Hosting an Estate Sale

[tjbus]

I am planning to host an estate/garage sale but have not actually attended one and wondered if you all could offer any advice.

I am in the process of downsizing and have been selling stuff on eBay. I want to get more aggressive and have some furniture items to sell as well. I’m planning to sell almost everything in my home.

My thought is to label everything in my home that is for sale and then invite people on a Saturday from 10-2 via FB marketplace and my community page. I’ve heard of people using color stickers with coordinating prices which I think is fine for smaller items. But for larger items I’m thinking of labeling with a price or “make offer” for furniture.

I have a couple of friends who have offered to attend that day and be stationed throughout the house.

[VintageTreasures]

I think it would be a good idea to post your living estate sale on EstateSales.net and gsalr.com. Those are the only 2 sites I use when looking for estate or garage sales and other people may do the same.

[tjbus]

Thank you vintage treasures, that is very helpful.

[Jay]

I’d be worried about getting overwhelmed by people in my own home. Unless you have friends stationed in each room, whats the stop strangers from going through drawers or grab items you want to keep.

One option is to just so a series of sales where you drag stuff out to you garage and sell off in chunks. Furniture sale, then clothing sale, then electronics sale, etc. Keep it manageable.

[tjbus]

Thanks Jay! I have been in this home for 26 years and although I don’t have an over abundance of things, there is too much to relocate to the garage and I would rather not drag it out (I hope I am overwhelmed with people;). I will have enough help to station someone in every room so that makes the most sense. Anything that is off limits I will put in a closet; other than that everything can go.

[aperture]

I have two thoughts:

I use an app that grabs listings from Craigslist and put them on a map (Yardsale Treasure Map). Craigslist is free, so I would encourage you to put a listing there too. Be specific about your address and the hours you will be open. I suggest you start at 8 AM to get the reseller yard sale crowd and put up photos of items that will hook your target audience in your listing.

If this will be an estate sale, then do consider purchasing a listing on EstateSales.net. You can start at 9 AM or 10 AM. Most estate sales here (Colorado) are three days in duration (some are two and some are four). The first day everything is full price. The second day, everything is 25% off and the last day it is all 50% off. You should make it clear that people are expected to move their own purchases (after they pay for them). You do not want your people to get sucked into helping out as furniture movers.

Set up a single entrance/exit and have your cash register, small valuables, and a hold table in that room. If you will be CASH only – make it clear in your ads and with signs throughout the house. People will need to leave to go get cash – make it clear how long you will hold an item before you release it for sale.

If it is wet or muddy outside, you may want to purchase some disposable shoe covers and have people put them on their shoes as they come in the door. Ideally you should put someone you trust on the register and wander around answering questions & setting prices.

You can tape off rooms that do not have items for sale. Just use blue tape and a sign. Good luck.

[tjbus]

Thank you Aperture – very helpful information!

[Author]

Posts