Email: SIGNS@AURORAestate.ca cal Royal LePage direct: 905-717-3154
Pick a Date - Advertise - Set Prices - Clean Up - Try Consignment - Early Birds - Get Change - Thieves - Display
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The General rule is to charge about ¼ of what you think it’s worth!
The secret to a successful yard sale is foot traffic. The more folks who walk through your sale, the more you'll sell. Lots of cars parked on your street tell yard-sale cruisers where to find you. If business is brisk, buyers won't leave your premises without that lighted beer sign, for fear that someone else will snatch it right up. The more, the merrier; your muffin-tin change sorter will overflow.
Pick a Date: You may be eager, but if you schedule your sale too soon, you won’t leave yourself enough time to do all the work it takes to set up. Still, don’t wait until summer hits.
Advertise: A spot in your local newspaper is great. Post at the local grocery store bulletin board. Don’t forget to list the types of items you’re selling, i.e. china, jewellery, toys, as well as the dates and times of your sale. Also, post easy-to-spot signs around the busiest intersections of your neighbourhood to alert the drive-by traffic.
Use your computer (or your kids) to make signs, lots of signs. Use neon posterboard and deep-black markers. Make the directions BIG. If you can't see your signs from a block away, neither can your customers. If you live tucked deep in a twisted spiral of subdivision streets, place sign at each and every corner between your house and the nearest main road. Make it easy for buyers to find you.
Set Prices: You may not have time to tag everything, but at the very least, turn your mind to how much you’ll accept. The general rule is to charge about ¼ of what you think it’s worth. But always be ready to haggle.
Get Change: Go to the bank and ask for loonies, toonies, $5 and $10 dollar bills. The last thing you want is to run out of change when people are handing you $20 and $50 dollar bills.
Thieves: Ask friends and family to sell with you. You may want to hold back valuable items until after the morning rush dies down. Thieves may take advantage of the fact you're distracted and walk away with your best goods.
Clean Up: Despite the rock-bottom prices, prepare for shoppers to scrutinize every item. It’ll be worth it to your wallet to do a load of laundry and wipe down toys before putting them on display.
Try Consignment: While buyers tend to stock up on kiddie jumpers and shoes, most won’t pay for your designer duds. You’re best off trying to sell your clothes at a consignment store, then adding the cast-offs to the garage sale pile.
Early Birds: Garage sale experts will start ringing your bell at sunrise - Don’t feel bullied - Just say NO! Advertise your start time!
Display: They can’t buy what they can’t see. If it’s a dry day, set up your bulky items (tools and lawn equipment, bikes and strollers) in the yard, so people can see them from the street. Line tables on the driveway or in the garage so there's plenty of room for shoppers to browse.
Dont' Sell GARBAGE: Start organizing by tossing anything broken or torn into a garbage bag. Everything else you don’t want goes directly into large boxes you’ll tag for your sale.
Every year thousands of garage sales are held across Canada. Did you know that everyone holding a garage sale is legally responsible for ensuring that products they sell, new or used, are safe and meet safety standards? It is important to sell only items that are in good condition. Damaged items should be thrown away. Think safety! See Link from Health Canada for details:
http://hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/2002/2002_37bk_e.html
At days end, tally up your profits! By following these tips, you may very well find yourself with an extra $100 in your pocket after four or five hours. Not bad money considering you have a less-cluttered home as a result.
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Feel Free to contact me to reserve your Garage Sale signs:
Larry Willert 905-717-3154 or email: signs@AURORAestate.ca
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