Having a garage sale is a great way to make a few extra bucks and clear clutter that you no longer use. However, if you don’t price your items right, you could either lose money or be left with the junk you want to get rid of. Check out these “dos and don’ts” of garage sale pricing:
- Research items that might be valuable before the sale: search for items on eBay to ensure you’re not underpricing.
- Price items individually before the sale starts — see what items you can group together like a set of chairs, or books, but otherwise price individually. Here are some ideas for prices: clothes sell between $3-$5 an item and $1-3 for kids’ clothes; shoes are $3-$7; books sell for 25-50 cents for paperbacks or $1-2 for hardcovers; records sell for $2 each; and toys and games $1-3 depending on condition.
- Decide on prices using a fair market value, not what you paid for them.
- Use low-tack stickers so that signs don’t blow away, but you can still remove them without making a mark. But don’t use stickers on albums or collectable magazines. Instead, use painters’ tape.
- Don’t hesitate when a buyer asks the price. Be firm but be open to negotiation. If their offer is too low, don’t be afraid to say no.
