Garage Sales Australia | Garage Sale Checklist



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Printable Garage Sale Checklist
Garage sales should be fun and hassle-free, with your goal to make some good money and off-load your unwanted items. Our garage sale checklist allows you to do just that - get organised, be prepared and maximise your profits. Its all here, the complete guide on how to do just that.


6 weeks before the sale
	Give boxes to every member of your family.
	Have each person fill boxes with things they want to get rid off. Ask them to identify which ones are to sell or to give-away.

5 weeks before the sale:
	Give the neighbours a courtesy call about the garage sale and encourage them to hold sales on the same day.
	This is to generate heavy foot traffic.

	Offer to sell stuff for friends for a commission.

	Start collecting plastic bags to hand out to buyers.

	Browse Ebay, other websites that sell second hand items to check out prices.
	The local newspaper classified ads could also be a good reference.

4 weeks before the sale:
	Systematically search the entire house to look for items to sell.
	Be ruthless. When is the last time you used it? Bigger sales can generate heavy foot traffic.

	Price items.
	Price items about 25-35% of what it cost new. Clothes are an exception at 5 to 10% of the original cost.

	Advertise on egaragesales.com.au! You can get started and place an ad HERE The earlier you advertise, the more exposure you get!
	Remember to be as thorough as you can and list as much stuff as possible. An item you list for sale might attract someone who buys dozens of items!

	Place ads in local newspaper and online.
	If the local newspaper has a large garage sale section, it could pay to advertise there. Of course your ad will be light on detail, but try mentioning a couple of items and then including the words “For full list google egaragesales”. This will keep your newspaper ad at minimum cost but still allow people to see what you have for sale by going to the egaragesales web site.

3 weeks before the sale:
	Organize friends and family members to help during the sale day.

	Determine where to place the signs.
	Consider that buyers are coming from all directions; make it easy for them to find you by giving directional signs.

	Print free signs, or purchase big bright weather proof garage sale signs, from the egaragesales.com.au web site.
	Use arrows, print the address, start and end time, and the date.

	Start collecting loose change.
	Or get some from the bank during the week before.

	Decide on plans for getting rid of the unsold items.
	Contact charity organizations and arrange pick-up of unsold items.

1-2 weeks before the sale:
	Scrub, wash polish and launder anything you plan to sell.
	If there is an item that needs a simple repair to greatly increase its selling price, do it.

	Sort out the garage or area where the sale will be.
	Start cleaning it.

	Check out how many tables you have and how many would you need.
	Borrow tables if necessary.

	Plan the lay out of your selling area.

	Collect all the items from friends and families that you will include in the sale.
	Don’t forget to put prices.

	Confirm all ads are listed.

	Put signs and egaragesales.com.au FREE garage sale flyers on community notice boards.

	Make changes to your egaragesales.com.au ad to update what is being sold.
	Add extra items. Remove items no longer for sale. Generate lots of interest by describing the items for sale. Make sure to add directions if your house is hard to find. Give an idea of the condition of the items.

	Check out supply of balloons, nails and masking tape needed for the sale.

1-2 days before the sale:
	Arrange your sale area.
	Display the items according to categories: Kitchen appliances, bedroom, kid’s stuff, etc. . It’s best to make sure clothes are hanged.

	Spread out a rug and lay out some toys you are selling.
	Children will play with them and may encourage their parents to buy some.

	Gather what you need to process purchases.
	Loose change, waist money pouch, plastic bags, calculator and newspapers.

	Cook and prepare food in advance.
	You don’t want to be hungry while selling.

	Set up some music and have a book handy to keep you company during the sale.
	Background music encourages people to buy and sets a better mood.

	Buy refreshments for friends and family who are volunteering.

Want some additional cash?
	Sell soft drink and bottled water as well. Put your children or the young ones in charge of the drinks table and they will enjoy being able to sell stuff too. Most buyers go to many garage sales and get thirsty easily. Parents will buy their children a drink for coming along to the garage sales. And you can keep for yourself whatever doesn't sell.


Night before the sale:
	Put up the remainder of your signs.

	Sleep early and condition your mind that you want to sell everything.

Morning of the sale:
	Make sure your house is locked up and fully secure.

	Put some real crowd-pleasers up front to entice passing cars.

	Protect yourself from theft by displaying small valuables within eyesight.

	Place the “Give-away” boxes near the back, with a noticeable FREE sign, so that people will have to go past the main selling area first.

	Make sure there are plenty of parking spaces.
	Move your cars if necessary. Buyers don’t want go around a couple of times looking for parking space.

	Be cheerful; greet the customer as soon as they arrive.

	Get people talking and encourage haggling.
	Many people are reluctant to negotiate but its fun once they start.

	Arrange your display when time allows.
	Tidy up disturbed items and rearrange others to gather interest when opportunity allows.


Middle of the sale:
	Acknowledge a point of diminishing returns.
	Be ready to slash prices drastically when business drops off.

	Add unnoticed items to your “Give Away” give-away boxes.

Closing time:
	Pack up unsold items and arrange disposal.

	Fix and clean up selling area.
	Return borrowed tables.
	Remove directional roadside signs.
	You don’t want to be fined by the city council.
	Count your money and take a bow for a job well done!!!!

Printable Garage Sale Checklist