1. Determine a date and time. Piggyback on other busy events, but schedule around them (like the Harvest Fest and Team Patterson’s Sale- same day- different times). Since people are coming to the area, they may as well stop at your event too

2. Get the entire neigh- borhood on board. Make it an ‘event’, and make it fun! Get the whole community involved. It’s more exciting this way, and it’s a bigger attraction to folks who are looking for good sales with lots of stuff.

3. Advertise, advertise, and advertise. There are numerous sites that are free: www.craigslist.org is the most popular.  www.garagesalestracker.com is another site that is new, but seems promising. It is also beneficial to advertise in local known newspapers (the Ladera Times is an excellent venue). Be sure to mention any items of value, size, or popularity. Antiques, collector items, designer clothing, tools or sports items often get searched for often by word on craigslist.

4. Signage is key!! Large, bright and legible signage is extremely impor- tant. Have signs be consis- tent and concise. Arrows are more beneficial than addresses the nearer one gets. One can never have too many signs. Include a sign at your sale that says ‘all sales final’.

5. Supplies needed at least two days before your sale are bags from your grocery store, florescent paper for signs, large black markers, packing tape, tables, stickers for marking items, pens, scissors, and change.

6. The night before, mark as many items as possible. Mark those especially that are non-negotiable. You may also just choose to make signs say ‘$1.00 table’ or ‘$2.00 table’ to make it easier. Signs can go up the evening before, or very early the morning of the sale.

7. The morning of the sale, gather a good group of friends and family, and divide and conquer. Have someone hang signs, someone get coffee, and the rest get to begin to put out things.

8. Negotiate what to do ahead of time regarding ‘early birds," who go to garage sales first thing to buy the good bargains they know they can sell for more at their own garage sale or a flea market. General rules on early birds are: They must wait until you have put things out (they cannot dig through the garage), and prices are firm - no deals.

9. When putting things out, put them in general categories: kitchen, clothing, garage, nick-knacks, antiques & collectables, electronics, etc. Put anything of value near cash person, even if categories do not match.

10. Have fun, and have a ‘wrap up’ plan. Arrange for someone to move it out, and take it away when your sale is finished. Take down your signs. Count your money. Pat yourself on the back for having de-cluttered and having organized your home environment!

(Michelle Patterson is the CEO of Event Complete and founder and managing partner of TouchPointe, both headquartered in Ladera Ranch.

 

Event Complete produces many well known events in SoCal and is a full-service event manage- ment company, producing Taste of Ladera, The Giant Orange Festival, Muscle Car 1000, and many more signature events. You can reach Event Complete at 949-218-0866, or www. EventComplete.com.

 

TouchPointe is a senior level consulting and recruit- ing firm, that provides sup- port in IT, HR, finance and accounting for small and mid-sized companies. You can contact TouchPointe at www.touchpointe.com .)