At StorageTreasures.com, we always say, "A storage auction hunter is only as good as his ability to get rid of stuff at a profit." For our members to be successful auction hunters and to stay in this game, they have to know how and where to sell their items at a profit, and also how to do so as efficiently as possible. Of all of the ways to get rid of items purchased at an auction, the garage sale is king (also called "yard sales"). So with that, we'll be talking more and more about garage sales in coming months as we help our members move from being

Garage sales are informal events where individuals sell used goods from private homes. Most of the approximately 40,000 garage sales per week are held on weekends, and the average sale sees 40-60 shoppers during a given day. Garage sales are known by many names, including yard sales, rummage sales, tag sales, lawn sales, attic sales, moving sale, garbage sale, or even junk sales. Most often, items offered at a garage sale are unwanted items from the household conducting the sale. Most items for sale are used or like-new.

To promote their listings, individuals will post ad hoc signage throughout their surrounding area to direct drivers and pedestrians to their sale. In addition to traditional media like classified advertising, yard sales are being promoted more and more online these days on websites like Craig's List, Facebook and Twitter are also used.

Typically a permit is not needed to stage a garage sale, but more and more municipalities are limiting the number of days a particular property can stage garage sale events during a given year, as well as designating certain days on the calendar where garage sales are permitted within city limits. Business licenses are rarely need to stage a sale for occasional sellers.