Garage sales provide opportunity to get rid of unneeded items, make a little money

Akron Beacon Journal (MCT) - The Dawson family's annual garage sale isn't just a money-making opportunity. It's an event.

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Every year, the family gives over its Tallmadge, Ohio, garage and driveway to its annual sale, a combination thrift shop, family reunion and neighborhood gathering. The Dawsons were at it again last week, purging their unwanted things and those of their friends in a three-day bargain-hunters' bash.

It's a ritual Barb Dawson looks forward to, a chance for the family members to spend uninterrupted time together, catch up with neighbors and chat with the mostly friendly strangers who stop by. ''This kind of forces us to slow down and enjoy each other's company,'' she said.

And if they make a few bucks in the process, so much the better.

We visited the Dawsons' garage sale to pick up some pointers for others interested in making a little money while unloading their excess. Other ideas came from Randy Lyman, who wrote "Garage Sale Gourmet" with his sister, Anita Chagaris; Chris Heiska, who runs the Web site YardSaleQueen.com; the video "Garage Sale Succe$$"; and the books "Garage Sale Magic!" by Michael and Pam Williams, "How to Have High Dollar Garage Sales" by Jean Hines and 'The Garage Sale Handbook" by Peggy Hitchcock.

SET THE DATE

Timing can affect a sale's success. The Dawsons, who have kept records of their sales since 1997, have found they do better in March or April than in the summer. The competition is less then, and ''I think a lot of people are excited about getting out and starting to garage sale for the year,'' Barb Dawson said.

They've also found that Wednesdays and Thursdays draw the biggest crowds. Juanita Dawson, Barb Dawson's mother-in-law and garage-sale cohort, thinks that's because people have more family responsibilities and other things to do on weekends.

Check community calendars for events that might keep people from your sale _ or conversely, draw people to your area. It's also a good idea to check whether your community requires permits or has sign restrictions or other regulations.

Many people are paid on the first or 15th of the month, so you might consider holding your sale just after one of these dates.

RECRUIT

Bigger sales attract bigger crowds, so offer to sell your friends' and neighbors' stuff. The Dawsons have had as many as five families involved in their sale.

Each seller prices his or her own items and initials the price stickers, so the Dawsons can keep track of everyone's sales in a ledger. The family also checks with the sellers in advance about whether haggling is OK.

Recruit several helpers, so plenty of people are around to greet customers, answer questions, straighten merchandise and make sales _ and, of course, to make the event fun. At the Dawsons' sale, Barb and Juanita Dawson had help from Barb's children, Rachel Dawson, Jacob Dawson and Julie Bozic, as well as Julie's husband, Adam Bozic.

ADVERTISE

Advertise in the local publication where you see the most garage sale ads, because you can bet that's the one avid buyers check. Include the days, times and location, along with directions if the house is hard to find. Highlight items that appeal to a range of buyers _ men, women, older people, kids.

Don't forget to advertise in free places such as the Internet site Craigslist and bulletin boards in libraries, community centers, grocery stores and the like. (Be sure to ask first.) And take Barb Dawson's advice: Tell everyone you know about your sale.

The evening before the sale or early that morning, post signs at the end of your street and on busy streets and intersections within several blocks of your home. Post one in front of your house, too, and maybe attach balloons. The Dawsons put their sign atop the pillar that holds their mailbox _ a simple cardboard tent with flanges that could be weighted with beanbags.

Signs should be simple, done in bold, black letters on a white or goldenrod background. Keep information to a minimum so passers-by can read it at a glance: ''Garage Sale,'' maybe the address or the times and dates, and a big, bold arrow pointing the way.

Make sure the signs are sturdy, and don't attach them to utility poles. A poster attached to a weighted box will work just fine. So will a paper bag with the words ''Garage Sale'' written on it, weighted and stapled shut.

PREPARE

Juanita Dawson, an avid garage-sale shopper, dislikes sales with dirty merchandise, so she knows the importance of making sure everything is clean. Give yourself time before the sale to clean the garage, launder clothes (use fabric softener so they smell fresh) and get other items in top condition.

Make sure the sale area is safe, too, with no loose cords or sharp objects within reach. Repair electrical items if you can, which makes them more appealing to customers and allows you to charge more. If you can't fix them, mark them as broken.

Keep in mind that most shoppers are looking for things they can buy cheaply. You'll probably get more money for antiques and higher-priced items by selling them through such means as classified ads or eBay.

