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Garage Sale Tips   by Nikki Willhite With the coming of warmer weather, many people will be cleaning out their "stuff." The swap meets will open up, and the garage sales will abound.   Here are some tips for both sellers and shoppers. Buying List your needs and think ahead. Know what you are looking for. List the things you will have need of in the next couple of years. It can be hard to pay money for items you are not quite ready for, but more economical in the long run. You may not be able to find what you need at a good price when you are ready for it. This is true of things like children's clothing and furniture,  and other household items. Schedule your shopping time and shop with regularity. You are going to have to invest time and energy on a regular basis to find what you need. You can't expect to make one or two trips and get the job done. For retail stores watch for sales, and plan to attend them. Not all thrift stores have them, but when they do, the savings are even greater. For garage sales, shop in the best neighborhood you can. People with more money readily give away their things and replace them often. Some neighborhoods have regularly scheduled garage sales once or twice a year.  If you find a good one, you will return, year after year. When you are shopping remember to buy quality items, more likely found in good neighborhoods also. It's not a good buy if it isn't going to last. If you feel the price is too high, negotiate. Your best price negotiations are done at the end of the day, when the sale is almost over and sellers are anxious to be done and have everything gone. Train your eye to ignore the junk, and find the bargains. That can be hard to do. Merchandise surrounded by junk looks bad. When you take it home, it will look a lot different. Write down dimensions for tablecloths, and sizes of clothing and shoes for your family. Keep a template of your children's feet, as the sizes of shoes cannot always be seen. Be a smart shopper and keep an eye out for collectibles and antiques. Many people and stores do not know the value of what they have. Take a look at what people are selling on ebay. Some people make a business of buying items at garage sales,  and then selling them for online for profit. Be thorough. Check out all the items. Spend your time at the sales and not driving around the city in circles, or getting lost. Plan your route. Use a map to mark it in advance. Selling You must advertise your garage sale if you want people to come.  Place ads in the paper, and post your signs in prominent places a few days before the sale. Use balloons to draw people to your home. Get lots of help.   You need other eyes and hands when it gets busy. Try and get your neighbors to join with you. Multi-family garage sales are better attended. Display your items as attractively as possible. Take the time to clean, dust and mend if needed. Bring as much as you can to eye level, as people don't like to bend. Keep your items organized and sorted so shoppers can quickly find what they want. If you are selling clothing, string ropes or chain to hang clothes. Mark all items with the prices clearly visible, as some people don't like to ask. When someone makes you an offer, if you don't like it counter with another offer. Keep your money close to you. Wear a purse across your body or a fanny pack. Have plenty of change. If you decide to take checks, ask for ID, and look to see how high the check number is. This can be an indication of stability, although some banks now let you choose your own beginning check number when you open a new account. Do not take large bills that require you giving someone a lot of change. If someone gives you a hundred dollar bill that is not real, and buys one small item, you will give away all your profit. This is a known "garage sale scam." Be realistic in your pricing. For large items in good condition, a good rule of thumb is to charge half the cost of what if would cost new. If someone makes you an offer at the beginning of your sale that you are not ready to take, ask for his/her phone #. You can always call them later and accept their offer. Have fun, make money, and find those bargains About the Author: Nikki Willhite, mother of 3 and an interior design graduate, has been writing and publishing articles on the topic of frugal living for over a decade. Visit her at www.frugalhappyfamilies.com - where you will find hundreds of frugal living tips and articles. Frugal Happy Families- more than just money!  Article first published at www.allthingsfrugal.com

 

 

 

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