We all have stuff we no longer want or need, but it can be hard to let it go. Moving to a new home is the perfect time to clear away clutter and downsize, and summer is the ideal yard sale season. Selling unwanted items can provide some helpful cash. De-cluttering can make your home more appealing to potential buyers. A successful yard sale can also lower your moving costs by reducing the weight of your shipment. Here are some tips to help ensure your moving sale is a success and will both make and save you money!
What to Sell
Get rid of things you no longer need or want. Have you used it or worn it within the last year or longer? If someone else might want it or you can easily replace it after you move, you probably don’t need to move it. Give all family members the opportunity to sort through their own belongings before packing them away. Encourage them to sell clothing that no longer fits, toys they have outgrown, books they won’t read again, and other unwanted items. Make sure they are clean and presentable and stay organized as you collect items in advance of the sale. Invite your friends and neighbors to join you. A bigger sale event usually draws a larger crowd.
When to Have a Sale
Before setting a date, check with your town to make sure a permit is not required. This information can often be found on your town’s website or at City Hall. Weekends are your best bet for maximum sale crowds, and Saturday tends to be the day of choice. Be careful about holiday weekends, though; people often travel or make other plans over a long weekend. Once you choose your date and time, get the word out! Hang posters around your neighborhood, place a classified ad and leverage the power of social media. Be sure to include pertinent details (date, time and address of the yard sale) and consider setting a rain date if the weather forecast seems questionable.
Ready, Set, Sell!
As you collect items, label each one with a price sticker. Remember these are things you don’t use and would rather not pay to move, so keep your prices attractively low. Stick with increments of $1 for easy transactions. Start saving shopping bags and boxes to help your customers carry their purchases and newspaper or tissue paper for wrapping fragile items. On the day of the sale, display your items where browsing customers will notice them. Display similar items together and remove anything from the sale area that is not for sale. Hang clothing on a clothesline or rack and offer refreshments and cold beverages for sale. Set up a table for cashing out, and have plenty of change for large bills. You may also consider a credit card swiping device. This handy little gadget is readily available, often free or low-cost, and is connected to your bank account. It can make all the difference if someone is interesting in buying but doesn’t have enough cash on hand. Office supplies like a calculator, tape, markers and scissors often come in handy as well. Give everyone in the family a job to do, and have fun selling!
After the sale, load any leftovers into your car and donate them to charity. Even though you didn’t make any extra money by selling them, you can still save money on your final moving bill if the moving truck weighs less! If you’ve already had a moving estimate prepared, you can contact your Moving Consultant with the results of your yard sale and ask how this may affect your costs. If you ever have questions about how to save time and money when you move, reach out to Bisson anytime. We are always happy to help!
