How Much Money Have You Made with a Garage Sale?

Updated on July 28, 2013
D.S. asks from Arlington, TX
22 answers

I stopped having garage sales years ago, because it seemed like a whole lot of work for only a little bit of money. Now, we're doing a major clean out to move to a smaller house and have a lot to get rid of. So, we're trying to decide whether to hold onto the things we're clearing out for a garage sale, or to just donate them somewhere.

We only have couple of furniture items to get rid of that are in terrible condition. Everything else is mainly small household stuff, books, outgrown kids' clothes, etc.

What can I do next?

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Featured Answers

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

i suck at it, apparently. like you, i gave up doing it.......tons and tons of work, and my weekend spent chained to a table in the yard, for $32.13.
but my friend is BRILLIANT at it. she has a couple per year, and makes a couple hundred each time. she recently did a yard sale/fundraiser to get her daughter an epilepsy dog. she raised close to a grand!
i have no idea how that works though.
for me it's easier just to donate it.
khairete
S.

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C.J.

answers from Dallas on

I average between $200 and $400. Depends how long it has been, but I do not price things. As people come up and ask, I tell them a price, we barter and it is done. So not a lot of work on my end.

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L.A.

answers from Austin on

I actually have a business that includes doing garage sales and Estate Sales for people.

From what you posted, I do not think a sale is going to be worth your time.

You should donate and get a receipt to deduct your contribution.

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S.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

My M. moved from a four bedroom home to a two bedroom home. She had lived in her home 27 years and there was plenty of stuff to sell. We did a three day weekend yard sale= her total sales were over $1,700.00 She was one happy camper :)

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S.K.

answers from Houston on

I would skip it and donate, if it were me. I have never known anyone to make much unless they had several large items, furniture, etc.

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J.G.

answers from Chicago on

I always donate. We are fortunate to not need, and there are so many with nothing.

There are lots of organizations that will take furniture, etc. I give all my household stuff to an organization that sets abused women up in apartments. Everything in the apartment becomes theirs to take when they leave the shelter, so they are always in need of things.

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J.M.

answers from Tampa on

I have a couple a year. I can make anywhere from $50-$200+ I don't mind taking the time. Sometimes I have a lot of stuff and sometimes a little. I always donate the leftovers. My "regular" customers have been coming for years and like the new treasures. I get stuff to sell from neighbors, family and friends. I enjoy having garage sales and would love to do it for a living for others. I think the estate sales would be fun.

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A.C.

answers from Madison on

For what little bit people pay for the stuff and all the time it takes to clean, sort, price, then sit there all day for one, two, three days while the sale is running--nope, not for me. My time is too valuable.

We donate all our stuff to places like Good Will or Savers (where the proceeds from sales go to Easter Seals). I keep a detailed list of everything we donate, then use a donation price guide to figure out an amount so I can use/declare it on my taxes every year. Then I keep that information in my taxes to prove that I donated.

Then, whoever in the community needs stuff can go to the store and find things for a very fair price. What doesn't sell, I believe, is oftentimes sent overseas to third world countries for the people there to use, wear, and enjoy.

I have done this every year we've been married, going on 15 years.

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T.F.

answers from Dallas on

My time is worth more than the money then the aggrevation of a garage sale. I've tried garage sales before, I despise them... people casing out my house, trying to get the cost down from 50 cents to 5 cents on something pretty new, showing up like vultures, etc.

We donate everything to specific shelters.... the Women's Shelter being #1 because many of those women and children leave only with the clothes on their backs, then to the community outreach, habitat for humanity re-store and Goodwill. Most of these services will come pick it up as well and give you a receipt for tax purposes.

I'd rather donate to someone who truly appreciates it.

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L.M.

answers from New York on

My last garage sale, I did with a friend. We had over 1500 items, but 1000 of them were priced at $1 or less. She made $400, I made $190.

Considering only $45 of my $$ came from items priced $5 and over, a few things priced at $2 and $3, and over $125 from items priced $1 or less. I would consider it worth the time and effort. At the end, most of the items went into the back of the car and were than donated to Good Will. A few went out to the curb with a "free" sign.

