Tips for Garage Sales

Omokoroa Cyberlink is running its Seventh Community Wide Garage Sale, on Saturday 18 October 2025 from 9am – 1pm.  Not only are signs provided but there is lots of advertising and many customers  come from across the Bay of Plenty to make a day of it.  

1️⃣ Plan Ahead

• Pick a date and time
• Choose a weekend with good weather.
• Saturdays between 8 am – 12 pm are ideal.
• Avoid long weekends when people are likely away.
• Get signs ready to advertise – before and on the day itself

2️⃣ Gather and Sort Items
Declutter room by room — kitchen, wardrobes, shed, garage.
Ask yourself:  Have I used this in the last year?  Would I buy this again?
 
Group into categories:
✅ Household & kitchenware
✅ Toys & kids’ items
✅ Books, games
✅ Tools & garden gear
✅ Clothing & accessories
✅ Sports
 
Keep a “free” or “bargain box” for low-value items — people love a rummage!


3️⃣ Price Everything Clearly
Use coloured price dots or stickers — easy to see at a glance.

Typical pricing guide:
  Small items: 50c – $2
  Clothing: $2 – $10
  Homeware & tools: $5 – $20
  Furniture: $10 – $50+

Tip: Round prices to the nearest dollar — it saves time and coins.

Bundle deals: e.g. “3 for $5” or “fill a bag for $10” to move volume.
 
Not everybody likes to ask prices and looking around the pricing you are asking for will help people understand your expectations.
 

4️⃣ Advertise Well
Use multiple channels:

• Facebook local community pages
• Local noticeboards or newsletters
• Eye-catching roadside signs (large, simple, and legible)
• Tell friends and neighbours — word of mouth works best!
• If you are in Omokoroa list  the sale on www.Cyberlink.nz

Include:

• Date & time
• Address
• Highlight key items (e.g. “tools, toys, furniture, collectibles”)
• A few photos

5️⃣ Set Up Smartly

• Display items on tables, shelves, or boxes so they’re easy to browse.
• Group similar things together.
• Keep power cords handy if selling electronics (so buyers can test them).
• Play some background music — it creates a friendly vibe.
• Place balloons, bunting or flags to draw attention to your Sale on the day

6️⃣ Be Ready for Buyers

• Have plenty of change (coins and $5 notes).
• A money belt or apron is great for looking after the cash.
• Consider offering payment by online transfer for larger value items. Have your account number to hand on a poster, so people can see you have that option.
• Smile and chat — friendly sellers make for a more enjoyable experience all round
• People love to negotiate and grab a bargain, so its good to think in advance if you are willing to take offers.

7️⃣ After the Sale
Check out this advice, should you or shouldn’t you donate it?  If it didn’t sell, that could be because others do not want it either.  Think carefully before passing on your problem to a nonprofit. This youtube link shares Top 3 items that can cause issue for charities (in the USA but here in NZ too) when the charity has to pay to send to landfill because they are not good enough to be sold.       

1. Donations:  if desirable and good quality.   Donations can go to : Waipuna Hospice in Frase Cove (Mon - Fri 9:00-16:00)
2. Recycling: If it didn’t sell & come to the end of its life in that form. Break it down for recycling into various materials and most can be recycled  via your household kerbside bin. 
3. Plastics clean, remove any small lids and place into landfill (# 1, 2 & 5)
4. Paper & Cardboard - flattened corrugated cardboard, paper including light card, magazines, newspapers and egg cartons. (not contaminated card with food waste e.g. – pizza boxes)
5. Aluminium Cans
6. Glass cleaned  and into the blue bin and lids removed to landfill
7. Soft plastic:  clean, dry and empty. Closest to Omokoroa is Woolworths in Bethlehem.
8. Polystyrene - Can be returned to Mitre 10 Tauranga, as you enter the trade area outside, on the first corner there is a collection pen area
9. Landfill – break up and place into red kerbside collections bin

 

• Return borrowed tables and take down signs.

 

• Then sit back, enjoy the extra space (and a few extra dollars), and feel great about doing something positive for both your home and the environment.

💰 Quick Checklist
 
✅ Pick date & check weather
✅ Sort, clean, and price items
✅ Advertise online & locally
✅ Prepare float & signage
✅ Create a friendly, tidy setup
✅ If good quality, consider donating left over items (but think twice about the clothes, old electrical and books)