Honor System Garage Sale

Have a bunch of stuff you want to get rid of but not sure you want to go through the hassle of a giving up a whole day to staff a garage sale? Consider an honor system garage sale. Goals for this type of sale are to get things out of your house and into the hands of folks who could use them. Benefits are not having to pay someone to haul things away, not having to sit out at a sale all day and you may actually make some money!

Follow these steps to set up your sale, provide a cashless payment method and go out and enjoy your weekend day!

Pick A Date & Spread the Word

Plan ahead and post your intended “sale” on sites such as Buy Nothing Groups, Facebook, NextDoor, Craigslist, etc. Be sure to list the start time!

At a minimum put up a sign a few days in advance. The less foot traffic your location gets, the more important good signage and advertising is. 

Organize the Layout

Just like any garage sale- grouping items by type helps folks see what’s available and find what they need. Blankets, towels, tarps and folding tables work well for creating sections and keeping items clean. 

Self Pricing – Honor System

The idea here is to allow folks to take what they truly need and pay according to their means.

Nothing needs to be priced, or you can tag larger items with a suggested price, and/or have a overall suggested price guide – clothing $2, toys $1. A free section is always a great addition as well. 

Digital Payment

Create signage in multiple places that includes digital payment method(s). Cashless apps like Venmo, Zelle, and PayPal let you generate a QR code for your signs or put your username. In addition, you can include a money jar or a mailbox for any cash donations. 

Have a Donation Plan

Just like any garage sale, there will most likely be leftovers to get rid of. Have a donation or discard plan. You worked hard to get the stuff OUT of the house – don’t let it come back IN!