Now that you know how to throw a stellar garage sale, how about knowing how to hunt and profit off someone else’s stellar garage sale? The right items bought at garage sales are often resold for an average profit of 462% each. As long as you know what to look out for, and who to sell it to, flipping garage sales (and yard sales, and flea markets!) is a clever and easy way to really line your pockets.
Flipping Garage Sales: Buying
Old or vintage stuff like vinyl records, film cameras, old video game systems and classic movie posters are a great find. Never underestimate nostalgia.
A vintage remote control from the 80s: bought for $20 bucks and sold for $250.
New or in demand things like fad/trend items, high-end electronics and high-end power tools. People often buy them excitedly, tire of them fast and look to get rid of them quickly.
A robot vacuum in perfect condition: bought for $20 bucks and sold for $150 online.
Automotive components like hubcaps, chrome bumpers and original parts. There’s a huge market out there, and a ton of components just hiding away in garages.
A set of 1970’s seatbelt buckles: bought for $50 bucks and sold for $275 at a car meet.
Bulk buys like baby clothes, books, DVDs and box sets. Buy them in high volumes, and then choose the right grouping for reselling. That brings in maximum money.
A box of random books: bought for $25 bucks and 3 first editions inside it sold for $200 each.
Instruments sell low at garage sales because there’s no more sentimentality attached to it anymore. They sell high online because of need, interest and perception.
A tarnished but working saxophone: bought for $30 and sold for $275 online.
Sports equipment is an expensive investment, so it holds resale value. It’s dumped for cheap to make room for newer equipment, but perception and need leads to a high demand online.
A set of golf clubs used twice: bought for $50 bucks and sold for $200.
Flipping Garage Sales: Selling
Post it online and you’re nearly guaranteed a great return. People are voracious when it comes to getting what they want from internet classifieds and auction houses. Try listing your gold mines on craigslist, Kijiji, eBay and VarageSale. Read our tips for posting things online.
Copywriting skills are important for getting your stuff noticed. Make a joke, insert some personality into your listing, and better yet, spin a good story. Tell potential buyers that it was your son’s second baseball bat, but first time hitting homers with one. Or how the bed you’re selling helped you sleep so well you maintained a 4.0 grade average in college.
Flipping Garage Sales: Packing/Shipping
If you’re going to be shipping your items out, you’ll want to find the right mix between saving on packaging supplies and making sure your goods are protected. Read our tips for packing items for eBay and other online auction places.
Boxes are called staples for a reason. They’re the most common shipping container out there. Just be careful of dimensional weight delivery charges, as they can sneak up on you fast.
Void Fill is a must for protecting things during delivery. Bubble cushion and foam are your best choices, but packing peanuts are a good alternative as well.
Bubble Mailers are great for smaller items that don’t need huge boxes. They’re lined with bubble cushion to protect what’s inside, and cost a lot less to ship.
E-Commerce Boxes are a fun choice if you’re becoming a repeat online seller. You’ll make a great impression, potentially save a little on shipping, and make a name for yourself.
Get ready to astound family (and stun rivals) with your newfound garage sale flipping skills. When you know what you’re doing, it can be extremely fun and profitable. And when you’re ready to ship things out, we’re here to help you package everything up just right. Happy flipping!
Stats Source: Statistic Brain, GarageSaleCoach
