As spring continues to bloom, ’tis the season when garage and yard sales tend to pop up on weekends (with previews on Fridays, and some even earlier) all across our community.

For those who are planning to move, such sales can be a great way to get rid of clutter and earn a little extra cash before you relocate. And for shoppers, of course, scouring sales around the area can yield some stellar bargains.

If you are gearing up to host a sale, make sure you plan ahead; they can take on a life of their own! Here are some tips and ideas to help make yours run smoothly and successfully:

Don’t wait until the last minute. 

Depending on how long you’ve lived in your home and how much stuff you want to sell, planning a garage sale can take a lot of time and energy. And that’s on top of the effort of putting your home on the market!

Contact your local government.

Most municipalities will require you to obtain a permit in order to hold a garage sale. They’re often free or cheap, but the fines for neglecting to obtain one can be hefty.

See if neighbors want to join in. 

You can turn your garage sale into a block-wide event and lure more shoppers. However, a permit may be necessary for each home owner, even if it’s a group event.

Schedule the sale.  

Sales on Saturdays and Sundays will generate the most traffic, especially if the weather cooperates. Start the sale early — 7 to 8 a.m. is best — and be ready for early birds. 

Advertise & Promote.  

Place an ad in the newspaper, free classifieds, and/or post on neighborhood social media pages, buy/sell groups, and more, including the date(s), time, and address of the garage sale. Add information about what will be available, such as kids’ clothes, furniture, or special equipment. On the day of the sale, use balloons and signs with prominent arrows to grab attention.

Price your goods.  

Clearly mark rounded prices (50 cents, 3 for $1, or $5, for example) with easily removable stickers. 

If it’s junk, recycle or donate it.  

Don’t try to sell items that are truly garbage. Instead, throw them away or place them in a freebie bin. The same goes for broken appliances. Tip: Have an electrical outlet nearby in case a customer wants to try plugging something in. 

Display items nicely.

Organize by category, and don’t make customers dig through boxes.

Stock up on supplies.

Having a stock of old shopping bags that can be reused encourages people to buy more items. Newspapers are handy for wrapping fragile goods.

Manage your money.

Obtain ample change for your cashbox, and have a calculator on hand. Assign one person to man the “register,” keeping a tally of what was purchased and for how much. If you opt for Venmo or another cashless payment system, be sure the information is clear and accessible; have a QR code and the account name handy for buyers to enter.

Consider the “nothing comes back inside” rule.

Many who host sales vow that whatever items make it to the garage, driveway, or yard will never, ever come back inside the home! Whatever doesn’t sell, they take immediately to Goodwill or another donation destination. This approach ensures that clutter doesn’t creep back into your living space so easily.

Have a great sale!

About EMTAR: Chartered in 1969, our Association’s 1,200+ REALTORS are a proud part of the 36,000+ members of Tennessee REALTORS and of the 1.5 million+ members of NAR, all working to serve the public and protect the rights of America’s property owners. EMTAR members are known not only for their unmatched real estate excellence and high ethical standards, but also for being generous, hospitable, others-focused, loyal, hardworking, and eager to help wherever and whenever help is needed.