Our Top 10 Tips for Rummage Day

So, you're ready to have your rummage sale. Congratulations, and we hope it's successful for you! Today we'd like to share some important information about some necessary items you should have on hand for your sale, as well as highlight some policies you could implement to help things run smoothly. In addition, you may wish to read through our other helpful blog posts about rummage sales - where we share lots of great ideas, proven strategies and suggestions, so you may also have a highly rated garage sale of your own.

Here are our top ten tips for hosting your own garage sale:

1. Cash box and (optional) online payment methods set-up. Make sure you have plenty of change available, including small bills and coins. It is better to have more than you think you'll need, so you're not scrambling trying to get more change during your sale. It is helpful to also have a money detector machine or a money pen checker to prevent counterfeit payments. Also have knowledge of how the dollar bills should feel and look. Study which dollar bills you should hold up to the light to see a watermark portrait image and the appropriate embedded security thread. Know how to check for the color shifting ink. I prefer to scratch at the president's shirt on the bill to ensure it has ridges. Consider the risks of accepting checks and make a sign that describes your accepted forms of payment. It may state CASH ONLY, or CASH AND _______ [insert digital payment methods of your choice]. If you do not wish to accept larger bills, your sign could indicate that as well (no $50 bills or $100 bills). Know the locations of nearby ATM machines so customers are able to go get cash when necessary. We have never lost a sale by only accepting cash. We typically agree to hold someone's pile of things for up to an hour so they can go get cash, and they have always been willing to do that. Usually, they return with cash in 10 minutes or so. They often find even more things to add to their purchase when they return with cash, which works out great! Digital payments are gaining popularity though, so that is something to carefully consider accepting.
2. A checkout table and chairs. Make sure there is plenty of room for people to place their items when you are totaling things up. Ideally, you should have a person also seated there who could bag things up for the customer. This person may also help carry things out to people's vehicles as necessary.
3. Bags for purchases. We save our shopping bags throughout the year to use at our sale. In our state, we are able to use both plastic and paper bags, so that is what we have to offer. However, we do have plenty of reusable cloth bags available and we also reuse gift bags for purchases at our sales. If someone is purchasing a basket or storage box, we just fill that with their other items. Before the sale begins, I have bags sorted in "bag holders" by size. I have all of my bags separated by how big they are and keep them in labeled containers near my checkout station. I refill the containers as necessary.
4. Shopping baskets! Our sales are so huge that we should probably invest in actual shopping carts, but our shopping basket method has worked out great! We have several shopping baskets available under our checkout table. People either deposit their items into an assigned basket under the table as they are browsing, or some people wish to carry around a basket with a handle that they can fill as they shop. This is super important, because if someone has their arms full, how can they keep shopping? Provide a way for them to choose more items to buy that also keeps their hands free for browsing. The more things they can pick up and inspect, the greater chances they will purchase more. 
5. Essential items. You should ideally have a broom, sanitizer and hand wipes, an outlet for testing electronics, spare batteries for testing electronics, a mirror for people to visualize themselves in a new outfit or accessory, tools like a screwdriver or allen wrench for disassembling furniture, a tape measure for measuring, paper towels or rags for clean-up, sticky notes, a notebook for recording sales, several pens, additional price tags and markers to use as necessary, a calculator (or your phone for confirming totals of larger amounts), a first-aid kit, and your phone.
6. Have water bottles available for your helpers (and yourself) so everyone stays hydrated. Preferably supply beverages in containers with lids (to prevent spills). Provide breaks for each other to have a snack or lunch, and to get restroom breaks. Maybe you could have ready-made sandwiches, order food delivery, or send someone to pick up lunch for everyone helping.
7. Have a list of rules that everyone assisting you will be aware of. A rule I am strict on with my sales is that customers are not allowed to enter my house for any reason. Not to try on an outfit. Not to use the bathroom. Not for any reason. This is a liability issue and since it is private property, you may deny access of entry to your house. A stranger may not be trustworthy, and you do not want anyone to steal from your home, or know the layout of your house to gain access in the future, etc.
8. Park off of the premises. We park our cars way down the street, several houses away from our sale. Our helpers also park a distance away. Think of it like a retail store that has designated parking stalls for employees that are the farthest away from the building. That way, customers get preferred parking up close to the sale. As a customer, I have sometimes avoided a garage sale when there was no parking available nearby. Make sure you provide easy access to your sale for everyone stopping by. Street parking in front of your house should be for customers only. Just be watchful that they are not blocking mailboxes, or your neighbor's driveway. Also, please do not leave your vehicle parked in your driveway during your sale. It hinders people's street view of your sale, so they may not wish to stop if your car is blocking their line of sight to your products.
9. Advertising Signage. Place garage sale signs near the curb when possible, and on street corners when permitted. Bright colored signs will attract attention! Find our additional signage tips here: Rummage Sale Advertising Ideas
10. Policy Signs. Decide in advance which signs you will need. Use posterboard to make your own posters to hang with clear and bold lettering. Or you may choose to print signs from your computer. Perhaps you'll want a sign that states your hours and dates. Or a sign that says CASH ONLY. Or ALL SALES FINAL. Or ALL PRICES ARE FIRM. A sign that we always have visible at our sales says, "NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENTS." We have two printable versions of this below, which are free for you to download and print from your own device.