5 Tips for Holding a Successful Moving Sale

If you're facing a residential move, you may also be dealing with everthing you don't want to take with you. Some studies show that the average American home may hold about 300,000 items, so getting rid of some of that may help you save money. Here are a few tips to ensure your moving sale is successful.

1. Set aside time to focus on the event

A moving sale can take some time to pull off effectively. So do what you can to clear a few days in your future schedule when you can dedicate the bulk of your attention to the sale itself.

2. Pick the proper time for the sale

Moving sales can be held any day of the week and at any time of the day you choose. However, keep in mind that you will want your "hours of business" to coincide with the times of the week and the day when people are most likely to be available.

For this reason, a moving sale is most successful when held on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and is best held earlier in the day. For example, you could host the sale on a Friday and Saturday from eight in the morning until five in the evening.

3. Advertise the sale well in advance and the proper places

Good advertising is vital to ensure your moving sale gets enough traffic. Post signs well in advance; usually, a week or two of notice is for the best. Also, take advantage of social media community groups, where you can often post notifications about moving sales in front of people in your area.

4. Make sure everything is priced

According to MoneyCrashers, unmarked items at a moving sale can be perceived as a lack of seller effort. Plus, if you don't put prices on the items you have available, many people won't make an effort to find you and ask how much. Even worse, many buyers see unmarked items as probably too expensive to bother asking about. So, before you allow people to browse what you have, make sure you have priced everything.

A few tips to make sure you have the best prices include:

• Price according to your needs - Is it more important to get rid of stuff or get a specific price?

• Check prices online - Look for comparable used items on sites like eBay or Mercari

• Factor in depreciation - Most garage sale shoppers won't pay retail for a used or even barely used item

• Avoid pricing according to personal value - Some items may be more valuable to you than what others are willing to pay

5. Stay willing to negotiate

You can expect negotiators at pretty much any garage or moving sale. If you intend for every price on your items to be firm, make that known in your advertising. However, you can often be more successful if you are willing to negotiate at least a little.

Ready to get moving after your moving sale?

Once you have eliminated the extra clutter, your actual move can be easier to handle. Need a little help with the transition to your new place? Contact us for a free moving quote.