Clutter to Cash: How to Turn Your Stuff into Treasure
Are you ready to declutter your home and put some cash in your pocket by doing so? Well – it’s THAT time of year again! GARAGE SALE SEASON! Turn your driveway into a gold mine by planning a successful garage sale. Here are some tips to help you turn your ‘trash’ into ‘treasure’.
1) PICK THE PERFECT DATE
· Friday, Saturday, and Sunday remain the best options for holding your sale.
· Mornings are when you will see the highest traffic. Start EARLY!
· The first week of the month is the best.
· Make certain to check out what else is happening on your chosen date to minimize competition.
2) GATHER, SORT, AND PRICE ITEMS
· Price items as you sort
· Box and group similar items to make setting up more efficient
· Money Crashers suggests that you ‘Don’t underestimate the value of what your find’. They say that even worthless old CD’s and electronic accessories like chargers and power strips are worth trying to sell.
· Consider bundling books and DVDs rather than pricing individually. Offer buyers 4 for $10 rather than $5 each.
· Price items correctly, not sentimentally. Ramseysolutions.com suggests the following: 10% of retail price, great quality items around 30%, and brand -new things around 50%.
· Make a pricing sheet for clothing or items that are similar in nature to eliminate pricing each item separately.
· Another time-saving option is to use colored stickers and make a chart that indicates the cost by the color.
· Make prices visible. Bigger items need bigger price tags.
· Don’t buy expensive price tags. Use masking tape to cut down on costs.
· Prepare to negotiate and haggle.
3) CHECK PERMITS RULES
· Research city and county government websites to determine if a permit is needed. If you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, make certain of their rules for holding a garage sale.
· Make certain to also research restrictions on posting yard sale signs.
4) PROMOTE AND ADVERTISE THE SALE
· Don’t rule out newspaper classified ads, especially if your town has a local newspaper that is well read. It’s best not to advertise any more than two weeks before your sale. Mention items of interest, such as furniture, etc. Make certain to include your address and contact information as well as a potential weather related backup date.
· Advertise on websites such as Craigslist, Nextdoor, Garge Sale Finder, Yard Sale Search.
· If yard sale signs are allowed, Penny Hoarders suggest posting a minimum of 15-20 signs. Be sure to include your address and an arrow pointing in your direction.
· Post on community boards in highly trafficked areas.
5) MAKE IT INVITING
· Clean, dust, and wash items.
· Make certain items are in working order. Put batteries in items as needed. Fill deflated tires and basketballs, etc.
· Hang clothing or fold it nicely. If possible, display clothing as complete outfits.
· Have a mirror near clothing and accessories.
· To reduce the number of items on the ground, have plenty of tables for display purposes.
6) SUPPLIES TO HAVE ON HAND
· Chairs
· Tarps and umbrellas
· Tables
· Calculator
· Pens
· Tape
· Tape Measure
· Garment Rack(s)
· Money Box
· Cash to give back as change – (recommended amount is $100 broken into quarters, $1 bills, $5 bills, and $10 bills)
· Plastic grocery bags
· Newspaper, tissue paper, bubble wrap to wrap fragile items
· Music, treats, and drinks
· Scissors
7) WHAT ABOUT THE LEFTOVERS
· Near the end of the day, let customers fill a ‘grab bag’ with items and sell the bag for $5-$10.
· Donate items to a nonprofit or thrift store.
· Sell pricier leftovers on Decluttr.
There you have it! Are you ready to do a little spring cleaning? With these helpful tips, some planning, and a bit of elbow grease, you’ll be sure to put some extra cash in your pocket this garage sale season. Happy selling!
Sandi Downing Real Estate/Keller Williams Greater Omaha
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