How to make money at your garage sale

On average, sellers make $340 by hosting a sale over the Garage Sale Trail weekend. That’s a tidy sum for stuff you don’t use or want anymore. If you’re serious about making money at your garage sale, there’s a few golden rules you have to follow.

TELL YOUR NEIGHBOURS YOU'RE INVOLVED

List your garage sale event for free here on our website and promote your sale on Nextdoor, the free neighbourhood app where your neighbours are already connecting, chatting, sharing and more.

HIGHLIGHT YOUR SPESH STUFF

Pick 3 -5 items you're selling that are super cool / special / fun and include them on your Garage Sale Trail listing and in your promotional materials. 

PRICE IT TO CLEAR

Sure, you should hike up the prices on your really special stuff but otherwise price to clear. Consider creating a table for items of a certain value or use a pricing chart and coloured stickers to make it super easy for shoppers to buy.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

The most successful garage sales take place on busy roads with good parking. If that’s not your place, consider using a mate’s place or join one of the group sales on the Trail.

GET THOSE SIGNS OUT BABY Big, bold and bright signage is everything on sale day. Think about having a funny or intriguing sale name and place posters in super busy areas like main roads and cafes. Be sure to include the essentials (date, time and location) and all-important directional arrows.

MAKE YOUR DISPLAY PRETTY

Sanitise your stuff pre sale and put your best stuff front and centre to lure in the shoppers. Organise items by category or colour to make your sale super eye-catching and unmissable.

Use tables and clothing rails if you can but also think about what’s already there. Hang items on your fence, string rope rails between trees, even your trusty Hills Hoist can come in handy.

GET THE WHOLE STREET INVOLVED

Use the letterbox slips provided when you register to invite your whole street to get involved. Ask your neighbours to contribute items to sell or set up shop with you (at a respectable social distance naturally). Shoppers can’t resist a multi-household sale. 

PROMOTE YOUR SALE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Post the social media tiles and animations we provide to Facebook, Instagram and Nextdoor to let your friends know you're on the Trail. Be sure to #garagesaletrail so we can spread the word too.

BUNDLE DEALS

Be prepared to haggle and use the classic bundling trick to make the most of it. “Oh you want that $15 item for $10, how about you give me $15 and I’ll throw in that book you’ve been eyeing off.” Killer.

GET A LUCKY DIP GOING

Wrap small items in newspaper or offcuts of cotton fabric and make a lucky dip. Charge punters $5 for one or $10 for three items. It’s a surefire way to clear stuff you’re not sure will sell.

Garage Sale Trail is happening online and in neighbourhoods across Australia on Saturday and Sunday, November. 21 and 22.