Tips for Organizing a Successful Garage Sale

A garage sale can be a great opportunity to earn some quick cash and get rid of clutter at the same time. Start by scouring your home for items that you no longer want or use. Tackle one area or room at a time and as you collect items, put them into garbage bags and store them in a separate area until the day of the sale. Keeping items in organized categories will save you the trouble of resorting your items before the sale. The following are tips for collecting garage sale items from specific areas of your home.

Kitchen

Chances are, you have cookware or utensils that you have not used in ages. Be sure to look through all of your silverware, dishes, cookware, etc. You can even sell unopened canned or boxed food items that you do not plan on using as long as they have not yet expired.

Kids Stuff

Don't be afraid to get rid of toys that your children have grown tired of using. Kids will probably give you a hard time about getting rid of toys, but they will soon forget that they are gone. Don't forget to collect clothes and shoes that your children have outgrown. These tend to be popular items at garage sales.

Craft/Hobby Supplies

Take a minute to evaluate how much you use each item in your craft or hobby supply room. Will you ever use all of those fabric scraps or sewing notions? If you can bear to part with them, now is the perfect time to do so. Keep in mind that gift bags, unused wrapping paper and ribbons are hot sale items, especially if they are in good condition and bundled together for one price.

Closets, Bathrooms and the Remainder of Your Home

In your quest for garage sale items, leave no stone unturned. Rummage through unused body lotions, linens, hair care products, towels, and the like. Sort through bookcases, junk drawers and anywhere else that possible garage sale items could be hiding. As far as clothing goes, remember that we generally wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time. So be sure to carefully evaluate how often you wear particular items. If you have not worn an item in the past year, you probably will never wear it.