Are you planning a garage sale to clear out some clutter and make a little extra money? Whether you’re doing a big clean-up, downsizing, or simply wanting to give your pre-loved items a new home, learning how to organise a garage sale can help make the day run smoothly and successfully. A well-organised sale is a great way to let go of what you no longer need.
Over the years, I’ve hosted quite a few garage sales (I’ve honestly lost count!). These days, I don’t hold them as often, I usually pass clothes on to my niece, pop items on Marketplace or donate to charity. But when I do plan a garage sale, I like to do it properly. I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t, and I’ve pulled together some of my favourite tips below, along with a helpful printable pack to make your day run smoothly.
Read more: sorting through your clutter and deciding between selling or donating your items
Garage Sale Printable Sign Pack
I have created the ultimate GARAGE SALE PRINTABLE SIGN PACK. The key to a successful garage sale is to be organised. This pack includes a checklist which will help you organise a garage sale along with signs to advertise and place around your items for sale and I’ve included an editable flyer, so you can leave details on the local community notice board.
Tips to Help You Prepare for a Successful Garage Sale
- Choose the right day – Saturdays are the most popular day for garage sales. Try to avoid long weekends, as many people may be away.
- Give yourself time – Pick a date that allows you at least the full day before to set everything up without feeling rushed.
- Raise your items off the ground – Use tables to display items at waist height so shoppers don’t need to bend down. If you don’t have enough tables, turn sturdy boxes upside down or use low shelving to create height. Don’t forget to use your ironing board as a table top too.
- Clean your items – No one wants to buy dusty or sticky goods. A quick wipe-down helps your items look more appealing and well cared for.
- Group similar items together – Place kitchenware in one spot, clothes in another, toys in their own section, etc. It makes it easier for buyers to browse.
- Price everything clearly – Use price tags or signage so shoppers aren’t constantly asking how much things are. Use round numbers to make it easy (e.g. $1, $2, $5).
- Have small notes and coins ready – People will bring $20 and $50 notes, so make sure you have change on hand.
- Promote your sale – Advertise in local Facebook groups, garage sale sites, or with signs around your neighbourhood. Include clear directions and the start time.
- Display big-ticket items near the front – Things like furniture, prams or large toys at the front can catch people’s attention as they drive or walk by.
- Put on some background music – Soft music can create a relaxed atmosphere and encourage people to linger longer.
- Be ready early – Expect early birds! Aim to have everything set up at least 30 minutes before your advertised start time.
How to Spread the Word About Your Garage Sale
- Post in local Facebook groups – Search for community noticeboards or local buy/swap/sell groups. Include clear details like the date, start time, address (or street name if you’re not comfortable sharing the full address you’ll be selling.
- Use Marketplace or Gumtree – Create a free listing with some photos and mention that it’s for a garage sale. This can bring in more people than a traditional ad!
- Neighbourhood signs – Place signs at nearby intersections or busy corners a few days before the sale. Make sure they’re big, bold, and easy to read from the road. Include arrows pointing the way. (I’ve included printable signs in the Garage Sale Pack to make this easy!)
- Invite your neighbours – Let nearby neighbours know about your sale. They might want to join in and host one too, turning it into a mini street event (which usually brings in more foot traffic).
- Use stories or posts on your socials – A quick story on Instagram or Facebook with a peek at what you’re selling can spark interest among local friends or followers.
Signs That Get Noticed
Clear signage is one of the most important parts of a successful garage sale. It helps guide shoppers straight to your home and lets them know they’re in the right spot.
You don’t need to include your full address on your signs, in fact, it’s better not to. Drivers should be watching the road, not trying to read small print. A bold GARAGE SALE sign with a big arrow is often all you need. Keep it simple and easy to spot from a distance.
Before you start putting signs up, it’s a good idea to check your local council’s guidelines. Never tape or hang signs over official street signs or traffic poles, as you could be fined. And don’t forget to take your signs down the next day. Councils may charge a removal fee if they have to do it for you.
How I Made My Signs: For my very first garage sale, I printed the black and white version of the signs I’ve included in this pack, taped them to pieces of cardboard, and spray-painted the edges bright pink. Then I nailed the signs onto wooden stakes and hammered them into the ground at every major intersection between my house and the main road.
They were bold, bright and easy to spot, honestly, they stood out from all the other signs in the area, and people had no trouble finding us!
I’ve included both colour and black & white versions of the signs in the Garage Sale Pack so you can choose whatever suits you best.
Setting Up Your Garage Sale
A smooth start makes all the difference! Aim to set up and price everything the night before so you’re not feeling flustered in the morning.
1. Price everything clearly – Use whichever method feels easiest:
- A sign saying “All items on this table are $___”
- Individual spot stickers
- Or even masking tape works well — it’s easy to write on and tear
2. Secure your items overnight – Store everything neatly in the garage or inside the house to keep it safe from weather or unexpected visitors.
3. Don’t open too early – Partially lift your garage door or block the entrance to let people know you’re not ready yet. Some shoppers arrive very early and try to start browsing before you’ve finished setting up. It’s okay to kindly ask them to wait, you’ll feel much more in control if you’re fully set up before the crowd rolls in.
4. Hang clothes where you can – Hanging makes browsing easier. I’ve used a broom across two chairs as a makeshift rack, and for kids’ clothes, you can peg hangers onto a clothes hoist.
5. Create easy deals – Encourage more sales with bundle offers, like:
- Fill a bag of clothes for $10
- Buy two ornaments, get one free
6. Pricing guide – Garage sale pricing isn’t an exact science. As a rough guide, I usually price items between 50–70% off what I originally paid. For near-new or high-quality items, you might only reduce the price by 20–30%. If in doubt, ask yourself what you’d be happy to pay for it secondhand.
I’ve included tracking pages in the pack in case friends give you items to sell for them, along with an extensive checklist
Loads of different signs have been included. These red ones below can be folded in half and sit tent like on top of the table.
Table signs, to clearly label for the busy lookers
Moving Planner + Checklist
Wanting to create your next move as stress free as possible? Spending a little time planning now can save you a whole lot of hassles in the days leading up to move home, which is when you will be too busy to think about all the other little things involved in moving house. This helpful moving planner will help you organise your move, with checklists for all elements of moving, pages to help you plan dates, room layouts and more, you’ll find everything you need to eliminate the overwhelm and be able to focus on being ready and stress free for the day you move house.
