Works for me Wednesday - Garage Sales!!

As garage sale season starts, there are many things you can do to prep before your big sale. We have one every year, and I love it! It gets rid of things, brings extra money in and is just a fun time all around.

Here are some tips to gear up for your garage sale. We have been doing this for many years, and it Works for Me!

- As you go through your kids clothes at the beginning of a season, have some price stickers ready to mark the clothes that no longer fit as you pull them. This will save you time as the day gets closer. This also works for any other items you pull (knick-knacks, movies and toys). You can by the pre-printed price stickers, but I just use mailing labels with three prices typed on each label and cut them. Costs about the same in the end, and the labels will last a long time.

- Don't put stained items into a garage sale. If you wouldn't buy it, don't put it out. There were many time I would be looking for baby clothes, only to find stains on most of the clothes.

- If you do not have all the parts for a certain toy, don't try to sell it at the price you would if you had all the parts. Some people are looking for extra tracks for hot wheels, or a hodgepodge of Barbie clothes. The full set will be worth more to someone.

- Put toy sets in zip lock bags. This keeps all the pieces together, and prevents little hands from losing pieces as they visit with their mothers at your sale. Write directly on the bag what the price is, and what it is.

- Organize your sale by category. All the kids clothes go together, by size and gender. Don't mix the boy clothes in with the girl clothes, or the 3T with the 6/6X. Label your tables to show where the correct sizes are. This is also great for kitchen things, toys and books. Keep all the kids books in one spot, with the grown up books in another. It will make it easier for people to find things, and less mess for you to clean up. Which brings us to the next tip.

- Keep your sale neat. I hate going to a sale that is all chaotic, and the seller has not picked up all day long. It makes it hard to seek things out, and at time can make a buyer just walk away.

- When hanging clothes, think like a retail shop. Have all the clothes facing the same way on a hanger. This makes it easier to look at the items, and less likely to fall off.

- Advertise Advertise Advertise!!! If you local paper had a Garage Sale section, spend the money to place an ad. The results pay for the ad. Make sure you list times, locations and a general item descriptions (HH, Kd Clths, toys, tools etc). If you don't place an ad, make signs. Lots of signs (you should do this even if you do place an ad, to help people find you.). Right in bold colors, use arrows and other eye catching things. We always use that neon poster board, with black marker. This will catch anyone's attention from blocks away.

- Pull all the stickers when you are adding up the total. This will help you keep track of what you sold, what you made and whose it was. We do family sales, and this helps us keep track. Initials on the stickers help as well. If you are doing a sale solo, you should still pull the stickers, to track your items.

- Have a good amount of cash in the change box (or bag). We always start with a good amount, so we don't run out. It never fails that the first person to come to your sale will only have a twenty, and want something that is $3. Never fails. We have about $40 in 1's, $40 in $5's and a couple $10's. We also stock $20 in quarters. We don't price items lower than $.25, so we don't need dimes and nickels.

- If you have an expensive item for sale, watch it like a hawk. There are dishonest people out there that will walk off with a Prada or Coach bag. Better yet, put out a picture of the item, and keep the item in your house. Show it to people that want to see it, but keep it in the house otherwise.

- Stock up on paper and plastic bags. We save all year, and still can run out. Always have newspaper for breakable items, and even some boxes to package things like glasses in.

- Be prepared for the early birds. They will be waiting in your driveway when you open, and some even will knock on your door. They are the serious garage sale shoppers, and search the papers for the best sales. Don't be afraid to tell them no, but remember they might leave and not come back.

Remember, it is always better to have two people or more, have a book to read during the quiet times and snacks standing by. Garage sales are a fun way to get rid of unwanted items.

Head on over to Rocks in My Dryer for Works for Me Wednesday tips.