10 Fastest-Selling Items at Garage Sales—and What You're Better Off Donating

Planning a successful garage or estate sale is more than just putting price tags on items and hoping for the best. Taking inventory of your belongings and thinking about what will sell and what won’t is just the start. From there, proper preparation work, including knowing how to display items for optimal resale potential, will go a long way.

Bob Lang, Blue Moon Estate Sales brand president, says even determining whether a sale is worth the effort should be considered. “When assessing if a sale is worthwhile, it is best to consider the total number of items, the demand for those items in the current market, the condition of goods, and the rarity of those items for current or future value,” he explains.

While “garage sale” and “estate sale” are often terms used interchangeably, Lang, who specializes in the latter, says there are distinct differences between the two. Estate sales are typically large cleanouts of entire homes, businesses, rental properties, or office spaces, where everything must be sold. That being said, specific learnings apply to both categories, particularly when it comes to what sells and what doesn’t. So whichever category you find yourself in, be sure to consider Lang’s following advice by sticking to what works (and avoiding what doesn’t).

10 Items You Should Always Sell at a Garage Sale

Sifting through your belongings to ensure you’re only putting up for sale items that have the potential to sell will not only save you time and energy, but also allow the items you’re displaying to stand out. Lang says the following items sell the best with estate sale shoppers, so they likely do at garage sales as well. Highlight these items at the forefront of your garage sale, and they could entice shoppers to take a closer look.

1. Kitchenware, such as appliances, dishware, and cookware
2. Vintage clothing and accessories
3. Brass decor and holiday items
4. Books
5. Yard items and tools
6. Unique items, like wedding dresses or autographed memorabilia
7. Vintage toys
8. Bouclé and midcentury furniture
9. Candlesticks
10. Brand names, like Pyrex, Le Creuset
    

Items to Donate or Toss

A proper editing of items before your estate or garage sale can not only save you time when it comes to tagging, sorting, and the like, but also can help avoid the true gems from becoming hidden in a sea of knickknacks and other unsellable pieces.

Lang recommends skipping any damaged items that are unusable or unsafe. Unless a damaged item has historical significance or a unique story, it should be donated or tossed before the sale. “Personal or sentimental items such as family photos, yearbooks, and journals might not hold value for shoppers, but can be priceless to loved ones,” the estate sale pro says. “We recommend setting these aside before the sale begins.”

Preparing for Your Sale

Don’t limit your sale to a packed room of tables; instead, give your items the breathing space they deserve. “Spread out to give shoppers room to roam, ensure top-value and trending items are easy to spot, and stage the space aesthetically,” says Lang. Group categories together, so all your kitchen items, outdoor equipment, and decor are in separate areas.

If you’re looking to get top dollar for your items, online previews using professional photography can go a long way in achieving that aim. “Professionalism makes a difference,” says Lang, who recognizes that letting go of personal items can be an emotional situation. Hiring a company that can help carry the load can be beneficial when you’re downsizing or clearing out your belongings.

Display Tips That Can Help You Get Top Dollar

For a smaller, end-of-season garage sale, follow Lang’s pro tips, and you might find yourself making it an annual tradition.

• Show off complete collections. While cluttered looks should be avoided, it’s essential to group complete collections together to maximize their appeal. For example, china sets, silverware, crystal, and collectibles will all bring a more showstopping effect when displayed altogether.
  
• Highlight stories. When possible, jot down interesting, historical, or cultural stories behind items on a notecard displaying the price. This background can help shoppers realize the treasure they’ve just stumbled upon rather than letting it slip by unknowingly.
  
• Do your research. Just as important as it is to do your research before shopping at a garage or estate sale, so too is doing your research before hosting one. Researching both the value and history of your items can help ensure that your pieces are reasonably priced and well-positioned to sell.
  
• Partner with professionals. It can be tempting to go it alone, but Lang says teaming up with the pros, as Blue Moon Estate Sales, can not only make the estate sale process smoother, but also more profitable. Professional companies will unlock additional means of promotion, while also handling the grueling work of organization, categorization, research, and pricing. In a word, they deal with the hassle, so you don’t have to.