7 Garage Sale Tips to Prep for Your Move

Before you move is a great time to clear out the clutter so that you have more room in your life for the things that bring you joy. Holding a garage sale is the ideal way to lighten your load while bringing in a little extra cash.

Naturally, you want your garage sale to be as successful as possible so that you have fewer unwanted items to deal with afterwards. As you prep for your move, use these tips to host a garage sale that helps you eliminate clutter before getting a moving estimate.

1. Select the Best Date

Ideally, hold your garage sale a number of weeks before your moving date so that you have time to pack the items that you wish to keep and to ensure you get a proper estimate. You also want to schedule your sale for a time when more people are available to shop.

Plan your garage sale for a weekend when the weather is expected to be nice, and consider opening your sale up early in the morning when most customers are eager to find the best deals.

Depending on where you live, you may need a permit to host a garage sale. For example, the City of San Fernando allows for two yard sale permits to be issued per address each calendar year. Check ahead of time to find out if you need a permit so that you stay in compliance with local ordinances and avoid any fines.

Post signs along roadways near your home to effectively market your garage sale in the days prior to the event, but utilize other methods as well. For instance, some online classified sites allow you to post your garage sale advertisement, which will hopefully draw in a bigger crowd.

Once you set up your garage sale, you do not want to have to leave your property unattended. Gather cash well in advance to ensure you have enough to give change. Typically, you will need a variety of smaller bills and quarters depending upon your pricing.

Customers frequently browse garage sales by slowly driving by to decide if they want to stop. To entice browsing, place your high value items toward the front. For instance, lawn and garden equipment, power tools and clothing tend to be the most popular items that people look for at garage sales.

As you set up your displays, make sure that they encourage easy browsing. For instance, shoes should be placed on a rack or lined up along the top of a table. Use wardrobe boxes to hang clothing so that customers can quickly see each item.

Once you set up your main garage sale layout, add a few special touches that encourage your customers to linger. For instance, set up a children's area with toys to keep kids occupied while the parents browse the other items

As your garage sale begins to wind down, lower the prices on items to reduce the amount of leftover belongings you’ll have to deal with. Even still, you will have a few left at the end of the sale. To avoid packing them up yourself, arrange for a donation or trash service to pick up these items.

Once you've reduced the bulk of unwanted items from your household, you will be ready for a moving estimate. At Superior Economy Moving, we offer an easy online estimate form that gives you a price quote right away.