Garage Sale Tips that Really Work
De-clutter and Make Money?
- Yes, through a garage or yard sale. We’ve been chatting a lot about de-cluttering, making your home reflect your current style. Getting rid of what no longer works in your life. If you missed those posts you can find them here. That said, I thought it only fitting to chat about how to make some money while de-cluttering.
Wohee! I hear you say. But, before you get all excited and start counting your potential earnings let me be real. Not everything you want to sell will actually sell at a garage or yard sale. You might find that you have a lot left over. Bearing that in mind, it’s a great excuse to get things out of the house. If it doesn’t sell then it’s halfway to the curb (aka whatever will take it to the Donation Centre.)
So, what does sell? I’ve listed the top 10 things that sell well.
Top 10 Items That Sell Well at Garage or Yard Sales
Gently Used Furniture
Small tables, chairs, shelves, and storage units.
Tip: Clean them up and stage them nicely.
Tools & Hardware
- Hand tools, power tools, gardening equipment.
Buyers love bargains on quality brands.
Home Décor
Lamps, mirrors, rugs, wall art, baskets, picture frames.
Kitchenware
Pots, pans, small appliances, dishes, vintage glassware.
Children’s Items
Clothes, toys, puzzles, books, bikes, baby gear.
Sports & Outdoor Equipment
Bicycles, camping gear, fitness equipment, yard tools. I’ve had people come and ask about fishing rods.
Books & Media
Novels, cookbooks, DVDs, vinyl records.
Clothing & Accessories
Designer or name-brand items sell best.
Handbags, shoes, scarves, hats.
Electronics
Small gadgets, working gaming systems, chargers, headphones.
Collectibles & Vintage Items
Antiques, old toys, retro décor, vintage jewelry.
What doesn't sell well?
Items That Typically Don’t Sell at Garage Sales
Old, Worn-Out Clothing
Stained, faded, or outdated styles.
Exception: vintage or brand-name items in excellent condition.
Large, Outdated Electronics
Old TVs, VCR players, broken printers, outdated computers.
People worry about functionality and disposal so just take them to the dump to be recycled.
Mattresses & Box Springs
Concerns about cleanliness and bed bugs make these a hard sell.
Used Plush Toys
Hygiene concerns — unless they are collectible and clean.
Cheap Plastic Kitchenware
Especially mismatched containers without lids. Just throw these out.
Personal Care Items
Opened makeup, lotions, perfumes, or hair products.
Heavy, Dated Furniture
Large entertainment centers, bulky armoires, floral sofas from the ‘90s. (Yes, even the sofas that were expensive – it usually costs to much to re-upholster. Oh, and the styles have changed so it’s not worth the effort.)
Old Magazines & Catalogues
Unless they’re vintage and collectible. (No one wanted my Victoria magazines though)
Chipped Dishes or Glassware
Most buyers prefer items in perfect condition.
Souvenir Trinkets
Items from tourist spots that have little personal or resale value. Duh, really? Unless you find someone who collects items from those places (highly unlikely).
How can you make your garage or yard sale a success?
Plan & Promote Your Garage Sale
Pick a date and time and advertise it. I’ve used these methods effectively:
- Signs on lamp posts
- Directional signs (morning of)
- Facebook Marketplace ads
- Craigslist ads
- Don’t forget to include some photos on Facebook and Craigslist
- A great time to do a garage or yard sale is if there is a neighbourhood plan to do multiple streets or if a local church is doing a large garage sale that will draw in crowds.
Curate & Stage Your Items
Make sure you’re only putting out items that you’d buy. If it’s broken just throw it out.
Consider how you’ll “Stage” your items to make them sell quicker.
Group like with like. Kid’s toys, clothes, kitchenware, etc.
Price to Sell
Make sure items are clearly labelled. People don’t like to guess and they likely won’t ask unless they are really interested.
Use stickers or bundle items (I’ve put items out in boxes labelled 25 cents, $1, $2, etc)
- If you get close to the end of your sale (or bored – whichever comes first) you might want to offer some deals.
- Buy 2, get 1 free.
- Everything now 50% off
Make it a Great Shopping Experience
Make sure you have change and bags so it’s a fun and easy experience for both yourself and your shoppers.
Consider playing some music to get in the mood and keep the energy up.
If it’s hot consider selling lemonade or giving away bottles of water.
Once it's Over, the Stuff Goes
You’ll need to be firm with yourself here.
It’s not about the sale or the sale. It’s about releasing the items.
That said, lots of people will bargain so be prepared.
Have a plan – is your car ready to be loaded up with the items so that they don’t have to go back into the house?
Remember, the goal here is to reduce clutter.
Getting rid of clutter can be fun!
Garage sales are a great way to connect with people, have fun, and make money while de-cluttering. Just be careful that items don’t come back into the house!
