GARAGE $ALE 101
By Karl Champley, Master Builder
Did you know that August 14 is National Garage Sale Day? This is a great reason to clear your garage of clutter while making a few extra bucks on the side to create a space that works for your needs. Organizing a garage sale is easier than you think. It’s not my first rodeo when it comes to clearing out the clutter in a garage and probably not yours! Sometimes it’s more of a headache just thinking about it than actually doing it. So start with this easy to do plan:
1) Pick a date: Set a goal for yourself by choosing when you’ll have the sale. Trust me, the wife will be very pleased.
Ask your neighbors to see if they want to conduct a joint sale. The larger the sale, the larger the crowd.
Thursdays are popular days for sales, but this can vary by region. Also, avoid holiday weekends at all costs.
Make sure you check local community rules and bylaws for necessary permits required.
2) Sort your stuff: Try not to get flustered by doing it all at once. Spread it over a couple of weekends if you need to.
If you come across things you haven’t used in over a year, put the item up for sale. And say “Hasta la vista, baby” to things that are broken. Yep, that means it goes in the dumpster.
Think about categories of products you’re trying to sell and keep similar products near each other. Kids toys in one area, sporting equipment in another, furniture in yet another, and so on and so forth.
3) Make sure you’re prepared: Before the sale, enlist family members to help make it a success. Better yet, call on a mate to give you a helping hand.
Be a salesman. Always greet customers with a smile and be prepared to answer questions.
Have one person track items sold and how much it sold for.
And here’s the most important part. If there are unsold items from the sale, do not bring it back into the garage! (Clutter tends to start owning you, instead of you owning it after awhile.) Drop off the items at a donation station or better yet, arrange for a charity to come pick up items the day after the sale so you have no choice but to get rid of your stuff.
Hopefully these tips will help you run a successful sale. Once you have a cleared garage and some extra bucks in your pocket, check out the Blueprint Estimator at GladiatorGarageWorks.com and plan your new space. It’s a wonderful tool that will give you a visual perspective on how your garage can look when completed.
I love the garage because it is a large footprint of your home. Imagine if you had another empty room in your home that was a similar size to your garage. It is valuable real estate! Think about what you may use it for. This space can be transformed quite easily and saves you from having to add on to your home.
Once you get everything organized, enjoy it and live a better life.
Cheers!
About the Author: Karl Champley is a Master Builder and our resident TV personality. He loves Gladiator® products almost as much as his tool belt, Australia and oxygen. This awesome Aussie always wants to hear from you. Feel free to post a comment and say G’Day
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