Number one I don't care for Open Houses. As you never really know what type of people it attracts. And doing at same time of a neighbors Garage Sale? Hmm, NO...

In today's society, it's hard enough to trust my fellow agents will bring a willing and able buyer to the property!!!

My business is to give the best representation to my clients (in this case, Sellers) and that means not just Showing the property to any Joe, Dick and Mary. But to ones that are able to close a transaction!!!

Congested streets, people from out of the immediate neighborhood visiting, "stuff" everywhere... Not sure that would put the listing in the best light...  

I get what you are saying as a way to attract more eyes to the property and perhaps have more people stop into the open house.  I am not sure I would try to do such a thing but it could work if you are able to get buy-in from all of the surrounding neighbors.

You mean everyone around this vacant house listing will bring all their items to the property for the tag sale? As a way to draw folks going through the tables of stuff to come on in and sneak a peek or to get the neighbors familiar with you and the property so they can spread the word about @JanFogg? Is the water on and will all those "vendors" and their customers/family members be wanting to use the bathroom and kids running through the home? "Great location for garage sales" might not be the top item on your list of property features to promote.

For the reasons Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573 has set forth, not at the home you have listed! You could send a postcard to the surrounding home announcing your offer to advertise a neighborhood garage sale and seeking volunteers to organize it. You could then put out open house signs and include it in your ads.

If time is of the essence, not likely a good idea.

I have in the past done what Joan Cox has suggested. I think an open house and a garage sale are two different animals that should not be combined.

Some agents have used the neighborhood garbage sale idea before, either in connection with an open house, or just as an advertising gimmick.  I don't think people who are looking for that $2 Stradivarius Violin or that cheap table to decorate a house with are the same people looking for a new home.

A good opportunity to go door to door and meet with the neighbors, and of course make a great impression on them.

That would be a hard no for me. I agree with Shayne Stone - it would distract from your open house and put too many random eyes on a vacant home! 

While I am not a fan of open houses in general, back in the day when I did them regularly, I did personally invite the neighbors with a written invitation to stop by the open house one hour before the public. Snacks were made available and people asked to take the snacks with them as they leave - not eat them while in the house.

Not sure if I would do it, just saying.  Concentrate on selling the house and the results will be your payback.  

Instead of asking them to do a garage sale, invite them to your open house.   They may know someone that would want the house, or they may want to sell.

If you are properly profiling your ideal buyer, and your listing is a lovely big ticket item, my dots are not connected to bargain-hunting garage sales!
I would spend my marketing dollars on direct mail covering the neighborhood and nearby similar areas . . . 
Your target buyer's gotta have the money to buy the house! 

You'll need time to make it a success. Here we have to get a permit to do a garage/yard sale. I personally do not have experience doing one as it has been a long time. 

People that go to yard sales are looking for deals, not shopping for houses.

Liability Insurance.  Are you covered?

The bathroom issue that others have discussed... rent a Port-a-Potty; put it on the side of the house or in the backyard.  LOCK the bathroom doors.  Tape the toilet seats down..  Only unlock those doors for RWA Buyers!

I don't feel that having a garage sale is the best way to show off a neighborhood.

I would not. Realtor safety first.  Only ready, willing and able buyer gains entrance. Must be pre-qualified. However, I would prepare flyers and have them available next to your sign, perhaps in a tube😎

People have to prep for a garage sale and that is where it may bog down. If you are wanting to take advantage of increased traffic, use the tried-and-true open house gimmicks agents use. 

I don't do open houses. Secondly, the people who will shop the garage sales are not necessarily the people who are shopping for a home. I don't see the connection. Spend you advertising dollars elsewhere to drum up interest in your listing.

This would be a hard he** no for for me.  Shayne Stone said it perfectly.

Anything you can do to be top of mind while creating community is good.

Many REALTORS* host open houses and community garage sales in my area. I know they must work for some, or seem to and they'll never admit what I found out 20 years ago...

I find open houses to be antiquated wastes of my time (no ROI) and not sure the value of the garage sale, there are a couple annual ones in my area though so I assume they work.

Jan Fogg, Looking for a number to call you. Would like to discuss this with you and how it could work.

If anything, then just a conventional open house. For the reasons stated by others. 

You know, at first look that seems to be a very good idea

I have try this before when the market was slower and it did bring traffic to the open house.

Why would you compete against yourself by helping the neighbors draw traffic to a garage sale when you are trying to sell a house. If your goal is to sell the property for your client, focus on that. You can send a post card or flyer to the neighbors and invite them to a private preview of the property either the day before or early the day of the open house. Or do a broker open which can be much more productive than spending your marketing dollars on a garage sale.

There's a method that calls for speaking with twenty of the neighbors of a new listing.  You might want to use this idea to introduce yourself to all of the neighbors and see if they want to list, know someone that wants to list or know someone that want to buy the house.

Not sure you would attract the kind of exposure you want for your listing, but it's an interesting idea.

Typically speaking it's not garage sale goers that are going to buy our listings.