Oct. 3: Garage Sales – turning unwanted clutter into cold hard cash

October 3, 2024

There’s a room in our basement that we euphemistically call “the storage room,” chiefly because it holds all our accumulated family clutter. Toys, books, stamp collections, ancient stereo equipment, records, unneeded furniture – the list goes on and on.

We both occasionally spend a few minutes looking at the growing collection, then close the door.

But there’s a better way to manage things you don’t want or need – having a garage sale. Save with SPP took a look around to learn the dos and don’ts of putting your stuff up for sale in your laneway.

The KindaFrugal.com blog sees a garage sale as a way “to recoup some of the sunk costs from all the gently used items you’ve accumulated.” But, the blog advises, doing a garage sale properly requires a little strategizing.

“Pick the right day,” the blog advises. “Pick a weekend at least one week in advance, but two weeks ahead might be better if you have a lot of stuff to sell. That gives you time to get everything ready without feeling rushed.”

Sundays, the blog adds, seem to be the best days for it.

Next, the blog says, do a thorough check of the house and gather up all the stuff you want to sell. “Good sale items include old furniture, tools, computer stuff, dishes and other household items, books, appliances, vintage items, toys, kitchen gadgets, sporting goods, and other unwanted items,” the blog continues.

Be sure to clean/dust every item, and check pockets of all clothing – you don’t want to be selling your spare keys, important papers, or money.

Getting the word out about your sale is of crucial importance, notes The Garage Conundrum blog.

Social media can be a big help here, the blog says. “Create an event on platforms like Facebook to tap into a wide local audience. Highlight key items for sale with photos to pique interest and drive foot traffic. Share the event in community groups to maximize visibility and attendance,” the blog advises. We used Kijiji to help promote our sister-in-law’s garage sale, and it generated a lot of interest.

You also want to set prices for your items, the blog suggests, and those price tags should be able to withstand the elements. “Weather-proof pricing labels endure the elements, ensuring prices remain visible regardless of weather conditions. These labels stick firmly to items, preventing them from blowing away or getting lost during the sale. With clear labeling, customers can quickly identify prices, streamlining their shopping experience,” the blog suggests.

Other ideas in the article suggest displaying any more valuable or collectible items in a separate area/table, and to set a “flat rate” for things like books and CD – if you take 10, say, they are $1 each but otherwise $2 each. This pricing idea “helps clear out inventory quickly,” the article tells us.

A few more insights are on offer over at Better Homes and Gardens magazine.

Scope out other garage sales in your neighbourhood “to gather intel on what works, what doesn’t, and how to price everything to sell,” the article suggests.

Another tip – “price as you gather your items,” the magazine advises. Pricing, the article continues, takes forever and “you’ll be too stressed and tired to make good choices” if you try to do it all the night before.

The article also says social media is the way to go for advertising, but says a few old-school signs and banners help as well. “Always include your full address, the days of the sale, and times.” Indicate if you are able to accept other forms of payment besides cash, the article notes.

The Money Smart Family blog gives us some final good ideas.

Consider minimizing the work by joining forces with neighbours and doing a multi-family sale, the blog states. Talk the sale up with neighbours prior to sale day, e-mail or message friends who live farther away, the blog adds.

Use tables so people can see the items better. “Gather as many tables as you can.  Use sawhorses with doors or pieces of plywood if you have to. You’ll sell more if what you display isn’t super-cluttered. We even build a rack for shoes out of wood scraps and put mini-shelves in the middle of tables to give us more space on the tables,” the blog advises.

If everything goes well, you’ll have turned most of the items into cold, hard cash. In our neighbourhood, items that don’t sell are usually put by the curb with a “free” sign, and usually disappear within a day or two. Alternatively, you can donate them to your local thrift shop.

A nice use of any sudden, extra cash is long-term saving. Consider opening an account with the Saskatchewan Pension Plan. For over 35 years we have been helping Canadians save for retirement. SPP, open to any of us with unused registered retirement savings plan room, will professionally invest your savings dollars in a low-cost, pooled fund. When it’s time to turn savings into retirement income, you can choose such options as a lifetime monthly annuity payment, or the more flexible Variable Benefit.

Check out SPP today!

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Better Homes and Gardens, KindaFrugal.com, Money Smart Family, The Garage Conundrum

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