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Garage Sale
There is no better time for a garage, yard, or tag sale than now when you are either preparing to sell your home or move to one newly purchased. Three big benefits can result from a garage sale.
- Eliminate clutter and make your home more attractive to potential buyers.
- Reduce the energy and expense of moving by selling items no longer used or needed.
- Turn your unwanted items into cash-and have fun doing it. The extra cash from your garage sale also will come in handy to cover an unexpected expense, to buy that big TV your kids want, or to use for a getaway weekend for two.
Set your objective before the sale. Are you trying to dispose of household items no longer used or clothes that no longer fit? Or, is your primary objective to sell everything at the highest possible, fixed price?
Pre-planning your sale has some real benefits. Here's a pre-sale check list to review:
- Ask local authorities about permits, restrictions, advertising, tax implications.
- Visit neighborhood garage sales early on their first day to see pricing and what sells best.
- Go through your home, attic, basement, garage and yard and list everything you want to sell.
- Read other garage sale ads. Write your ad to feature the broad scope of your items.
- Talk with neighbors. They may want to make it a joint or neighborhood sale.
- Set dates and time and avoid holidays.
- Save small and mid-sized cartons, craft paper, small paper bags and newspaper.
- Ask family members, neighbors and friends to help, especially during the first few hours.
- Have at least two people "working" the sale, one of whom is capable of negotiating prices.
- Decide where the sale will be; outdoors, garage, yard, inside home, etc. Allow shoppers in the sales area only. Keep house doors shut and locked if the sale is outside.
- Before setting up, remove everything from the sale area that is not for sale.
- Place similar items close to each other.
- Dust off, polish or vacuum furniture, rugs and better quality items. They will sell faster and for a higher price if value is apparent. Mark anything not perfect, "as is', and price accordingly.
- Clearly price every item in multiples of ten cents. If you have lots of $1.00 items, put them all on one table clearly marked "EVERYTHING HERE $1." If pricing on anything is flexible, determine your minimum price in advance. Expect to negotiate.
- Cash is preferred. If you take checks, decide in advance on identification you will require.
- Post signs the day before your sale begins; and remember to remove them after the sale.
- Have plenty of cash in silver and singles before you begin.
- Position you cashier where she/he can observe departing shoppers and never leave the cash box or cashier s table unattended.
- Record sales of items over a predetermined price ($5.00) as a check on your total inventory
- Donate left-over items to charity.
Most of all make it a fun day for you and your tag sale buyers. A well run tag sale can be a great way to bid farewell to old friends and neighbors.
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This article provided for you by Edge Real Estate, 303-681-8888. Reprinted with permission from Homes & Land Magazine. © S.M.A.R.T. Marketing, Inc.
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