If social media is your thing, there are some opportunities to get additional eyes on your garage sale details:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Create an event on Nextdoor<\/a> to grab the attention of your neighbors. You may find there\u2019s even some interest in doing a multi-family garage sale on your block, which could bring in even more traffic than your solo sale.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Do a Facebook<\/a> search to see if you have any active garage sale groups in your area. You\u2019ll want to start far enough ahead of time that you\u2019ll be able to join the group and list your sale (either as a post or a Facebook event or both) and then allow some time for the posts to trickle into followers\u2019 news feeds. You may even choose to post a follow-up message or two if the group rules allow it. Just remember to be respectful of your audience\u2014spamming your message too often could do more harm than good!
TIP: If you want to post to several of these groups but you\u2019re worried about having your own feed flooded with sale content, you can choose to unfollow the group without leaving it. <\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n- See if there\u2019s a local subreddit<\/a> where people are posting their garage sales and other community events. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Next step: tap into these incredible networks of garage sale shoppers by writing and posting an effective ad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tips for writing a successful garage sale ad:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Include dates and times.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It may sound obvious, but people still forget to include sale dates and times in their listings. It\u2019s ok to be vague about how long your sale will last, but a start time is an absolute must unless you want shoppers knocking on your door at the crack of dawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Provide an exact address.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Make it easy for sites to correctly map your sale by providing a clear and specific address. Spell out all the words, include your zip code and don\u2019t worry about supplying directions unless you\u2019re in an area that Google hasn\u2019t mapped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
State your terms.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you don\u2019t want people calling in advance, say, \u201cNo previews or calls.\u201d Planning to set up inside a garage or other shelter? Say, \u201cRain or shine!\u201d Late sleepers: do yourself a favor and add, \u201cNo early birds!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use the right lingo.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While \u201cyard sale\u201d and \u201cgarage sale\u201d are fairly generic and interchangeable terms, there are other sale names that are frequently misapplied. A \u201crummage sale\u201d or \u201cjumble sale,\u201d for example, typically refers to a sale of donated items for the benefit of a charity. \u201cEstate sale\u201d should only be used if you\u2019re selling the majority of your household goods, not just the clutter. If you\u2019re having a \u201cmoving sale,\u201d shoppers will expect to see a lot of useful items that you just don\u2019t have room to pack or you plan to replace, such as cookware, linens, furniture and small appliances. Don\u2019t forget to use buzz words like \u201cmulti-family garage sale\u201d and \u201ccommunity garage sale\u201d if they apply; bigger sales draw bigger crowds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tease your target audience.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Some things\u2014like craft supplies, baby clothes and toys, tradesman\u2019s tools, musical instruments and sports equipment\u2014appeal to a very specific audience. To maximize your chances of selling these items, you might want to call them out in your listing. Big-ticket items like furniture and vehicles should also be mentioned so buyers know to bring enough cash with them and the necessary transportation to haul them away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Safety first.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Try to provide as little personal information as possible in your listing and use caution when interacting with people online. Set up your sale in your yard, driveway or garage and don\u2019t invite shoppers inside your house. If your home is located in a high-traffic area, or if the roads in your neighborhood are too narrow to accommodate the extra parking you\u2019ll need, consider locating your sale at a friend\u2019s house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Proofread your post.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Shoppers probably won\u2019t notice (or care) if you misspell a word or two in your ad. However, typos can work against you in other ways. Some shoppers set up email alerts or do keyword searches for items they\u2019d like to buy. If they\u2019re looking for an \u201caccordion,\u201d your \u201cacordion\u201d may not appear in their search results. Typos in your address are particularly bad, as they may send shoppers somewhere else entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve taken the time to write one killer garage sale ad, it\u2019s a simple matter to submit it to as many online listing services as you can find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Contact one of our local experts!<\/p>\n
Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
What about print advertising?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Free and low-cost classified newspaper advertising may also be available in your area, and it\u2019s worth your time to check them out because there are garage sale shoppers, especially retirees, that prefer print. You might also find that publications run their garage sale ads in both print and online formats, which can further broaden your audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Flyers may be another print advertising idea for you, if there are local gathering places that let you post them. Look for bulletin boards at churches, senior centers, grocery stores, coffee shops, rec centers and other places that get a lot of foot traffic and ask permission to add your garage sale flyer. Not confident in your flyer design skills? Free programs like Canva<\/a> can help you design a flyer using pre-made templates, so all you have to do is add your info and go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep our ad writing tips in mind regardless of where those ads end up! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t skimp on your signage.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Even in this age of GPS and Google Maps, signs are a valuable part of your garage sale advertising mix. They can draw in casual, impulse shoppers as well help ad respondents find you. Signs can be especially useful if you\u2019re in a rural area, or if you just happen to be the only person with a garage sale in your part of town that day. Shoppers who see your ad online may not think it\u2019s worth the drive for just one sale, but passersby might be persuaded to stop and browse if your garage sale is well marked and easy to find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tips for writing garage sale signs:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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- Write signs clearly.<\/strong> Signs are a great way to attract attention and lead traffic to your location. The key is to keep them simple and easy to read from a distance. \u201cGarage Sale\u201d and a directional arrow in a bold, dark color, against a light background should be sufficient. Drivers don\u2019t have time to read much more than that. A good test is to tape your sign to your car and see if you can read it from two or three houses away.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Place signs strategically.<\/strong> For best results, place a trail of signs leading from a busy street, all the way back to your sale. Don\u2019t assume that drivers will know which way to turn at each intersection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Post signs legally.<\/strong> It goes without saying that you should ask permission before posting signs on private property. But did you know that in some areas, it may be against city ordinance or HOA rules to post signs on lamp posts, fences and other public structures? If that\u2019s the case in your neighborhood, don\u2019t worry. You may still have legal alternatives. Consider parking your vehicle along a busy street and placing a sign in your windshield. A tall cardboard box that\u2019s weighted with bricks or rocks could also serve as a free-standing sign. Get creative!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Don\u2019t forget to take signs down.<\/strong> Unless you want confused shoppers showing up the day after your sale, be sure to gather up all your signs. Your neighbors will thank you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best of luck with your sale!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Remember, the more you can sell or donate before a move, the less you\u2019ll have to pack, haul, and then unpack in your new home. Looking for more garage sale tips (or other ways to declutter)? Check out these articles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Place signs strategically.<\/strong> For best results, place a trail of signs leading from a busy street, all the way back to your sale. Don\u2019t assume that drivers will know which way to turn at each intersection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Do a Facebook<\/a> search to see if you have any active garage sale groups in your area. You\u2019ll want to start far enough ahead of time that you\u2019ll be able to join the group and list your sale (either as a post or a Facebook event or both) and then allow some time for the posts to trickle into followers\u2019 news feeds. You may even choose to post a follow-up message or two if the group rules allow it. Just remember to be respectful of your audience\u2014spamming your message too often could do more harm than good!
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