From Garage to eBay: Making the Most Out of Local Garage Sales

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Article by Janiece V. Smith
Auction Market Watch

When looking to build your inventory for eBay, one of the first, and easiest, places to look could be right in your own back yard. Neighborhood garage sales often provide a variety of items that could enhance your eBay inventory…and increase your profits.

One of the nicest things about garage sales is that the items are typically sold inexpensively. The trick is to locate items that are worth buying and that will likely sell for a profit on eBay. Following are some points to consider when searching garage sales.

New in box. Regardless of the item, take notice of whether it’s new and in an unopened box. By virtue of being unused, you increase the chance of it selling on eBay for a higher price than you’ll likely pay at a garage sale. Look for items like dolls and collectibles as well as kitchenware and decorative items.

Designer clothing. Many people use garage sales as an opportunity to clean out their closet. For eBay’s purposes, stick to designer clothing or well-known brands such as Gap or Old Navy. As your looking at the items, pay close attention to their condition. Don’t bother with items that have stains or tears. Lastly, as you build your inventory of clothes, be sure to list them within season. That is, don’t try to sell wool sweaters in August. Save your sweaters for sale in the fall.

Popular brands. Just about anything from Pottery Barn and/or Crate and Barrel could get noticed more easily on eBay. If you find such an item, research it on the company site before listing it on eBay. Include as much information as possible from the company description and note the original price of the item. Even note whether it was featured in a particular catalog. By positioning the product’s brand, you could catch the eye of those who frequently shop at these stores.

Group items. Let’s say you come across a garage sale that has great items, in great condition. However, most of the items are small-ticket items. Consider grouping the items and selling them as a package on eBay. Buyers may not be interested in a single package of unopened recipe cards. But group them with an interesting recipe box and a new cookbook and you might get a better sale. Small packs of unused stationery could be grouped with packs of pens or desk accessories and sold as stationery sets. Be creative and use trial and error to see which groupings are most popular. Once you find selections that work, follow that pattern for other sales.

Do your homework. Get a good book on collectibles and begin to familiarize yourself with markings. When looking at garage sales, many people clear out items without realizing their value. Being able to spot and identify these items, will greatly increase your ability to spot treasured items for a low price…and resell them for what they’re really worth.

Know your neighborhoods. When you check local listings for advertised garage sales, look for sales featured in middle- to upper-income neighborhoods. It may be that the items sold in these neighborhoods are more likely to feature popular brands and newer items. Identify neighborhoods with the best garage sales and hit those on a regular basis.

Once you begin shopping garage sales with a new eye for the right products and brands, you’ll soon find a wealth of great products to enhance your eBay inventory and increase your profitability. And, best of all, you’ll have fun doing it! Janiece Smith is the creator of the Internet’s top-selling ebook and auction software package helping everyday people make their own small fortune on eBay®.

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