Ever had a closet full of clothes you don’t wear anymore? Or of books that you didn’t want to keep? Ever seen a bunch of stuff around the house that no one in your family uses anymore? Rather than donating it first, did you think about trying your hand at a classic garage sale to earn some money back?
But there’s a lot that goes into executing a good garage sale. You have to be able to pick a date, plan some time off, price every single item, make sure you have enough tables and racks to hold your items, make signs for the event, and possibly even advertise it on social media. If you haven’t held a garage sale before, here’s some thoughts that’ll go through your head as you prepare for it.
1. This. Is. Going. To. Be. Awesome.
This should be pretty easy! Just sit around and watch as people buy the stuff you don’t need anymore?
2. Let’s go find all of the stuff we don’t need anymore!
It’s like treasure hunting without a map-- just look around and find the valuable stuff. If it’s worth your time, then you put it in the pile.
3. But wait -- what if I need it later?!
Oh God, what if I need this for the next party I throw? Or what if I want to read the book in the next couple of months? I might need this shirt for an interview later...
4. No, it’s okay. It’s good. I won’t regret this later… (Hopefully.)
Take a deep breath. If I haven’t been using it in the last couple of months, then I’m probably done with it. Probably.
5. Okay, now I have a mountain of what I need to price…
So many things I need to put a monetary value on… Oh geez.
6. Okay, now how do I price this? What should each thing cost??
Time to go to Google “average garage sale prices,” I think...
7. That’s too expensive.
I don’t think people are going to buy a college textbook for that much...
8. That’s too cheap.
But that dress is worth a lot more than $3.
9. I’m never going to get through all of this in time…
Have I even gotten through half of this?! I’m drowning in things!!
10. When am I even doing this garage sale? What weekend am I willing to give up?
I need a weekend it’s not supposed to rain. Or be too windy. Or two hot. And one where I’m not supposed to go out with friends. Or go see family. Or have any other commitments whatsoever...
11. Are there going to be other people willing to go to a garage sale on that weekend?
Who else doesn’t have any other major commitments going on? A holiday weekend wouldn’t be a good idea, would it?
12. There are so many clothes to price here…
Maybe I should just open a thrift shop instead, full of all of the clothes I have here. I could basically make it in the clothing business with all of the clothes of mine that I don’t wear anymore.
13. Is selling antiques a bad thing at a garage sale? Should I take that to an antique store instead?
I hope my great-great-great grandma doesn’t mind me getting rid of this plate at my garage sale..
14. Everything’s finally priced! Thank God.
So. many. price. stickers.
15. Wait -- I missed something.
Why didn’t you pop up before I put away the price stickers and the Sharpie?!
16. Do I have enough tables to put everything on? Clothes racks??
I have so much stuff here that if I put it all on these couple of tables, I’m sure the tables would collapse in two minutes flat-- maybe one minute if I’m unlucky enough.
17. How many signs would I need to put up so that the whole world knows about this? How far apart should they be?
I better make them colorful, too. I’ll just do it in the whole 10 blocks around me, or something...
18. Would it be weird to promote this on social media?
All of my friends on Facebook should know about this and care enough to come and check this out.
19. Or would it just attract predators?
...Maybe I shouldn’t promote this in my public Instagram though. Or Twitter. Or Snapchat...
20. Would it be weird to sell water and snacks too?
Hey-- an extra quarter is extra money either way.
21. Maybe some music will make this sale seem friendlier.
What playlist should I play from, though?! “Confidence Boost” or “Good Vibes??”
22. What about hagglers?!
Hagglers are terrifying people, man. It’s either their way or the highway.
23. I have to carry all of this out here?
I will have all the muscles by the end of this sale.
