Part 2: How to hold a Garage Sale during covid 19 (auction/moving/foreclosures)

Here is part 1

Here are other ideas

Links on the side indicating "social safety" or social issues could hold information about Covid-era related themes and topics.

Note: I have worked as a medical person.  My spouse works on the front line, though not in a busy heavily traumatized area.  So awareness of cleanliness has been in our professional day to day life.

This process should be easier and more local than e-bay sales.

*Put all items to sell in a plastic see-through bag or cover large items with shower curtain.  Put a piece of tape on the bag.  The tape represents a possible price range.  Orange = under 1$, Blue = between 1-5$, Green = between 5-10$, Purple = between 10$-20$, Red = between 20$-40$, Yellow = around 50$, Black = Above 75$, Pink = Above 100$, Silver = Any given price

*Put a number on each given bag.  Put a little description on the bag as needed (mold stain 1', hair dryer works, size small etc.)

*Ensure the customer's safety by stating that items were thoroughly washed, were not touched for seven days and/or any other safe decontamination process.

*Set aside a basket filled with scrap paper, or number/item listed papers.  Set aside a box filled with crayons/pens/pencils/chalk (which the customer may keep.....basically clean new untouched writing items.....even if break apart a set of color pencils)

*Customer comes to the auction one at a time.  They fill out customer auction contact (phone, email, name, identification required).  Ask ALL customers if they would like to participate in "buying the rest" of the items (items not paid for in given time frame/items not sold/other issues).  They may participate in 10% of items, 25% of items, 50% of items, 100% of items.  "The rest of the items" may start at 1.00 a piece (plus 1.00 per 10-50 under 1.00 items)....  each customer is given a AUCTION NUMBER CARD for records.  Keep a record of their location and ensure that their information will be dis guarded when all customers have paid and/or people purchasing the "rest of the items" comes to pick up remaining items.  Ensure that the customer understands the RULES for the silent auction:

Customer receives paper and/or sees display of rules (example):

--Your given auction number is __________

--List items on the list/scratch paper along with price you would like to pay

--highest bidder is listed as well as their number on the list sheet behind the display

--Daily/weekly mailing will come regarding the current prices and conditions at hand (just a plain text document, excel and/or text would be given)....can opt out if want no major contact.

--Customers must pay within 24  hours (other time frame) after auction ends.  If payment is not given people participating in, "The rest of items" will make purchase within 2 days (a little bit longer time frame) after the end of the auction.

--All contact information will be dis guarded after sales are final 3 days after auction ends. No contact information will be stored (signature required in front of buyer and seller regarding privacy rights).

--payment must come in correct change (no giving a 20$ bill and getting back 2.76$...17.24$ must be made in exact change) given in an envelope or written local check.

--Customers understand that although they could not "touch" or get close to the item before purchase, they will only have to take the item "as is" (including the touch of certain fabrics).

--Trade potential with some purchases and/or at the end of the sale. (This is due to lack of employment for some individuals during Covid 19).  Trading can only occur after most items are removed as items may end up donated.

--No one under the influence, under age 16, showing covid symptoms (including temp and mild respiratory changes) within 40 days, heavily around covid persons, travel to high risk area and/or high risk potential may participate in auction (exceptions and adjustments can be made if explain)

--Stay safe by wearing a mask during each visit, wearing gloves, social distance, boost personal health and washing hands (seller and buyer signs agreement that all is safe)

-NOTE: YOU ARE PURCHASING FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK IN HEALTHCARE and CARE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH (if this applies to your given situation)

--any other personal note (maybe a quote? maybe a bible verse? maybe a thought question?...)

*Set a time frame to hold the "silent auction"....2 hours? one afternoon? one day? 6am-6pm each day for two weeks except weekend activity? one month for 2 hours each day?  The choice is yours and you won't have to pay e-bay to set it up and take various pictures.....just personal notebook records.

*Customer goes to each item and lists the number and the price they would like to pay.  After all items are selected, slip of paper is given under a "bank teller style" purchase area.  The "sales person" determines what the latest high price happens to be.  The listed numbers and optional descriptions are given as well as the latest price change.  The price change is listed along side the

*It is certainly possible to list these things on ebay or craigslist and any other listing site or local business website.  The choice is yours.....it is just pretty basic to do things from a basic notebook, email, excel and display system.  Don't make things too complicated, just keep things safe.

*It is possible to have a "demonstration hour" if selling a lot of items that should work.....a butter whip machine, a baby walker, a lawn mower etc.  What about "books" and what is inside....surely a person cannot look through the pages, **set aside an area display table where someone flips through books for the customer while customer watches**?  What about inside Jewelry boxes?  What about inside dressers (make sure those drawers work)? Perhaps there can be a way for customers to properly ask to see the item through a display tent (put potential display or touch items in separate area)?

*ALL PURCHASES AND INTERACTIONS should take place in a safe manner.....behind the "bank teller style" tent??? With a full PPE gown n' mask?

*continue to provide extra safety measures like small businesses.  Wash table, extra masks, mini spray bottles with solution, lysol sponge for each item touched....seller regularly spray disinfects areas....things of that sort.

I know this all looks complicated, but really just monitor touch surface areas and keep the social distance measures and things should be fine.