Throwing a successful garage sale

Throwing a successful garage sale takes a bit of planning. But in following a few simple steps you will have cleared out some junk and made a few bucks at the same time. Less junk and more money all done in one Saturday.

Before:

The first thing you need to do is find your junk. We all have it. You know where it hides… under beds, in the closet, the overflowing kitchen cabinet, sheds, attics, the storage space you try to forget about. The harder you look the more you find.

Don’t spend too much time wondering where all that stuff came from. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. And usually that treasure seeking man will happily pay you for your junk.

After you have assembled your treasure trove of junk you need to clean and price it. Wash what needs to be washed. Dust and scrub. Things have probably been sitting unused for a while. Freshen them up.

It’s a good idea to price everything BEFORE the garage sale. Customers don’t want to bother with having to ask how much each item is.

A good rule of thumb is to price everything ½ to ⅓ of it’s original value. Making a few bucks here is great but the goal is to clear things out.

Now it’s time to advertise. Signs should be bright, big and simple. Keep them consistent and easy to follow. Put the signs up the morning of. Use social media. Facebook your friends or tweet. Get the word out. Put an ad on Craigslist.

Don’t forget to remove these signs when you’re done. You and your neighbors will appreciate it.

During

Getting an early start is key to a successful garage sale. Serious garage salers get out early. Starting sometime between 6-8am is standard.

Think about the layout. Keep things organized and easy to look through. Hang clothes. Place like items together. Remember to clearly mark things NOT for sale. Hang a sheet over them and place a sign that reads: Not For Sale.

If you don’t have a ton of stuff to sell think of combining forces with some neighbors.

Let your kids have a lemonade stand. They can sell prepackaged snacks or homemade goodies. It will give them something to do and will bring in a bit more money. Have chilled bottles of water. Play music. If you create a nice atmosphere people will stay longer and hopefully buy more.

And when that money starts flowing in keep the money on you. Fanny pack your cash or wear an apron with a pocket. Start the day with change to make cash exchanges easier.

Don’t hold items. Especially big items. It doesn’t matter how close they live, how much they want it or how many times they promise they will be “right back” it’s not worth the risk. Sell your stuff to whoever has cash on hand.

After

Pat yourself on the back because you just got rid of junk and made some cash. Load the leftovers in your car and donate it to your local Goodwill.

Don’t forget to remove signs and take down any online ads too.

With a little planning, some organization and energy you can de-junk your home and make a few bucks. All in one Saturday.

To talk to someone who can personally help you in your decision to purchase or refinance, please visit http://www.legacylendinggroup.com/ for more information.

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