Quick answer
Hold your moving sale two to four weeks before the move, on a Saturday morning. Price everything clearly and low enough to sell, advertise online and with large street signs a few days ahead, put furniture near the curb, and keep plenty of small bills. Schedule a donation pickup for whatever is left.
In this guide
Is a garage sale before moving worth it?
A garage sale before moving makes sense when you have enough to fill a driveway, at least a few larger items that draw shoppers, and a free weekend two or more weeks before moving day. It turns things you were not going to move into cash, and it puts a firm deadline on your sorting.
It is less worthwhile if you only have a carload of small items or your schedule is already tight. In that case, sell the two or three valuable pieces one at a time and donate the rest. Either way, do the sorting first. Our guide to decluttering before a move walks through what to keep and what to let go.
When to hold a moving sale
- Two to four weeks before the move. Early enough to arrange donation pickups afterward, late enough that you know what is not coming with you
- Saturday morning. Serious shoppers come early, so open when you say you will and expect a few people before that
- Not on a holiday weekend, when many neighbors are away
- With a backup date in case of rain
Before you pick the day, check the rules. Some cities require a permit or limit how many sales a household can hold each year, and many homeowners associations have their own restrictions on sales and signs. A quick call to the city clerk or the association office settles it.
What sells at a moving sale and what does not
| Usually sells | Usually does not |
|---|---|
| Solid furniture: dressers, tables, bookcases, patio sets | Worn or stained upholstered furniture |
| Tools, lawn mowers, and garden equipment | Outdated electronics and old computers |
| Kids' clothes, toys, bikes, and strollers | Most adult clothing |
| Kitchenware and small appliances that work | Anything broken, chipped, or missing parts |
| Sports and exercise gear | Used mattresses and pillows |
| Books, movies, and games priced low | Personalized or very dated decor |
One caution on children's products: check cribs, car seats, strollers, and similar items against the Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall list before you put them out. According to the CPSC, it is illegal to sell a recalled product, and that applies to individuals holding yard sales too.
Sale finished and the house lighter? Get a free, no-obligation quote for moving what you decided to keep.
How to price garage sale items
The goal is an empty driveway, not top dollar. Shoppers at a sale expect prices well below what the same item costs in a store, and anything that does not sell becomes one more thing to haul away.
- Price every item. Many shoppers will not ask, and you will be too busy to answer
- Use round numbers so making change is easy
- Price by group where you can: one sign for all books, another for all kids' clothes
- Research the big items. Look at what similar used furniture and tools are listed for locally in online classifieds, then price yours a little under
- Expect to negotiate. Decide your lowest acceptable price for the larger pieces ahead of time
- Bundle to move small items faster
- Mark down as the day goes on. Announce half price for the last hour or two
If you are tempted to hold out for a higher price on something, ask what it would cost you in time and truck space to move it instead.
How to advertise a yard sale
To advertise a yard sale well, start three or four days ahead and use more than one channel.
- Online classifieds and neighborhood groups. Post the date, hours, address, and a list of the best items with a few photos. Repost the evening before
- The words "moving sale." They tell shoppers that the furniture is included and the prices are meant to move
- Street signs. Thick black letters on bright poster board, with the address and an arrow, at the main intersections leading to your street. Fewer words read better from a car
- Community bulletin boards at grocery stores, libraries, and community centers
- Your neighbors. A multi-family sale draws a bigger crowd, and they may want to join
Follow local rules on where signs can go, and take every one of them down the same afternoon.
Moving sale tips for setting up on sale day
These moving sale tips keep the morning calm and the line moving.
- Stage the night before. Price and box everything in the garage so setup takes minutes, not hours
- Put furniture and large items near the street. They are your advertising
- Use tables. Borrow folding tables or lay boards across sawhorses. Items at waist height are easier to browse than items on the ground
- Group like with like: kitchen, tools, toys, books, linens. Hang clothing on a rack or a rope if you can
- Run an extension cord so buyers can test lamps and appliances
- Bring change. Start with plenty of small bills and coins, and keep the money on you in an apron or a pouch, not in a box on a table
- Have bags, boxes, and old newspaper for wrapping breakables
- Lock the house and keep anything not for sale out of sight. Do not let strangers inside to use the bathroom or try things on
- Recruit a helper so one person can handle money while the other answers questions and helps load
Selling furniture before moving and handling what is left
Furniture that is too good for sale-day prices can be listed on its own. Selling furniture before moving works best when you post clear photos and measurements, state that it is pickup only, and give a firm date it must be gone by. Start those listings a couple of weeks before the sale so there is time for buyers to arrange a truck.
For everything else, the rule is simple: nothing goes back in the house.
- Schedule a charity pickup or plan a drop-off for the afternoon of the sale or the next business day. See where to donate furniture and household goods
- Put a box marked free at the curb for the last hour
- Bag what is left for trash or recycling
With the extras gone, you have a clear picture of what is actually moving. Use our packing estimator to count boxes, then request a free quote. Allpoints Moving Services handles local and long-distance moves, and quotes carry no obligation.
Key takeaways
- Hold the sale two to four weeks before the move, on a Saturday morning
- Check city and homeowners association rules on permits and signs first
- Price everything, price it to sell, and mark down late in the day
- Advertise online and with large, simple street signs
- Arrange a donation pickup in advance so nothing goes back inside
