How to Conduct a Moving Sale
When you find yourself facing a move, you may decide it is best to rid your house of items you no longer need or use. Having a moving sale will make the moving process easier and save you time and money when you sell things you do not want to take with you. Plan to hold the moving sale a few weeks before your move. Have plenty of help the day of the sale. Be ready to barter. Shoppers like to ask for discounts on moving sale items. Mark all of the items clearly and be firm about the items you do not want to barter on.
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Instructions
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Clear out a space to hold the sale. This could be the garage, basement or several rooms in the home. Plan the sale to be indoors unless you erect a large tent outside.
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Gather items that you plan to sell. Create sections of items that relate to one another. Set up tables to display your items. Place all of the dishware, toys and books in groups. Hang clothes on a rack. Take pictures of large items like sofas and tables that cannot be carried to the garage or outside.
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Mark each item with a price. Use removable stickers to make tags. Create a sign to sell multiple items such as clothes or books. Write out the item name with a price, such as shirts $1, pants $2, books 50 cents and so on.
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Place a checkout table near the exit of the sale. Set up a cashier's box. Get change from the bank, such as $20 in quarters, $10 in dimes and $25 in singles. Keep small items like jewelry near the checkout station. Gather a supply of shopping bags, plastic bags, boxes and newspapers to wrap the items in after they are sold.
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Place an ad in the local newspaper. Create a listing at craigslist.org to advertise the moving sale. State the starting and ending time of the sale. Provide the address. State "no early sales" in the ads to avoid unwanted customers the day before your sale.
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Make several signs and place them around the neighborhood. Make a few posters to place on bulletin boards at the local stores and your church.
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Call your local city hall and check if a permit or license is needed to hold a moving sale.
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Inform neighbors about the moving sale. Invite the neighbors, friends and family to a sneak preview the night before the sale.
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Ask friends and family members to help with the sale. Station a helper in each room to answer questions from the customers.
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Hold the sale on a Friday or Saturday. Plan to run the moving sale for one or two days. Avoid having the moving sale on a holiday or big sports event weekend.
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Tips & Warnings
Check your homeowners insurance for liability coverage.
Make a sign that states that "items are sold as is."
Hold a half-price sale on the second day of the sale.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit David Sacks/Lifesize/Getty Images
