Please - suggestions how to sell...
 

I want to sell a LOT of stuff in my garage. Planning for the near future when I can't utilize most of the 'stuff' in the garage. Bunch of hand tools, power tools, auto tools, storage cases, tool rolling cabinets, garden equip, odds&ends of screws, nails etc etc.

Don't want my kids to have to deal with it when I'm gone (you know...). I'd prefer others to have them in new hands and make use. NOT looking to make big$$$, but want new users of this stuff.

Not sure how to publicize, like on TOTV. I DO NOT want bunches of folks coming and nickel/dime it all. Prefer a smaller number of folks who are REALLY interested. Not worthy to have a 3rd party do it.

Any thoughts? thx.

Garage sale, definitely. there are places where you can advertise them; the Daily Sun usually has a fair number of them. I agree about the third party people: IMO the "garage sale by owner" sales (garage, yard, estate, etc.) are infinitely preferable to the ones brokered by the professionals, who tend to price things as high as possible to increase their commission.

Let me know the date and time scheduled and I'll definitely show up.

The only way to get a decent price is to generate some competition. Maybe consider an informal auction for everything at once. Take photos and advertise.

We had a garage sale up north. I was amazed at how much I got rid of but I was equally amazed at how little I made. Is your main goal to get rid of it or is it to make some money?

We go to all estate/garage sales on Fridays, and your stuff sounds it like it would be a dream for all the men out there, my husband included.

If you are willing to do some work and make a few bucks- garage sale. It would draw a crowd ( I would come).

If you want to save the work and make less money - advertise it as a package with a set price here and on Craigslist.

Tools sell so either way will work.

Never invite to your home anyone from Craig's List. Have a garage sell with low, low, prices if you want to get rid of it. When I moved here I traded my tools that I didn't want to haul down here for labor to load U-packs and for hauling large trash away, it was a win, win for all involved. If you need any repairs around the house offer your tools as payment.

Today I learned that Craigslist still exists :shocked:

post on Nextdoor.com

We rented a two-ton dumpster and filled it to the top. Sure, there were perfectly good things in there but one thing we are running low on is time. We're aging every day. Any small profit in selling a few items wasn't worth our time. We did our death cleaning asking ourselves with each item.. what in the word are our kids going to do with this? We didn't want to burden them. I have an empty attic and some empty cabinets here in TV. Even taking that approach was a lot of work but we have no regrets. It is all behind us now.

I’m sure you have some nuggets in there. But overall it’s not as valuable as you think it is.
Garage sale would be my recommendation. Sell what you can in one day. Then donate to a thrift store of rent a dumpster.
Coming from a guy who had a garage full of tools of all sorts.

Have a $1-$20 tool garage sale (yeah I know you spent $200 for that tool that is now not being used) Your goal is to get rid of it so kids don’t have to deal with it. People buying can use it which is your second goal. Everything gone and money for some nice dinners or new hobby. Third goal accomplished. Advertise here and on NextDoor with some pictures.Second sale for what is left $1-$5 or just $1 with BOGO. Goal is for it to be gone. Your kids will be grateful. I’m having to deal with hoarder home now that parents left me. Please don’t do this to kids in 60’s and 70’s they don’t have energy either.

Better solution is have FREE garage sale. You don’t have to pay for dumpster and everything is gone to someone that will use it. We advertise for neighbor on NextDoor and everything was taken! From a 68 year old “kid” having to deal with parent hoarding you get my parent award!

know how you feel. Gave away all my tools to people i trained over 40 years and dumped the rest in a dumpster including my beloved tanks and rebreather. Left it all behind. Needed the finality of that closure.

Wait until the snowbirds retun in Octber or November. Garage sale it then. Christmas gifts for the handyman.

Advertise it for free on Nextdoor and it will be gone in a heartbeat. Or bring it to UCC at The Villages in March for our Spring Yard Sale

Post on brownwood or Rolling Acres Woodshop. You will get plenty of takers I believe.

I had a similar situation with my parents home. I hired an auction company who cleaned out everything. They sold everything and gave us the money after their commission.

Just one thought, we have had several friends pass and leave wife to clear out garage. Have helped them all to determine what was worth selling and donating. One thing I have done is take old tools and bags to TV high school for kids in the construction program. Explain that some tools are reeeeal old but they are grateful and they say old is better than none that some kids have. Just a thought.

I agree. Chances are, you might make ten cents on the dollar and be left with lots of stuff. Why not just give it away? Now, do you want it to be acquired by people in The Villages who are perhaps more trustworthy or by people who can’t afford it and will use it or by people who will immediately resell it or by drug users who will take your tools to pawn shops and try to get a few bucks for another fix? Do you want a few people at a time stopping by? Do you want cars parked all down your street and around the block? Things you need to decide.

If what you have is mainly woodworking tools, you might try going to the big Villages woodworking shop on Rolling Acres road next to the driving range. That club has lots of members, and they know their way around tools. Ask some of the members for advice. Maybe they’d like an opportunity to come get free tools. Like a couple hours one day. Or maybe they’d come pick up everything and see that it is distributed for you to good homes.

