Archive for August, 2009

by Iza del Carmen, MomAuthority.com

Are you in serious need of organizing your home? Are you the type of person who loves to keep things for sentimental reasons?

If you say “YES” to all these, then your garage sale that you have been thoroughly thinking about is highly justified. The need to justify your garage sale is very important so you may go through the hassles of organizing your garage sale.

Most people who hold garage sales are motivated by the need to organize and simplify their life but most don’t know where to start. Having a garage sale is a good start. If you are this kind of person, here are some valuable tips for you:

•   Rummage through your things, get them organized, put them into clusters and label them. From there, you choose what to sell. Don’t include the same kind of items but have a variety of items on sale even if they are big ones. You can make good money from them.

•   Decide a day or days and time for your sale. Also, you can invite your neighbors who have some things to sell as well to join you in your garage sale. Make sure you discuss and be clear about your arrangements.

•   Advertise your sale. Before you put up anything on the corner street, please inform yourself about the laws or ordinances in your area about holding garage sales. If you are clear with those and have secured the necessary permit, then you can begin your advertising through community newspapers, posters on approved areas and bold signs just outside your house. Balloons can be used to highlight your house so people will see the garage sale. Be sure to post your ad several days earlier.

•   Be sure you have the knowledge on how to display the items to be sold in the venue where you will hold your sale. You should group all same items together, items that are breakable and notify children or parents. Items should be clean and dust-free to attract the attention of the buyers. Put attractive items by the roadside. For clothes, put up a bar where you can hang them with hangers.

•   Be prepared with a lot of change for your sale. Not only change but a wrapper to help buyers wrap the items they bought. This way, you won’t be hassled all the time because of lack change or wrapper when buyers ask.

•   Expect buyers to haggle prices with you so be firm and prepared.

Follow all these and you will surely have a successful garage sale, guaranteed!

by Iza del Carmen, MomAuthority.com

When things are stored in the attic or in the garage and are no longer used, these possessions are known as junk. Since there is limited space at home and more will accumulate in time, it would be a good idea to get rid of them.

Some people see discarding old things which are still usable as throwing away money. There is another way to do this and make money at the same time that is through a garage sale.

Before a garage sale, these items should be categorized. The task of segregating will be challenging so it is best to set some time to determine if it will kept or sold.

In order not to make a mess in the garage or in the living room, it would be a good idea to buy some cardboard boxes. Some grocery stores give them away for free which is usually located at the back of the establishment.

The reason why boxes are needed is because there is no telling how much junk is in the attic and the garage. The family members can also scan each room for things that can be part of the sale to make the home roomier.

Someone should write down the items on a piece of paper. An inventory can then be compiled in alphabetical order or by product to keep track of everything. A few examples could be clothes, furniture, toys, kitchenware and linens which are the most common things that are changed in the home.

The value of these goods varies so another way of categorizing everything will be by the price. All the toys that are 25cents and below can be in one box while linens that are $10 and below in another.

If the garage sale is a two day event, the layout during the first day can be changed so that customers who missed a box can go over it again and perhaps buy something. This can also reduce the inventory if not that much was sold the day before.

Having a garage sale is like Macy’s or any other retail outlet selling everything for 50% off. The homeowner should categorize and fold often since there will be a lot of chaos when it is held at home.

By being prepared and with a little help from family and friends, this event will be success.