A garage sale may help you save some cash during a move. It can also help you declutter boxes and get rid of unused items you’ve kept for years.
The difficulty lies in ensuring a sale is worthwhile to you and that you also keep moving preparations on track. Some little planning can help you sell more, remain organized, and not create extra work for yourself.
Start selling early
Don’t put off a garage sale until the last week before you move. Allow time to:
- Go through your clutter
- Determine what you wish to sell
- Get items ready for buyers.
Begin with seldom-used items like:
- Old furniture
- Unused kitchen equipment
- Children’s items
- Tools
- Decorations
- Electronics.
You can even have more than one sale if you have a lot to sell.
Early means that you have time to donate other items that don’t sell, rather than packing them because you didn’t get around to them first.
Price items with the intention to sell
The most frequent error is pricing the used items according to the original cost. At a garage sale, the price is important. Buyers are primarily interested in getting great deals on used goods.
Check how similar used items are priced. Also, consider selling inexpensive items as a package. You can also list some items as negotiable if you’re open to reasonable offers.
It’s important to remember that you might get rid of an item for a lower price than paying to have it moved.
Make everything easy to browse
If your garage sale is not organized, people may not take a second look at your items. Sort things into basic groups. Rather than randomly piling them.
Label prices clearly. This eliminates the need to answer the same price questions over and over and allows buyers to make their decision.
Promote in advance of the sale
Do not target only the people passing by the house. Promote the sale to the local community some days beforehand.
Post basic information on the appropriate community pages and the local online marketplaces. Write the:
- Date
- Time
- General location
- Some of the more desirable items that you will be selling.
Make snapshots of larger or more valuable items. This can lure in those who are specifically searching for furniture, appliances, or other bulky goods.
Make a plan for what happens after a sale
When you have a garage sale, you may have three categories of items: items that sold, items you still need, and items that didn’t sell. Deal with each group promptly.
You could donate items that don’t sell or arrange a way to dispose of them. Then, pack the things you need to move with.
If Chipman Relocation is handling your move, time your sale appropriately so that it doesn’t collide with the moving period. Hold the garage sale several days beforehand. This will give you time to clear out the remaining items and have everything ready by the moving date.
Final thoughts
A garage sale helps you reduce the items you have to move. With reasonable pricing, good timing, and a clear plan, it is a useful part of the moving process.
