Garage/Yard Sale Tips

• Timing and placement of your ads are critical. Begin advertising early -- at least one to two weeks before the first day of the sale.
• Use all forms of available venues to notify people of your sale. Such venues include: newspapers, internet sites, flyers, signs, and word-of-mouth.
• Newspapers - When using newspaper ads be sure to use both province and city-wide newspapers. Sometimes you can get better results by advertising your garage sale in a smaller, less expensive local newspaper. And of course, ads in the Buy and Sell are free.
• Flyers - Using your home computer, you can print out very descriptive flyers that can provide people with all the information that they need about your garage sale. Better yet, these flyers can be made at a very reasonable price. You can then pass out the flyers to friends and family so that they can help you distribute them.
• Signs - When making signs, keep the following in mind: BIG, BIG, BIG. Make sure your signs are large enough so that drivers will have enough time to see and read the signs as they go by. Be sure to include all pertinent information about the sale including: Address, Dates, Times, Items Sold, and Directions.
• Whenever possible, try to consolidate garage sales throughout your neighbourhood.
• When selling items for family members or friends, be sure to mark the items with different coloured labels. This will make dividing up the profits easier.
• The garage-sale season is generally bewteen fall through spring, depending on where you live. Take advantage of the warmer months in your area to have your sale. This is when most people are willing to get out and go shopping.
• Try to keep your prices close to what you would would pay for them if you were a shopper.
• Home appliances that are in good, working condition and decent shape will only bring around 25% of their original price. These items will bring more money if they come with the box and instruction manual.