My neighbor had a garage sale the same day, she made $500, but she only had about 50 items, all high end and in great shape and lots of tools.

The point is, it really depends on what you have to sell, how much you're willing to sell it for, and your location.

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K.M.

answers from Dallas on

I had a garage sale in May for 2 days and made about $800 USD. I had no furniture. Mainly clothes and junk. The clothes were folded and organized by size and boy/girl. I believe it had a big impact. Things priced from $1 - $5 each. Good luck. I donated what was not sold.

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K.S.

answers from Dallas on

I have never made much doing a garage sale, I would rather donate the clothes to a local homeless shelter than to haggle over a price. In my area people wan to pay $1 or less for kids clothes that they are going to resale in their garage sale for more money. As for the furniture, I have never sold any in a garage sale. Good luck on whatever you do.

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L.M.

answers from Reno on

Hi. We just did a MAJOR yard sale before we moved to another state. We've had one every oh.. 8 mos. or so before that. We found that things like tools, yard equipment,clothes and toys made nearly as much as the "big ticket" items. For most things, I priced more than I wanted to get. Why? Because people will always try to talk you down, anyway, and people love to think they are getting something for less than asked for (like finding that something is on sale once you get to the register). For example, we had a home gym. Barely used. New= $800. We wanted $200, so I put a price of $250. I was talked down to $225! WIN! :)

Anyway, for our move away sale, we earned about $1025. We left a bunch of things out for the neighbors to go through and then I posted a "curb alert" on Craig's List (basically telling the world to come by and take what they want for free). We had very little left to get rid of! Best of luck to you on your move!

L.

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C.V.

answers from Columbia on

We had a garage sale last year and made about $600. But we also sold some bigger items on Craigslist and made an additional $800.

I hate having garage sales (though I love going to them). I found a local Swap Shop page on Facebook and sell my items there. Just post a pic and someone comes and gets it. :-)

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A.S.

answers from Boca Raton on

$300+ on stuff that I thought was mostly junk.

I did have quite a bit of boy clothing and people seemed to be after kid items.

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S.G.

answers from Grand Forks on

I usually make around $200, and I sell everything really cheap. For items I want to sell for more I sell on Kijiji.

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C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

Typically, I make $250. The most I made was $800 - I had furniture and such...ours was not in terrible shape. If they are in terrible condition - just throw them away or freecycle them! Someone might know how to reupholster them and it's a win-win for both of you!

I would do both...hold a garage sale and price everything to sell - then whatever does not sell that day - pick it up and take it to Goodwill.

Good luck! Have fun!! Happy moving!!!

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☼.S.

answers from San Diego on

We've made anywhere from $600 - $1k. Those are major clear-out type of garages sales, like before you move. We also advertised in the Penny Saver and Craigslist so we had great turnout.

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A.A.

answers from Tulsa on

We donate our stuff to Amvets, they pick it up and leave a tax deduction sheet right on your front porch.

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J.C.

answers from New York on

I don't think it's worth the time. Try freecycle. People are very appreciate on that site.

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J.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

I've had two garage sales. Once in college, and once for my in-laws who were moving out of the country. In college, I made about $50, but when I did a garage sale for my in-laws, I made close to $800. They had A LOT of stuff -- furniture, kitchenware, paintings/posters, clothes, etc. Most of the stuff were in decent condition, though.

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❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

The most I've made is $250.
I still think it's worth it.
I'd rather have $250 than nothing, right?
I donate what I don't think will sell at a garage sale. For some reason, a
lot of things sell better at thrift stores than a garage sale.
Be sure to have some big items like furniture.
Advertise for sure in your local free paper AND Craigslist.
Have it set up the day before.
Be sure to have change.
Go through all of the things in your house. Now is the time to de-clutter.
You can sell all of your no longer loved knick knacks, dishes, mugs, vases (not the free kind you get from the florist), frames, pictures, mirrors
etc.
Friday is a great day. Saturday, too. Sunday not too much.
Open early. I like to go from 8-noon.

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