Helpful Information and Downloads for Conducting a
Neighborhood Garage Sale
Neighborhood Garage Sale
Planning a Neighborhood Garage Sale
Identify your neighborhood, create a map, and have the addresses available for mailings.
- Google maps and Publisher were used to create our map. In addition to branding Tommy on the map; we've also created space for Just Listed/Sold or other type of ad.
- Create address list for mailings. Ntreis ~ Realist provides the search tools needed to locate and create this list. Most mailing service will require you to provide a excel-type list for mailings. Or print your own labels and mail first class. Both can be done with Ntreis and Realist.
Create a Neighborhood Garage Sale sign up form and link to your website.
- Wufoo.com is free and offers great tutorials for creating your sign up form.
Have a plan for organizing the Garage Sale information as it come in.
- A table created in MS Word allows us to organize all of the information as we receive it and later utilize it to create 2 different lists.
Order anything else you might need that takes time to receive, like a Garage Sale banner.
Get Set...
60 Day Action Plan For Neighborhood Garage Sale
- Keep in mind bulk mail delivery is unpredictable and can take 2 - 3 weeks. There are several purveyors that print and mail first class.
- Most wait until it gets closer to the sale to sign up. But be prepared to act on early registration. Collect and organize your information as it comes in. Follow-up with phone call or email. That's what this is all about, touching your farm!
Day 30 - The 2nd post card is sent 30 days out.
Day 45 - Garage Sale is 2 weeks away.
Day 45 - Garage Sale is 2 weeks away.
- Call or email all participants and give a progress report on garage sale.
- Place ads in local newspaper. Select run dates for the week or days prior to and including your sale. Varies with different papers. Most include an online ad.
Day 50 - Prepare signs
- 1 Sign per home in sale (card stock, short stake, card stock squares to secure sign with staple, staple gun)
- Additional signs for directing traffic down streets with garage sale (same as above but draw arrow on sign)
- Signsfor corners of neighborhood to draw traffic in (reusable corrugated signs announcing Neighborhood Garage Sale / Saturday / Time)
Day 57 - Deadline for registering for Garage Sale.
- Finalize Garage Sale List and prepare maps. Print enough maps for each participant to hand out (10 - 20) and possibly some in boxes on corners.
- Place ad on CraigsList
- Call everyone in Garage Sale
- Give final number of participants
- Remind them to get Garage Sale Permit from city. (Put a link to the site on your website.)
- Tell where and when your advertisement will run and suggest they place another garage sale ad in Craigslist to boost traffic.
- Their sign and maps will be delivered ____________.
And Go...
Day 60 - Garage Sale
- Prior to start of sale place directional signs throughout neighborhood.
- Maps in corner information boxes
- Visit all Garage Sales to introduce yourself and get feedback
- Tommy gives away free hot dogs; Find something you are comfortable with and "do it"!
- At the close of the sale collect all directional signs, corner signs, information boxes, and your banner.
- While your visiting the garage sales ask for video testimonails.
Day 62 - Mail follow-up letter and call for feedback and thank everyone for participating.
