• Check with homeowners' association regulations first
• Gather all the goods to be in the garage sale
• Decide on the date (Friday and Saturdays together are best)
• Reserve one or two other people to help the day of the sale
• Write the newspaper ad and place it
• Clean and fix any broken items
• Make signs: For direction signs, less words are better, just put "Garage Sale, date/time, address, and arrow". Also make a "No Returns" sign, and one that reads "Early birds pay double".
• Sort and price items: When pricing, 15-20% of original cost is rule of thumb. Use inclusive pricing such as: all rags 25¢
• Make 25¢ your lowest price - easier to deal with just quarters
• Do not price by table - people will move things around
• For very small toys, have "fill-a-bag" for $2
• Remember to lower prices when you're about 2/3 of the way through the garage sale
• Have everything priced ahead of time!
• Get change: Be ready for lots of $20 bills first thing
• Do not take checks
• Keep money in a fanny pack and put large amounts of big bills in the house periodically
• Keep customer's payment out of fanny pack until complete change is made
• Set up with as many tables as you can borrow
  

  

• Cover up other items in the garage
• Check for safety hazards
• Get extension cord ready for testing electronics
• Have calculator, plastic bags, newspaper (for wrapping breakables), paper/pens ready
• You can sell soft drinks (in warm weather) for a profit
• Put signs out
• Keep house locked during garage sale
• Know that everyone is not honest: Do not sit chatting with your friend while customers are about. Be watching for shoplifting, price tag changing, etc. Always open any items they're buying such as handbags, coolers, and luggage, to look inside.
• Be ready to open at least 30 minutes ahead of schedule.
• As you sell, condense to less tables and put unused tables away so that the sale doesn't look 'skimpy' as new people arrive.
• When the garage sale is over, enjoy a night out!

Paper Organization ~ Organize ANY Space

Party Planning ~ Moving Yourself

File System ~ Kitchen Organization