decluttering spree at least two months before the moving day to sort your property contents into four categories – pack for new home, donate, discard and sell. For the yard sale, you need items that are in good condition, whether they are used or new.

2. Create an Inventory

After you have sorted things to sell at a garage sale, the next step is to create an inventory to keep track of these things. Mention the category, types, measurements, actual price and sale price on the item. Refer to this list on the day of the garage sale to know what is sold and answer questions buyers might have on the sale day.

3. Decide The Garage Sale Method

A traditional garage sale is held in the yard, ensuring everything is on display for visitors to see and analyse before buying. Alternatively, you can now host a sale online via popular platforms wherein you input pictures and details of things for sale. For people with no time or energy to hold a physical yard sale, conducting one online is the most practical solution. But, make sure the platform is reliable, and you can live stream, create a social media feed, post stories and advertise on it freely.

4. Organise The Garage Sale in a Clear Area

Don’t make the mistake of pricing things in your home and inviting people in to see and buy them. It is confusing and also causes nuisance for household members. Therefore, find a clear area away from the hustle and bustle of your home and organise the sale there. It can be your yard, garage, a storage room etc.

5. Price Everything Reasonably

Every item during your garage sale should be priced reasonably to attract more buyers and get the right value for them. Various factors determine the value of owned property content, such as current condition, depreciation value, demand, relevance etc. Don’t expect anyone to buy your things at the original price because you are selling without any guarantee or a warranty. The general rule while assessing items for a yard sale is to price them at 10-20% of their MRP (Maximum Retail Price). For example, if the retail price of an item is $60, you can sell it at $6 or $12, depending on its usage and condition.

6. Do Your Research

Since online garage sales are easier to attend and conduct, you will find more competition while hosting them. Even during a physical sale, you should expect competition when you do it during peak moving season. Therefore, you need to do proper research to price your things lucratively and understand the strategies other have employed to highlight their yard sale. You must attend sales in your neighbourhood or browse through online ones, especially if you are planning to host a yard sale for the first time.

7. Choose The Right Time and Day(s)

Time is of the essence when hosting a garage sale. You need to host it on a day and time when most people can attend. Therefore, it is common for them to be on weekends rather than weekdays when people have work or fulfil other commitments. Additionally, it helps if the sale is during the day as visibility is high.

• Never host a garage sale on public holidays or festivals.
• Don’t conduct it a few days before your hired removalists in Adelaide are scheduled to arrive.
• Sell your things early to generate funds for expected expenses such as a rental bond, utility set up charges, change of address fee, booking a good removal company in Adelaide etc.

8. Put Price Tags On Everything & Clearly

Not every visitor is comfortable with asking the price of things and might walk off without buying anything. Therefore, get pre-made labels or use DIY ones to mention the price of each item on display. Put similar items like books, pens, shirts, etc., in a box and label them as ‘All books $2’ or ‘All t-shirts $5’.

9. Avoid Putting Negotiable Prices

Avoid putting negotiable prices to save time and energy of buyers and yourself. Be as straightforward as possible because it reduces the need for haggling. If you have the time and patience to negotiate the price, do it by mentioning the item’s starting price without disclosing the bottom-line price.

10. Offer Refreshments On Sale Day

It isn’t uncommon for people to come to garage sales for free snacks & drinks then end up buying things. Offering refreshments is a great way to attract more traffic to your garage sale and also keep buyers happy.

Wrapping Up

Whether online or offline, garage sales are excellent for selling owned items that you don’t want to take to your new home. These events help generate funds for your move and reduce the packing and moving load for your hired removal experts in Adelaide too. Thus, if you plan to relocate, use the tips mentioned above to host a successful garage sale.