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PRICE TO SELL

By virtue of her garage-sale prowess, Juanita Dawson is the go-to person in pricing items for the Dawson sale. If you don't have her experience, you might check thrift stores, classified ads, other garage sales or online sites such as Amazon.com, Half.com and eBay for pricing guidance. An eBay check can also flag items that are more valuable than you'd thought, Barb Dawson noted.

''But most of the time we sell everything as cheap as we can,'' she said. After all, the main reason for having a garage sale is unloading your unwanted stuff, she said.

Do leave a little room in your prices for bargaining, however. That's all part of the fun.

It's OK to put bulk prices on items (five for $1, for example). Or use different-colored stickers with a big poster showing the price that corresponds to each color.

Just be sure everything is priced in some way, the Dawsons said. Some buyers get annoyed if they have to ask; others assume the price is too high and don't bother to inquire.

SET UP

Take a cue from stores, and display like items together. The Dawsons grouped books, toys, clothes and miscellaneous in their own areas.

People can see things more easily if they're on tables rather than on the ground. Borrow tables from neighbors, or create makeshift tables _ for example, a sheet of plywood set on a couple of sawhorses, an ironing board covered with a cloth or even a big box.

Display clothes on hangers if you can, maybe even grouped into outfits. Your clothes rack can be as simple as a clothesline or a PVC pipe suspended between two ladders. You might even hang old curtains or a sheet to set up a changing area, perhaps in a corner of the garage.

Display electrical items near an outlet or extension cord so shoppers can test them. Display books on tables or in boxes with the spines up.

Furniture, bikes, TV sets and other big items should be placed near the street, where they'll catch the eyes of people driving by and lure them into stopping.

Anything you're not selling should be moved away from the selling area or blocked off.

It's a good idea to be prepared for inclement weather. Leave room in the garage to bring things inside, if necessary, or have tarpaulins or other coverings ready. The Dawsons have a hunting tent they set up in the driveway if rain is forecast.

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FOCUS ON SERVICE

Garage sales are social events, so it's nice to make your shoppers feel welcome. The Dawsons offer complimentary coffee, and in past years they've sold cinnamon rolls, cookies and pop. Background music is pleasant, too.

Nice items to have on hand are a tape measure, wet wipes or tissues, scrap paper and pencils for customers' use, a calculator, plastic grocery bags and newspapers for wrapping breakable items. If you have a cordless or cell phone, keep it outside with you in case it's needed.

Make sure you have plenty of change on hand. A good amount is $28 in $1 bills, $5 in quarters, $5 in dimes and $2 in nickels. If you have higher-priced items, include a few fives and tens, too.

If you have a truck, offering free delivery for large items can help you sell them. Or have information on hand about a friend who's willing to deliver for a fee.

You can expect early birds, so decide ahead of time how you'll handle them.

Some people advertise their sale's start an hour later than when they really plan to open, so they're ready for the early shoppers. Barb Dawson politely tells early birds she doesn't deal until the sale starts, although she'll open early if she's ready. Others tell early birds the price is double before starting time.

STAY SAFE

The Dawsons insist the overwhelming majority of garage-sale shoppers are honest and pleasant. The family members know of only one theft in all their years of selling: a few pieces of jewelry that disappeared once, and they weren't all that expensive to begin with.

Still, they've heard plenty of cautionary tales from the people who visit their sales. One common ploy is for a shopper to ask to use the bathroom, then use the opportunity to steal valuables from the house.

So it's wise to take precautions.

Keep an eye on the cash box, or wear a fanny pack or carpenter's apron so you can keep the cash on you. Display valuables at a table that's always staffed.

Don't change big bills. If the customer says he has nothing smaller, direct him to a bank or store where he can get change.

Lock the doors to your house, and don't let anyone inside _ or if you do, make sure the person is accompanied. You might even make copies of directions to a nearby public bathroom so you can hand them to people who ask.

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PLAN FOR LEFTOVERS

Even the best garage sales won't rid you of everything, so it's smart to have a plan to get rid of what doesn't sell. The Dawsons usually give leftover items to a church clothes closet or arrange for a charity to pick them up. You can also pay a rubbish removal company such as 1-800-GOT-JUNK? to haul everything away.

The sooner, the better. As Barb Dawson noted, ''Who wants to put it back in the house if you've taken all the time to get it out of the house?''

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© 2009, Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio).