If you’re one of the many people looking to move from one dwelling to another, just know you’re not alone and the stresses that come with packing up all of your possessions and getting them from point A to point B are shared. For many, moving can come as a welcome relief as it gives you an opportunity to sort through all of the things you have and make some decisions on what is really worth keeping.
And if you’re like a lot of folks, a garage sale is most likely in the cards, so we’ve put together a list of garage sale tips and tricks before you move.
Sort Your Possessions
If you’re subscribed to any minimalist blogs, then you’ll likely find this as tip #1 when it comes to getting rid of stuff. Start by creating three distinct “piles” of possessions: garage sale, charity, and trash. Within each, set boundaries for what has value, what can be given away, and what flat out needs to go to the landfill.
The strange thing about garage sales is valuing items. In general, garage sale shoppers are looking for deals and aren’t likely to pay your value for something. After all, you know what the original purchase price of an item is and are looking to recoup some of that cost. With that said, lower your expectations for sales and look to get rid of as much as possible.
Be Ruthless
Along those lines, as you’re going through your sorting and ciphering be completely ruthless. Leave no item or stone unturned and don’t be in the least bit scared to throw away or give away things that have only intrinsic values to you or your family. This isn’t to say you have to trash your childhood scrapbook or your kid’s first painting, but it’s okay to let go of some things.
What’s most important in this approach is to donate things that otherwise may not have much monetary value. Some clothing, home goods, and kitchenwares simply don’t have any resale value and are best left to the Goodwill or local thrift store. In the end, you’ll probably be taking your garage sale leftovers to the donation station anyway so get ahead of the game.
Advertisement and Selling
Believe it or not, advertisement goes a long way in the garage sale biz and many folks actually scroll the weekly classifieds trying to find the best sales of the weekend. A classified ad a week or two ahead of your garage sale and posts to Facebook in your local buy, sell, and trade group can go a long way to getting the word out.
Selling garage sale items is also a fairly straightforward ordeal. One sales tip is to box up like items and sell the entire box for a set price. For example, a box of boys shirts may cost only $5 and you can require the buyer to take the whole box instead of picking through for certain items. This way, you maximize the amount of stuff that leaves your house while minimizing the haggle and hassle.
Be Ready to Move
Hopefully if you’re debating a garage sale and how to go about it, then you’ve likely already got a new place on the hook.
If so, that’s great! But if you’re still hunting for a new place to live and need a way to get there, call Tidewater Mortgage Services, Inc.’s experienced loan officers and get pre-qualified right away. Our short online application can get you qualified for the financing you need in as little as a day!
