• Allow plenty of time—three to four weeks—to prepare for the sale.


• Choose a date that will not conflict with holidays or other special events that might lure prospective customers away.


• Weekends are more convenient for more people than weekdays.


• Your sale is likely to attract more customers if you join together with neighbors in an effort to have more merchandise.


• Practical household goods, collectibles, bicycles, children’s toys and clothes, sports equipment and garden tools are popular items; adult clothing has less appeal and should be priced accordingly.


• Merchandise your items attractively in neat, clean surroundings.  Paper tablecloths offer a pretty setting for glass and ornamental items.


• Cluster things in categories; place the most desirable items in the back of the garage so browsers are urged to look at other merchandise on the way.


• All items should be clean, polished and in good repair.


• Locate your appliance table near an outlet so customers may try before they buy.


• Be sure there is adequate parking and a place to load large items.


• Have plenty of paper bags and boxes for packing and newspapers for wrapping glass items.


• Place a classified ad in the local papers, including 3 or 4 specific items for sale, directions and date and time of the sale. Take advantage of free publicity provided by bulletin boards in grocery stores and other public places.


• Provide directional signs to your property if needed, using an indelible felt tip pen.


• If your home is listed for sale, have your Realtor hold an open house on the same day as the sale, thus increasing interest in both the house and the sale,


• Visit other sales to form an idea on how to price things, but remember that garage sale shoppers are looking for “bargains”.  Be prepared to bargain and lower your prices.


• Really valuable items, such as antiques should not be sold at a garage sale, because it is unlikely they will bring the desired price. On the other hand, nothing is too worthless to be valuable to someone.  Have a giveaway box of odds and ends.


• Post a notice that all sales are final and payment must be in cash.


• Have plenty of change in a cash box kept in a protected spot.  Keep a record of sales, especially if there are several sellers.


• On a hot day have ice water or lemonade available so people will stay longer


• Provide coffee for early bird shoppers.

After holding one or two garage sales, you can probably add some newly discovered tips of your own. A bit of organization will make for a successful sale and an uncluttered house!