Now that we are (finally) feeling the heat this summer, why not take advantage and host a garage sale this month? If you weren’t able to check spring cleaning off your to-do list last April, this is another great way to get rid of old furniture, electronics, appliances and other items cluttering up your home.
Here are our top three tips for hosting a successful garage sale:
TIP #1: Get organized
Grab a sheet of stickers, a notepad and start taking stock of your inventory. Go room by room and make a keep, toss and sell pile. Once you have all your sell piles, note down your inventory and price as you go with the sheet of stickers. Try to do this at least a few days before your garage sale, so you are not scrambling at the last minute.
TIP #2: Advertise
Don’t just tell your friends and family – go on community Facebook groups and post your event. You can also advertise your garage sale on the local buy and sell sections on Craigslist and Kijiji. A few days before the event, post garage sale flyers around the neighbourhood and on community boards at your local library, community centre and grocer.
TIP #3: Drop off unsold items at the ReStore!
It’s likely not everything from your garage sale will find a new home, but that’s ok! Did you know our Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa ReStores accept all kinds of donations from furniture to appliances to home building materials? Consider supporting our Habitat GO ReStores with your unsold items. We currently have three ReStores in Ottawa: 3 Iber Road in Stittsville, 7 Enterprise Avenue, just off Merivale and 768 Belfast Road at the Train Yards.
Click here for a full list of accepted donations. We also offer pickup for large items – contact donation@habitatgo.com to find out more.
