Image: istockphoto.com/Jim Jurica
Secret treasure
The lure of the garage sale is the hope you will pay pennies for a priceless treasure just like Jean-Louis Proulx of St. Joachim de Courval, who in 1992 paid $20 for two garage sale paintings worth half a million.
Bargain still to be found
Those kind of finds are rare, but there are still plenty of deals to be found according to John Black and Pat Grant of Westmount, who have been attending Montreal garage sales for years. You have to be patient, look around and not buy on impulse.
“The bargains are out there, but only if you know what you’re looking for,” says Black.
Good planning
The key for holding a successful sale is organisation. For the last five years, Jocelyn Laurence, a resident of downtown Toronto has been holding an annual yard sale.
“Start by sorting your belongings. Eliminate anything broken -- it just doesn’t sell. Clean everything thoroughly and take the time to label everything with a price,” advises Laurence. She has found the best sellers are children’s clothing and toys, glassware, older china, tools, small appliances and CDs.
No holidays
Chris Heiska, The Yard Sale Queen, recommends avoiding any three-day holiday weekends when people are prone to head out of town. Unless, of course, you live in a tourist area.
Show them where to find you
Both Heiska and Laurence suggest putting up signs that are easily read by people driving by and advertising in the paper if you have a lot of goods. “Just beware of people who show up early and start pestering you. They’re usually dealers who want to pay as little as possible. Have a no-early-birds policy and stick to it,” says Laurence.
Show me the money
Designate one person as the cashier and have the others help out at the tables. The chaos of making change can result in lost sales or even worse -- people stealing your items.
“Get a good selection of change,” says Black. “Pricing everything in increments of $1.00 will make change simpler.” If you are buying take at least $100 since hot bargains go fast and you have to beat out the competition with cash in hand.
Negotiations are a must
Haggling is part of any garage sale. “If you are a shopper then barter. If you are a seller then stick to your price,” advises Black. Be realistic about what you can charge. Retail prices are not an option since people are looking for a bargain.
Too much haggling can lose you the sale though. “I’ve had items left because I refused to sell them at some ridiculous price like fifty cents for a Royal Dalton figurine,” recalls Laurence.
Check the goods
Like any sale, it’s buyer beware, especially with electrical goods. When buying anything electrical, be sure to test all the settings “I’ve bought appliances only to discover they worked on one speed only,” recalls Grant. If you are selling make sure there is an electrical outlet available for people to test the item. You may know the items work but they don’t.
Hold onto your day job
How much money can you expect to make? It all depends on your goods and the turnout “One year we made $2,000,” said Laurence, “but we had four families with a lot to sell. If you pull in $200 and upwards consider your sale a success.”
Remember to relax and have fun. Bargains aside, garage sales are still social events. It’s a great way to recycle and meet people. For a fun summer read about Westmount garage sales check out the murder mystery No Early Birds by Edward O. Phillips. You might even be able to find a copy at a garage sale near you.
Shelagh McNally is the editor of Green Living Online. She bought her favourite garden swing at a yard sale.
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