Rapid City Online Garage Sale (2024)

FAQs

Should I have a garage sale or sell online? ›

Those in the know recommend online selling far above organizing a garage sale or hiking down to the local consignment shop. “With garage sales, you only get local buyers,” says veteran online peddler and blogger (My Money Chronicles) Jason Butler.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings are usually the best time to hold a successful garage sale. Consider scheduling your sale on the first weekend of the month—when people have just gotten paid and haven't spent all their fun money yet.

While you can certainly make money through a garage sale, it may be less than you expect. Garage sale shoppers are looking for bargains and will haggle over your prices, even if they were very low already. And if you have bad weather, you might get fewer shoppers and make much less money than expected.

Although not everyone puts price tags on their garage sale merchandise, pricing your merchandise in advance will make the day of the sale less hectic for you. Additionally, it may make customers more likely to buy.

Garage sales usually start early in the morning, around 7 a.m., and end mid-afternoon. The busiest hours of a garage sale are often between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m., before temperatures get too high. Depending on how many items you plan to sell, you may want to spread the sale out over multiple days.

But how much change to have for a garage sale? Many experienced sellers recommend having $100 in cash for your garage sale.

Post your garage sale flyers around the neighborhood a few days before the yard sale. Make sure to place them in high-traffic areas like marts, parks, office elevators, and churches so people will see them. You can also ask your friends and family to help out.

Sales on Saturdays and Sundays will generate the most traffic, especially if the weather cooperates. Start the sale early — 8 or 9 a.m. is best — and be ready for early birds.

Post on Craigslist or other local community board a “Moving Sale” for $1 (you have to enter a price), but in that post the list major items for sale with individual prices, include general descriptions of the other stuff for sale (dishes and cooking sets, camping accessories, baby clothes, etc.)

Best to put everything on a table or hang it within reach. Dumping clothes on a sheet on the lawn, only looks like you haven't done laundry in a long time. Clean it, dust it or at least wipe it down. If it's clean and tidy it sells a LOT faster.

Can you bargain in garage sale? ›

Sellers are ready to part with their things, so it's perfectly acceptable to haggle on pricing, especially if you are interested in a high-dollar item or have a grouping of things. Either ask the seller if they can lower the price or feel free to make an offer. However, don't suggest too low a price.

List Your Wares on Ebay, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. To sell your items locally without commandeering the garage for a weekend, turn to these online staples. If you have rare or antique items you think could go for big bucks, list them on Ebay to connect with collectors and other bigger-ticket buyers.

Pick Your Virtual Garage Sale Platform

If you're wiling to ship your items, eBay, LetGo and Amazon Marketplace are potential options, too. They're convenient and offer some protections for you and the buyer. Be mindful of shipping costs though; they can quickly eat into your profits!

Homes with garages often have a higher resale value. Buyers typically prefer and are willing to pay more for a home with a garage, viewing it as a significant amenity. Garages have evolved from mere parking spaces to versatile areas.