Organize a yard sale or garage sale with AI

Why use AI for yard sale planning?

A yard sale or garage sale is all about ending up with less stuff and more money. They’re a great way to declutter and part with rarely used items like that rowing machine you swore wouldn’t just collect dust in the basement. But organizing a yard sale can feel stressful. Use AI like a strategic partner to plan your event, categorize and price items, advertise your sale, and learn about local regulations.

Achieve the extraordinary with

Copilot in Microsoft 365

Seamlessly tackle your to-dos and track budgets, projects, and calendars with AI-powered features in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more.

Try now for free

Getting started with your garage sale

There’s more to a garage sale (or a yard sale) than putting things on a table and selling them. Depending on where you live, you may need to acquire a permit to host a sale in the first place. You’ll also need to determine where you’ll host this sale: on your yard, in your garage, on your driveway, or some combination. And then, of course, you’ll need to decide on a date.

Learning this information and making these decisions is easy with generative AI prompts like these:

• I live in Cleveland, Ohio. Do I need to acquire a permit from the city to host a yard sale?
• I plan to throw a yard sale one weekend this coming April. Based on the weather history for the month of April in Champaign, Illinois, what weekend should I hold the sale if I want it to be outside?
• I don’t have access to an outdoor space. Are there any indoor spaces like a community center that I could rent to hold an indoor yard sale in Cary, North Carolina?

Advertise with AI

Once you’ve got the day and location of your event solidified, it’s time to let people know. After all, a yard sale without customers is just a display. Use AI as a partner to brainstorm eye-catching advertisements. Try prompts like these to get the word out:

• Make a list of creative taglines for advertising a garage sale.
• I want to advertise my yard sale on social media. Help me come up with a fun image and some copy.
• Where can I advertise that I’m having a garage sale? Make a list for the city of Portland, OR.

Yard sale organization and pricing ideas

In the week (or weeks) leading up to your sale, collect all the items you’d like to part with and make sure they’re clean and functional. Remember that rowing machine? Dust it off and ensure that it works.

Then you’ll need to organize all the items that you’re planning to sell and price them fairly. Use AI prompts to simplify this process:

• I’ve uploaded a list of all the items I plan to sell at my yard sale. Categorize them into groups like clothes, electronics, home goods, and toys.
• Are any of the items I’ve listed considered high-value items that might require different pricing?
• How much do items typically cost at garage sales? Provide lots of examples.

Once you’ve got that figured out, you’ll need to label your items for sale. Make sure your writing is clear; you don’t want someone to mistake a seven for a one. If you still can’t determine how much to ask for something, 10% of the retail price is a good rule of thumb.

Consider donations

When the dust has settled and your yard sale has ended, it’s time to take stock of what’s left and determine what to do with it. Use AI to learn where you can donate items that may benefit others:

• What thrift stores near me are currently accepting donations?
• Where can I donate gently used clothes and workout equipment?

Using AI to organize a yard sale or a garage sale is just one way that everyday AI can help you!