How do I set up a garage sale? Do I need to get a permit or something? I'm in San Antonio, Tx.?

Question

How do I set up a garage sale? Do I need to get a permit or something? I'm in San Antonio, Tx.?

Answer 1

no you dnt

Answer 2

If you're setting up on your own turf, it shouldn't be a problem.

Some cities have ordinances about how many times a year you can have a yard/garage sale, but if you're asking this question, you probably don't fall into that category (it's to keep people from having garage sales as a primary income and cut down on neighborhood nuisances/excessive traffic).

Set up can be anything from easy to elaborate. You can spread things out on blankets on the ground, or set up tables for displaying your stuff. Borrowing a few tables is probably the best answer (but don't go rent them!). Take any table available - move the patio table out to the front yard, haul out the breakfast table and old TV trays - just be sure you mark anything you aren't selling as "NOT FOR SALE".

Hanging clothes rather than piling them up makes things look nicer - just like washing any dishes, glassware, knick-knacks, etc that you're setting out to sell (run them thru the dishwasher if they're dishwasher safe).

Run a LONG extension cord out to where you're having the sale so people can test any electrical appliances you're selling - plus it's nice to plug in a fan and have a little breeze blowing on you!

Set out a nice comfy chair for yourself - you won't be busy ALL day, people will come and go, kind of in waves.

Mark everything clearly with a price and be willing to bargain. You can find pre-printed price tags (sticky ones, color coded) at WalMart. Some people will recommend simply sticking colored dots on things and having a poster board with a price for each color.

Since you're in SA, if you don't speak much Spanish, I suggest you find a friend who does to come over and help with the sale - maybe they can bring a few things of their own and between the two of you, you'll have a bigger inventory and attract more people.

People don't like shopping in the heat of the day or being out in the sun, so if you have shade, take advantage of it (and use a fan!). You can pick up a few extra bucks by having a cooler full of water bottles or sodas (pick up some at Sam's Club and adjust your 'resell' price to give you either a break-even or slight profit) for regular garage sale-goers.

If you have some stuff you think won't sell, buy some lunch sized paper bags and put random things in them (this is esp. good for kids toys like stray Legos,  old Happy Meal trinkets, and so forth)...staple the bags closed and sell them as "Grab Bags" for $0.50 or whatever you think you can get for them.

Be sure you start early and plan to stay open until afternoon.

Advertise! BIG, NEON posterboard SALE signs around your neighborhood and major streets leading to your neighborhood are a MUST! (be sure you take them all down after the sale). Take out an ad in the newpaper for the day before and the day of the sale. You might even want to post your sale on Craigslist or other online venues. Be sure in your online and print ads you list the types of items you have to sell and be sure your posterboards have arrows pointing the way to your house and are easily readable from a passing car.

Good luck!!

Answer 3

The only thing that I can add to Johnna L is to have a friend or two there to help watch people.  Sometimes you will get people that are not all that honest and you need an extra pair of eyes or two.  

Also I like to set things up in a way that people have to pass by me when they come into and out of the yard sale - easy to keep track of a large number of people.  

Make the yard sale on a flat and safe area too - for your safety and theirs.  

Make sure that you have a set of house keys on you and lock your doors so that people don't "accidentally" wander into your house.  

You might put on some music that you enjoy and keep water on hand for yourself and the people who help you - espically in San Antonio where it is very humid.  

Other than that - good luck and I hope that you make a TON OF MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!