Garage Sale - Saint Charles,MO

totally "get" your Wed sale....one more "thing" about StL! Love those Suburban Journal ads! When I lived in StL, if I was off work on Wed, I'd hit the sales....

the other posters have had good ideas. Here's a few more things: post a "Not Responsible for Accidents" sign. Include your name & date on it. Display it prominently. I usually have it on my checkout table.

Have lots of plastic groc bags & some newspaper for bagging goodies.

Have a ready supply of quick, easy foods/drinks handy.

Always think safety. Keep the house locked.

As Cheryl said - have lots of small bills/coins. I usually have $40-50 in ready change. Keep the $$ with you at all times.

Clearly price everything, & have it all setup the night before. No matter what time you post for opening....you will have early birds. We've had customers the night before! & of course, the neighbors shop the night B4!

I always have a "free" box.....people love it! I've also been known to just randomly give kids/elderly people freebies....it's such an uplifting experience to see the smiles & heartfelt thanks...& the surprise on the parents' faces is fun, too! In fact, I've been known to grab a shovel & even dig up surplus specialty plants for people! Drives my family nuts....

Good Luck with your sale!

K.!

A garage sale on Wednesday?!?! wow!! I was surprised when in Denver, they have garage sales on Friday - and they are popular!! Here in Northern VA? They are done on Saturday's!!

To get the best foot traffic?

Advertise on craigslist - if you have big ticket items? Get pictures and list those too.
Make sure you have signs on main roads stating GARAGE SALE 11/09/11. Put those out today and tomorrow. So people will REMEMBER.
Put a sign at your local grocery store as well.

You need to have change - at least $20 in one dollar bills, a roll of quarters, a couple of $5's and maybe one or two $10's.

Price things to sell. If you know they are collectibles? They you need to list them on ebay or craigslist so you can get the money for them.

Be set up and ready to go before your start time.
Have things priced already.
Have clothes separated as best as you can - if you have baby clothes - put the months in baskets - it makes it easier on the people who are looking for specific sizes.
Books and games separated out.
Things cleaned up so you can get the most money for them instead of haggling over prices...
If you have electronics to sell - make sure you have an extension cord and outlet for people to test to ensure it works.

There is so much more.

Have plenty of change....keep items that can be stolen easily within your eyesite...don't display things on the ground...like on a sheet....have everything up on tables and nice and neat...only big stuff on the ground. Good luck!

Have plenty of help. And K., people show up early! If you say 7:00, you'll have people there at 6:45, so be ready for that.

Know your tables. Some people actually try to say something costs one thing, when they know darn well that it costs another. "Oh, I got it from that table over there", and then you say, "I'm sorry, but someone must have laid it there. It's still $5.00." Don't let someone who tries to take you for a ride get away with that. If you are willing to lower your price for someone, that's fine. But not for people who lie to you.

Never leave the cash box alone. (Remember the part about having help.) If you have teens help, tell them that whatever they sell (make them walk around to sell), they get 10% of their sales. They'll work hard to talk something up for you. (Sign off on a sheet for them as the sale is made, so they don't take credit for another teen's sale, or so they don't take credit for something someone just picks up.) It also helps them learn how to figure percentages.

Have a good one!
Dawn

My mom had her last one on a Monday and people WILL SHOW UP!

Hang the clothes if you can. It'll be easier to look at them and keep them from falling off tables. Group like things together and have lots of change, bags and an extra person there for "security."

Don't HOLD anything for anybody. They never come back to get it. That's the chance they're going to have to take until they come back with the cash.

Keep the signs simple. Lots of info won't work if they are driving. Place balloons out front so people can see where the sale is.

The cleaner things are the more $$$$ you'll get. I've picked things up that were dirty and if they were FREE I wouldn't even take it.

We do not participate in garage sales any longer because no matter how cheaply you price something, the people coming will want it for next to nothing or free.

Make sure to get your permit from the city!! Keep a money bag on YOU, not hidden somewhere, etc.. There are a lot of scammers in our area that only scope out garage sales, 1 person will get your attention on one thing while the other gets your money or cases out your house.

Make sure you have someone with you the entire time and do not do it alone.

We usually call the womens shelter and opt for the tax receipt for donating everything to them. Less work, no frustration with strangers around our house, and the goods go to someone truly in need.

Good luck with it!! Maybe things are different in your area!

Well, first, I'd do it on the weekend, in the morning... people LIVE for garage sales on the weekends!! Advertise via craigslist or your local newspaper. Have change available for people paying with a $20 bill on a $2 item ;)

Be comfortable, and be prepared for early birds.

What else do you need help with exactly?