How to Make Easy Money at Garage Sales and Swap Meets

Do you want to start a lucrative side business? Is lack of finances keeping you from working at home? Do you have an eye for quality? Do you know the thrill of finding a good deal? Then cheer up. You can make great money working at Flea Markets, Swap Meets, and Garage Sales. Best of all, you can start your new business for less than $50. This article will show you how.

Finding Your First Inventory

People can’t buy from you if you don’t have anything to sell. Go through your house and make a list of all the things you don’t use. You will be surprised at how long your list will be. Some of the items for sale can include:

• Gently-used clothing
• Furniture
• Costume Jewelry
• Toys
• Knick-knacks
• Appliances

Give all of these items a good cleaning. No one will buy dirty stuff.

Getting Your First Customers

Now that you have your inventory, it’s time to find your customers. You have two options—and if you’re smart you will use both methods. Plan to sell your merchandise online and in person.

In Person
Do a little research to see how much people pay for items like yours. eBay is a great place to find out. Get small round stickers or tape and put a price on each item. Pick a day for your garage sale. Take out an ad in your local paper or Penny Saver in the ‘garage sale’ section. Or find your local Flea market or swap meet and sign up for a space. There will most likely be a charge for the space. Find out ahead of time.

Arrange your items neatly. Make your space look as close to a store as possible. This makes your items easier to see, and sends the signal that they are more valuable. You will get more money for them.

Online
Everybody knows about eBay. But don’t forget about Craig’s List either. You will want to take clear pictures of your items. Describe them in as much detail as you can. Include size, age, color, and condition.

Again, use both online and in-person selling. Why? For two reasons: 1) You’re marketing to a wider audience, and 2) You will get the best prices possible.

Congratulations, You’re in Business

That is all you need to do to start your own garage sale side business. It really is easier than you think. With just a small investment in time, a little merchandise know-how, and some careful planning, you too can make big money with garage sales.