- Go through every room, including your basement, attic and garage. Look in every drawer, under the sink and in all of the cabinets.
- Sell any items that you haven't used in the past year. You will be amazed at what people will buy — from mystery utensils to old shirts. If you throw away something, you also could be throwing away money.
- Get your kids involved! Ask them to go through their old toys and to try on their old clothes. Sell what they've outgrown. This is a fun way to teach them about commerce and sales.
- Put all of the items you plan to sell in one room. Do a final walk-through to make sure you got everything.
- Hopefully, this process will clear out a lot of room in your house. This is a great opportunity for you to polish the countertops and clean up the closets. Try Mr. Clean® Multi-Surfaces Spray With Febreze® Freshness to help eliminate odours in the air. Try this multi-purpose cleaner in the kitchen* and bathroom and for other tough jobs. To sweep up any unexpected messes, consider the Swiffer® Sweeper. This 2-in-1 sweeper cleans better than a broom and a mop.
Step 2: Price It
- When pricing all of your items (well before the garage sale starts), be careful not to start too low. A common garage sale mistake is to price items far lower than what people actually will pay.
- Use pricing labels or stickers. By labeling every item, you'll avoid confusion for potential buyers.
Step 3: Spread the Word
- When planning your garage sale, keep in mind that the most successful days for garage sales are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
- A newspaper ad is a popular way to advertise your garage sale. If you're selling big-ticket items (such as furniture or electronics), specify that in your ad. Be sure to give the exact times, date, neighbourhood and address.
- Put flyers on bulletin boards at nearby supermarkets.
- Place posters at busy intersections. Be sure to have arrows on the posters that point in the direction of your house. Then, place additional posters continuing on the route — so potential visitors can follow the signs to your garage sale.
Step 4: Get Organized
- Instead of randomly placing your items, put all of the kitchen items together, all of the bathroom items together and all of the outdoor items together.
- Place your big-ticket items in the front (close to the street). This will draw people in and encourage them to look at the smaller items for sale.
- Be prepared to allow people to try powered items by making a plugged-in extension cord available.
You will be amazed about how rejuvenating your cleaned-out home will feel. By getting your whole family involved and making money in the same event, it's time well spent.
* A rinse is required for surfaces in direct contact with food.
Want more fresh ways to help organize your house? Read this article.
