Garage Sales II: The 'Rules' for Sellers by Courtney Ronan

Can't we all just get along?

Well, that depends. After all, you are opening up your garage and subjecting your neighborhood to a barrage of complete strangers. You're in for an interesting mix of personalities. You're going to see a wide cross-section of manners, from rude early birds toting their screaming tots to "hagglers" who challenge you over 25 cents. You're lucky if you can make it through the day and remain on good terms with your neighbors on either side of you, who aren't going to want to invite you to the next potluck dinner if your prospective buyers park their cars at the base of their driveways, or, even worse, in their yards. And if those buyers peer into your neighbors' windows or ring their doorbells at 7 a.m. on a Saturday, well, you'd better move when this garage sale is over. And unless you learn to tactfully negotiate with those bargain-hungry buyers, you're not going to earn enough money off this garage sale to pay the movers' fees.
Sellers, too, need to abide by a few unspoken rules when they decide to hold a garage sale. Your top priority needs to be your neighbors. They didn't ask for strangers to tramp through their begonias at 7 a.m. You've got to put a premium both on their privacy and their property rights. And it might surprise you to learn that you have a few obligations to your prospective buyers, too, however loud or bossy they might be.

Make sure you've notified your neighbors of your plans before the big day arrives. You're not obligated to go door to door up and down the street, but you should certainly tell your neighbors on either side of you and across the street from you, as well. Notify them of your start time, and assure them that you won't be accommodating early birds. Your neighbors will appreciate your consideration and won't be surprised to spot unfamiliar cars in front of their homes the next day.

To make good on your promise to your neighbors, be sure that your home is clearly marked as the site of the garage sale. Place a sign on your mailbox, string some balloons around it, whatever you think will designate your home as the "right" place. There's nothing worse than finding a stranger on your doorstep at 7 a.m. who has mistaken your home for the seller's. And when you're hanging signs throughout the immediate area that advertise your sale, be observant of the aesthetics of the neighborhood (no iridescent, fluorescent signs, wild streamers, etc.). There's no need to hang signs every five feet; bargain-hunters can smell a good sale, so a few signs strategically placed here and there should do the trick. You might even add "Look for the balloons" or some other reference to the identification you've placed outside your house -- just to ensure that no mistakes are made.

When you're setting up for your sale, make sure that all items that you don't wish to sell remain well out of reach. You can't blame buyers for picking them up otherwise. When you correct them, it's not going to do much to establish good will with your buyers. And if you're setting up for the sale either with a family member or another neighbor, make sure that everyone knows what's for sale and what isn't. You may consider tagging those items with colored labels before set-up time. Even though you're probably also going to be labeling all items with prices, an occasional oversight could result in one of your valued possessions being placed in the sale area.
And yes, even though you're anticipating that buyers will attempt to negotiate on prices with you, you should mark all sale items with prices. First of all, this helps to clearly designate what's for sale and what isn't; and second, it establishes boundaries of the prices for which you're willing to sell each item. Third, it's just plain considerate for your buyers. If don't see prices, they're likely to wonder if the item is indeed for sale; they might assume it's going to be too expensive, so they shouldn't bother asking; or they might just give up in frustration and leave. Tempting those buyers with clearly marked, reasonable prices will make them stay and purchase more. You'll profit more, and, of course, you'll get rid of more of your clutter. It's a win-win for everybody.

And while we're on the subject of prices, remember that you're selling used property. If buyers wanted to pay top dollar, they'd buy new. That chair might be worth a lot to you because it's comfortable and because your favorite aunt gave it to you, but those factors shouldn't enter in to the price you stick on it. You're going to end up with a garage full of possessions and minimal profits at the end of the day if you refuse to set reduced prices, or if you refuse to negotiate with buyers. You don't have to go broke and give in to a buyer's request that you sell that chair for pennies. But you do, however, need to recognize that your chair is used, not new, and your buyer shouldn't have to pay a new price. Garage sales are inherently "cheap" by nature. If you own something that you want to sell at a higher price, then you should consider placing an ad in your local newspaper or selling it to a friend or family member.

Under no circumstances should you bend the rules for early birds -- even if you've been up for hours by the time they start peering in the garage-door windows at 7 a.m. Stand your ground. Draw the shades, close the blinds, and refuse to give in until it's time to start. Shoppers who respectfully abide by your start time will be annoyed if you let early birds walk away with the best goodies. If you try to hold another garage sale in the future, you might be surprised at how many early birds descend upon your home. Garage-sale shoppers are a seasoned bunch. They know where to find the best bargains and who typically opens early. Based on your encouragement to show up early today, they might push the envelope and arrive at your house even earlier next time.

When your garage sale is over, take down your signs immediately -- on the same day of the sale. This is your obligation as a good neighbor. If you don't take those signs down, you're going to have prospective buyers driving up and down your street hunting for the sale that doesn't exist, possibly parking their cars and peering in garage-door windows. And in this case, you can hardly blame them. Your fellow neighbors also are going to become annoyed at the sight of large signs hanging around the neighborhood. Those signs become an even worse eyesore after the first rainfall, when they begin to droop and hang lopsided, when ink smears and when they eventually fall to the ground until neighbors have to pick them up.

Keeping in mind that "no house is an island" will help you keep the peace in your neighbhorhood and hold a successful garage sale -- so successful, in fact, that your neighbors might be tempted to join you next time.

LINDA REYNOLDS

"REAL ESTATE PRO"

Helping Dreams Come True

Call Linda Reynolds For a limited time offer, if you list and sell your home through me, I will pay for a home warranty for your buyer.

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