Ask Jan Taylor what doesn`t sell at a garage sale and she will tell you:
”Blue marbles.”
A while ago, her husband, Eric, who works for a glass manufacturing company, had brought home some buckets of marbles. Soon the Taylors had more marbles than any Naperville family reasonably needs, so she decided to sell some of them.
Painstakingly, she divided two 5-gallon containers of new sky-blue marbles into groups of 25. She placed them in small plastic bags and labeled them 10 cents each.
Even for a dime, there were no takers.
”Someone did ask me if I had any clear ones,” she recalls. She ended up donating them to a day-care center.
Meanwhile, up in Evanston, Ruth Smalley laughed when her husband, who had remodeled their bathrooms, put three used toilets out for sale at their garage sale. All of them sold.
”He also had some half-used pints of paint for 50 cents. They sold, too,” says Smalley, who has not only had several sales of her own but also coordinates the annual World`s Largest Garage Sale in Evanston. ”You never know what will attract people.”
Easy money
One thing is for sure, though. A garage sale is a great way to pare down your closets, basement and attic while making a few dollars in the process. A weekend`s work can bring in anywhere from $50 to $350, depending upon the goods, traffic and weather.
Because of the variables, we asked a few seasoned veterans for their advice on how to ensure a successful sale:
– When to hold it. The garage sale season runs from spring through fall. Although most sales are held over the weekend, Fridays and even Thursdays are gaining in popularity as sale days. Downpours and 100-degree temperatures can sabotage the day, but a light drizzle can be beneficial because it keeps people from other outdoor pursuits.
”If you say you`re starting at 8 a.m., expect people by 7 a.m.,” says Taylor, an organizer and participant in the annual 50-family garage sale in her subdivision. ”The garage sale junkies are out by then. Your heaviest traffic is gone by 1 p.m. After that, all you get are stragglers.”
Another hint: Because ordinances vary, check with your city or village hall for any necessary permits or limitations on signs.
– Getting organized. Weeks before the sale, Taylor sorts through her entire house, cleaning and pricing as she goes. Clothing is washed, ironed, hung on hangers and tagged with the price and the size.
For Judy Johnson, who participates in her subdivision`s annual 50-family event in Downers Grove, the sale is in the back of her mind all year. She posts collection boxes in her basement and attic to make her wares easier to locate later.
– What will sell. None of our experts could offer a sure formula, but they did have some interesting stories to tell.
”I still get surprised,” says Johnson. ”I had a Christmas tree stand that didn`t sell for two years. The third year, it was one of the first things to go.”
Another time she sold a metal coffin casing to a man who wanted to use it at his summer home to ice the fish he caught.
Taylor has had requests for infant and maternity clothing, old board games, old oil paintings, train sets and furniture.
”Old sewing machines and typewriters don`t move,” she says. ”Everyone has their grandmother`s old sewing machine, so they don`t sell. I use mine for a plant stand.”
Lisa Ley, who lives in the same subdivision as Taylor, also helps organize and participates in the neighborhood garage sale. According to Ley, both salables and prices vary from area to area.
”When I lived in Pittsburgh, people bought children`s clothes, and for more money,” she says. ”In Naperville, I can`t get rid of children`s clothes for a buck.”
Whatever the selection, the more of it, the better, say the pros. Johnson invites friends and family members to bring their stuff over to her house and then uses the yard and driveway to display it all.
– How to price the goods. Smalley, who 12 years ago netted $1,000 at a garage sale when she downsized from a single-family house to a townhouse, advises people to visit a few garage sales in their area to check out the prices.
”Everyone will barter with you,” she says. ”At the end of the day they think you will give it to them at half-price.”
”Ask yourself at what point do you want to keep it,” suggests Johnson. Her experience has been that she is asked to negotiate price about half the time.
– Getting the word out. Ads in local newspapers and signs will tell people what you have and where to find you. Signs (if your town allows them), which are available at many realty offices, should be placed at least a block away. Balloons and streamers will also help draw attention to your house.
”Make your ad stand out,” says Smalley. ”Don`t just say `household items` or `old silver.` Describe a few pieces to make them sound more interesting. Some people carry the classifieds with them, and there are scads of other sales in your same area.”
She also advises mentioning a nearby intersection or main street in the ads.
– What to do on the big day. Okay, you`ve got everything priced and the glassware sparkles, right? Now you need small bills and coins so you can make change as well as bags or newspapers to wrap purchases. Children can get involved, too, by setting up a lemonade stand or watching the cash stand while you`re busy answering questions.
On the subject of security, it`s better to station yourself at the front of the garage where people have to walk past you rather than at the back. To accommodate those who want to try on clothing, Taylor invites them to use her mud room, which is then locked off from the main part of the house.
Ley accepts personal checks but does not permit people to use her bathroom for fear that they might be scoping for valuables.
– What to do with leftovers. No matter how profitable the day, you won`t sell it all. So what do you do with the remaining inventory? Anything marginal is sure to hit the trash. Clothing and household goods can be donated to charities and resale shops.
”If it doesn`t sell,” says Smalley, ”save it it for the next garage sale.”
