How to Hold a (Diva) Garage Sale

An excerpt from Tossed & Found by Barb Tobias, America’s “ Thrift Talk” Diva

It was a Diva of a Sale!

Part I

Selling used goods from driveways, yards, or inside a home has been referred to as garage sales, yard sales or tag sales. People hold these weekend events to raise money or get rid of unwanted stuff. Although these sales are a lot of work, they are a great way to purge, turning unwanted items into profits.

The following schedule outlines how to chunk down tasks so that preparations are organized … and doable. With this parceled approach, the magnitude of a project does not have to be overwhelming.

A Diva of a Sale

Two Months Before the Garage Sale

I’ve learned to set the dates of my sales by considering the financial mindsets of my customers. They are typically scheduled for the 15th or 30th day of the month. Paydays! People are more likely to splurge after they’ve been paid versus the weeks they walked around with no money in their pocketbooks. After all, my goal is to attract buyers not window shoppers.

Two Weeks before the Sale

The transformation of my garage into my Diva Shoppe begins.

• The entire garage is rearranged. All the things that are not being sold are moved to the back of the garage.
• Areas that are off-limits are draped with sheets or tablecloths so that people won’t be tempted to examine items that are not for sale. I have learned that this ounce of preventions averts distractions, saving time once the garage sale is in full swing.
• The garage is then cleaned from top to bottom.
• Next, display tables are set in a u-shaped pattern, allowing for an easy traffic flow. People should be able to walk around and examine the merchandise without tripping over things. Sometimes a row of tables is placed right down the middle depending on the room I have.
• Each table is topped with a  pretty tablecloth or piece of fabric.
• Next I haul out my boxes and stack the labeled containers that hold similar contents next to each other.
• I love to create scenes at my sales, so I place the same type of items, kitchen, family room, household, décor, clothing or toys in groupings so that I can pull the items out of the marked boxes and make my arrangements quickly.
• My next project defines a labor of love. Tables are arranged attractively, with attention to every detail.  I go to great lengths to create eye-catching “tablescapes.” My reasoning is simple.  People like to shop in pleasant surroundings despite the fact that they are shopping at a garage sale.
• Furniture is arranged in scenes or quasi rooms. In turn, each area is festooned with accessories, throw pillows, pictures and silk plants to create a warm inviting designer look.

Over time, it was obvious that my extra effort spent pulling together artful arrangements and furniture groupings resulted in heavier traffic and substantial sales.

Watch for the Diva Garage Sale – Part II

Using the Internet to Find and Post Yard Sales, Estate Sales and Auctions

Most people get lured into the garage sale craze by stopping by a sale that enticed them into their tattered halls with the promise of forgotten treasures.  And some, like me, found a lifelong passion hidden in the dark reassesses of someone else’s garage, or scattered in wonton display across their lawns.

Whatever first lured us into that introductory sale is probably lost on us as that event fades into the distant haze of thrift mania. The fact remains that once we have been bitten by the frugal bug, we join the ever-growing ranks of America’s thrift aficionados.

And, as we take ownership of our parsimonious passion it makes sense to organize our forays as we approach another weekend of bargains and haggling.

The Internet has become a great resource for finding and posting sales.  Below are some of my favorite resources.

http://www.gsalr.com/ – Hands down, this site is my favorite.  I can map out a whole morning of sales or post my own sale with the click of a button.

http://www.yardsaleAD.com – You will find this fairly easy to use. List your yard and tag sales, map them out, and even save your finds in their portfolio section.  Also search using; Categories, Dates, Times, Description, and Radius from your home.

http://www.garagesaletime.com/ – Look for a garage sale near you, or post your FREE garage sale copy.

http://www.yardsalers.net/ – This site offers some great tips on garage sales and estate sales. And it leans toward reselling things on eBay.

http://www.WeekendTreasure.com – this site is free for those looking to find sales, but charges a fee for posting you own sale.

http://www.GarageSaleTracker.com – Post, sell and find yard sales on this online at this site.

http://www.AuctionBytes.com  - This site is several things; an independent trade publication for about ecommerce and the online auction industry, and a do-it-yourself place to make your own Garage Sale signs that are large and colorful.  There is a charge, but if you enter the coupon code “queen”, you get a $1 off.

The Secret Contents of a Diva Tool Box

I love tools. I’m talking hammers, wrenches and power tools.  I even created my very own trusty chick tool box that rides with me in my car.  Most of the tools are smaller, because there is no heavy lugging for this Diva.

And, yes, I do hunt for my tools at garage sales, flea markets and thrift shops.  When every other woman is looking at the chic cocktail dresses, I’m checking out the tools, the workbench and the hand-held power saw.  Hey, whatever works! 

My tool kit is stationed in my home and ready to throw into my car at a moments notice. I also find tools that are small and compact and easy to use.  I’m not a carpenter, but I’m handy (or I’ve become handy) and I only use tools that fit my size. 

Secret Contents of the Diva Tool Box

• Small Hammer
• Interchangeable tipped screwdriver
•  Picture hanging kit
• Assortment of Screws & nails
• Stud finder (Guess I was looking for a Stud in all the wrong places!)
• Nail file and polish repair (oops)
• Tape measure
• Pliers
• Level
• Handheld electric screwdriver
• Needle nose pliers
• Paint brushes-3 size
• Small bottle of Turpentine
• Carpenters pencil
• Razor scrapper and razor blades
• Stapler
• Assortment of Tapes

The Diva Restoration Kit for Thrift Shoppers

Bringing out the beauty in the neglected but cheap treasures that I’ve found at some flea market or garage sale took a little creativity and some doctoring from my Diva Restoration Kit. Over time I have found most of these things from the very garage sales  and thrift stores that I frequent. 

It has taken me a while to find out which products work best and how and when to use them.

Here is a time saving list of my restoration essentials:

• Old English oil stain (scratch remover) the most wonderful concoction ever!
• Rags and paper towel
• Permanent markers – all colors including gold, bronze and silver
• String/tape
• Glue remover – For those yucky price tags
• White glue/ wood glue – for repairing ceramic or wood items
• Pen and paper pad
• Artist brushes
• Sand Paper
• Wood stain
• Batteries
• Light bulbs
• Q-tips
• Felt squares, double stick squares
• Needle & thread
• Paint sticks – these are great for fill-ins and come in a variety of colors
• Magnifying glass
• Glass cleaner/paper towels
• Furniture polish