Significance

• If you are wanting to sell unused items, having a garage sale is a quick way to clean house while making a little extra money. Preparing for a garage sale takes a little time and a lot of effort, but the end result is usually worth the work. If you are a collector or just a bargain hunter, you never know what you will find at a garage sale. As the old saying goes, "Someone's junk is someone else's treasure."
  
  

Function

• Garage sales should provide bargains for the shopper. When you host a garage sale, you should keep in mind that shoppers are looking for great items at unbeatable prices. Therefore, even if an item originally cost you a fortune, you will have to price it at a fraction of the cost. Overpriced items rarely sell at garage sales, so be prepared to negotiate to make a sale.
  
  

Time Frame

• Timing is key to the success of your garage sale. Serious garage sale shoppers usually begin their treasure hunts early on Saturday mornings. Other days, such as Friday mornings, may be successful in certain neighborhoods, but generally, people are rushing to work and will not take the time to shop.
  
  

Misconceptions

• Sometimes people mistake garage sales for used junk. However, many people sell unopened items and clothing that still has the price tags. People who are compulsive shoppers and are attracted to name brand merchandise will often sell their high dollar purchases at garage sales with no regard to the original price.
  
  

Expert Insight

• Even though it may pain you greatly, price your items cheap, cheap, cheap. The lower the prices are, the more items you will sell. Ultimately, that means that you will make a decent profit from the garage sale. It is always a good practice to negotiate a price with a shopper if he purchases more than one item from your sale.