Or, find out where the Villages grounds workers park and go. There and offer them free tools. I’m sure plenty of them know how to use tools but can’t afford good ones. They would be really grateful and happy.

Or, you can find a company that picks up things like this all day all over and resells them. What is it worth to save yourself the aggravation and let one truck come and get it all at once and not have to worry about what they do with it?

You could stop by Habitat for Humanity and ask the people there for advice. They know the handymen who fix things and build things for people who don’t have much. Your free tools could be a real blessing for them.

Check with the kids...
 

I would ask your kids if they want anything, first. My grandson has already laid claim to my tools, and everything else in the garage,... and the granddaughters
have picked out stuff in the house that they would like to "remember me by"...lol

yI have had numerous garage sales and never advertised. Why give the Sun the money? Just put out signs, preferably on Thurs, Fri or Sat. Best if you can coordinate with others. I find the best time is in October when snowbirds are coming and before the holidays.

The easiest way to get rid of things in a hurry is to put them out by the road and label them 'FREE'—no need to do it all at once. Every Friday, you can put things out, and they will vanish quickly. Unless you think the effort to label everything with a price tag is worthwhile, this is something that has worked for me. I had anticipated a bulk pickup of garbage at the roadside, but everything seems to have a value to someone.

Check with Animal rescue groups. They conserve money and yet need simple things like tools. There is one in Webster Cat Meow Sanctuary. Sheltering Hands and Quality of Life Rehab and Foster in Ocala. Donations highly accepted and appreciated.

If you don't want bunches of people then good luck. Hope you have success

As others have mentioned, the "best way" to sell or get rid of the stuff in your garage depends on what's most important to you.

You wrote "I'd prefer others to have them in new hands and make use. NOT looking to make big $$$, but want new users of this stuff"

Another user suggested Craigslist. In my opinion that's not a good suggestion--Facebook Marketplace has completely replaced Craigslist in terms where most people go to buy / sell used items.

Assuming you've got some items of real value that you'd like to sell, take a half dozen pics of each item & post them on Facebook Marketplace. Before posting them I'd suggest searching on FB marketplace first and see what others are pricing similar items for. But be aware that for every 10 people that contact you, probably only one person is really interested. If you've got a a lot of stuff it will be a somewhat time consuming project.

Alternatively, some non-profits will send out a couple of guys in a van and pick up all the stuff in one go if you're willing to donate it.

Or as others have mentioned, just leave stuff at the end of your driveway...someone will stop and pick it up.

Kudos for proactively trying to take care of this & not leaving it as a task for your kids to do!

Please consider donating your items to a Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Habitat ReStores are not ordinary thrift stores. They accept donations of most tools and construction materials so that they can be reused instead of going into a landfill. You can find more info at habitat.org/restores . I believe there are several ReStores in our area in Leesburg, Ocala, and Eustis. Your generosisty can be a blessing to others.

Yes, this. Do not forget that selling to someone even a low price might make someone’s day. Saw that a lot with our yard sale up north.

We had our last garage sale about 15 years ago in TV. I said never again. Two miserable days in my book for the few dollars we took in. Now we give it to Bargains and Blessings or set it outside and put a free sign on it. But to each their own…

I came to the Villages with a full woodshop of tools. Just recently decided to move on. First thing I did was to post on Nextdoor all of the big equipment (table saws, drill press etc.) sold all of it in one day to people mostly out of TV. Secondly, I grouped thinks together like claps, screw drivers, chisels etc. Have a table of free stuff. Price things low. Good luck

When my in-laws passed away within 3 weeks of each other, my wife as the lone child had to deal with lots of stuff. The garage was jam-packed with tools and "stuff", I took what little I needed but there was still plenty. Anyway, we found a guy who came over and he offered $600 for the lot and he'd broom clean the garage when done.

We took the deal and never looked back, saved us a ton of effort. I'm not sure if there's an outfit around here or not, but it's worth looking into now for you, seems to me,
Good luck, bud.

How to sell
 

The best way to sell is on Craigslist on Facebook. It does much better than Nextdoor.
I have sold lots of stuff that way. Much better price then haggling with people at garage sale.
You post items and people contact you if interested.

I know Del Webb just north of The Villages and Spruce Creek across from Walmart on 441 have community yard sales once a year. Both are a true gated communities and there is typically at least a half mile of cars waiting at both entrances ready for the gates to swing open.

A garage sale creates a lot of customers here, especially during the high season.

Garage sale.
Price up items of value, or tool lots. Everything else $1.
Watch out for light fingers, even down the $1 end.

"Never invite to your home anyone from Craig's List" .Not sure why you say this. I have had success selling several items on Craigslist. I do not reply to the people that want to send a "cashiers check".

I have had good luck with Facebook Marketplace.

Facebook Marketplace
 

I've had good luck using Facebook Marketplace

I also have sold a lot through Facebook Marketplace. If some thing has some value, you might want to sell some of the bigger ticket items that way. You can always end with,” Cash only..porch pick up in the Village of …”
Then you just leave the item on your porch and they’ll leave the cash.

The Villages charter high school has a trade school program for Construction. Every year they graduate kids that are just starting out and would probably love to have toolboxes and some starter tools. Just a thought. Maybe you could donate some things to the kids?