Getting Organized: Planning Ahead for a Garage Sale
The snow may be blowing where you are, and you might think that it’s silly to even think about getting ready for a garage sale! Time flies, though, and if you’re in the process of getting organized anyway, you might as well kill two birds with one stone and prep your unwanted items now. This way, you’ll be ready to go once garage sale season starts in your area. After all, who wants to spend the first nice days of spring going through dusty items in the garage! You might as well do the work while the weather doesn’t inspire you to get out and have some outdoorsy fun. Here are some tips on planning ahead for a garage sale:
- As you go through your closets, fold any items that the kids have outgrown and place them in bags or big plastic containers, organized by size and gender. This will save a ton of time when it’s time to have your garage sale: All you’ll need to do is transfer the clothing from the bin or bag onto a table. If you plan to hang items, and you have enough hangers, cover them in garbage bags, poking the hangers through a hole in the bottom of the bag. Then all you’ll have to do is peel away the plastic bag and hang your dust-free items.
- Each time that you go shopping over the next few weeks, pick up a package of batteries. You’ll probably need AA, AAA and C. Also, look through your tool kit for a small screwdriver. Put these items with any electronic toys or other items that you’ll be selling at your garage sale. On the day of the sale, you’ll be all set to show people that the items do work, because you’ll have fresh batteries and the right size screwdriver to open the battery covers.
- Save plastic grocery bags, if you don’t already. While many of us use reusable bags, when you have a garage sale, people will often ask if you have a bag that they can take. Go shopping a few times and don’t bring your bags with you; take the plastic ones that the store offers instead. Pack these with your garage sale items so no one will use them for anything else, and you’ll have them ready to go on the big day.
- As you sort through your kids’ art supplies, put aside a few markers and a roll of clear tape. You’ll need these to mark items for your sale. Go ahead and put these in the same bag as the batteries and screwdriver!
- Make it a goal to price one box or bag of items each week. Pick up a package of small stickers, write the prices down and stick them on the items. By the time spring rolls around, much of the work that you’ll need to do for your garage sale will already be done!
It’s always good to plan ahead, and this tends to be a slower-than-usual time for many families, as the winter holidays are over and many of us are simply waiting for spring to get here.
Are you planning a garage sale? Are there any other tips that you have for starting the preparations now?
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Wow! I have never thought about a garage sale in the winter, and your right! Time does fly. Makes me want to go and seperate my clothes for a yard sale!
Thank you SO much for the great tips! I always want to have a garage sale each year but I never have the time to get it together quickly! This would work out so much easier!
Great pointers! We’re having a sale in the summer so I have bookmaked your post…
The battery and screwdriver idea is very helpful. If one goes to yard sales, they should probably carry these things with them! Thank you. Vicki
I have found many people on facebook make pages and sell item such as clothes and other garage sale things in the winter on their pages.
I really hate making a tag sale in the heat or some springs and every summer. This is a good idea to start preparing now in the cold weather. I especially liked the battery reminder.
We do a yard sale every year. It’s good to clean out stuff every year.
OMG, get out of my head! I was just thinking that I should probably start organizing the attic and putting things for the garage sale that I want to have in one area today! Of course I did not go to the attic, but I did think about it.
WOW!Thanks for the great advice.I’ve had tons of yard sales but now I know how to do them without all the stress of hurrying.This was an amazing article to read.
Wow, i wouldn’t have guessed to think this far ahead but maybe thats why i always go nuts a few days before….great idea
sibabe64 at ptd dot net
I love your website! So many ideas!
These are some great tips for thinking ahead. Sometimes garage sale planning can be tricky and also stressful. The above tips I think are a great place to start getting it together. Thank you
We always had garage sales in the summer, but I don’t think we’ve planned them out like this. These are great tips to save time and make it easier for others to buy our things!
I absolutely love your tip about picking up batteries prior to hosting a garage sale. That’s something that I would probably forget to do.
We have a community garage sale memorial day weekend and I’ve looked around and said that could go in the yard sale. But never thought of actually pricing and getting organized this early. Maybe I’d be a little more successful if I did!
Thanks for the tips!
Excellent tips! It would make it a lot less stressful if you planned this far in advance!
great tips – we are planning one for this late spring or summer. can’t wait. ( :
great tips! I have so much stuff I can sell at a garage sale.
Being organized for a yard sale is so important. It’s obvious when you go to garage or yard sales, too!
Good reminders. I need to gather up some things to sell.
I’ve been organizing since taking the Christmas tree down.
I REALLY need to get rid of some stuff! Maybe I can find a few people to do a garage sale with me!
Is it that time of year again already. Well that’s okay I have a lot of stuff I need to get rid of.
Thanks for the great ideas. I will be sure and let my mother in on them since she’s been having a garage sale for the past 10 years(ha,ha,ha). She never gets around to having one.
These are great ideas that reduce the stress and everything being hectic the day before.
We have always a garage sale in my home, evrytime my stuff is already old, ..my always do till me to sell it so that she can buy new one for me…but so sad now i can’t afford to do that, i value all my stuff as i gow old…hehehe
I am planning on having my own garage sale this Spring. You have given out some very good ideas here! This will help me getting organized a lot! Thanks.
Ugghhh!!! I LOVE to GO to garage sales, but I’ve found that holding my own is a HUGE undertaking! 🙁
Great tips! When I do the laundry & always take a good look at the items while I’m folding them. If I rarely wear them I put them in a separate bag to sell at my next sale.
The plastic bag tip is a great one! Simple, but a must!