So you found the perfect San Ramon California real estate listing and you’re ready to move. Now the fun begins – packing! If you’re like most of us, this so-called “fun” is a huge chore, and you’ll likely find that you have many items that you no longer need, or want, or that the logistics of moving the items is just unwarranted.
For example, if you are hiring a moving company that charges you by the pound to move your stuff from state to state, you may not find it as appealing to keep that closet full of junk that you’ve been meaning to sort through. Yes, many moving companies charge per pound. Makes that weight set that is collecting dust in the basement look a little less appealing, right? In these instances, a moving sale is in order!
Moving sales can be quite lucrative. You get rid of stuff that you don’t want or need, your neighbors, friends, and random strangers get something they want, and you get some extra cash! Sounds like a win-win situation. So how do you get started?
Sort, sort, sort! Chances are good that you are not planning to move out overnight. Most moves are planned well in advance. You have probably been packing up certain items for weeks now. As you are sorting items for the move, designate a box for each room in your Danville CA home for moving sale items. Get everyone on board, right down to your ten-year old who can contribute all those toys that they no longer play with, the clothing that no longer fits, and so on. Get the whole family in on packing common areas, like the basement and attic, where you will find lots of goodies for your moving sale.
Once you have everything sorted for your moving sale, it is time to promote it. Let your immediate neighbors know about the sale, and broadcast it on your social networks. For example, update your status on FaceBook to reflect that you’re having a moving sale, and then talk about it several times during the sale, to keep people interested and get the most folks out to buy. The more people you have at the sale, the more items you’ll sell, and the fewer things you will have to deal with later.
Set fair prices, within reason. If you are hosting your sale for three days, then you can begin marking things lower with each passing day. The goal is not really about making money (although we all love extra cash), it is about avoiding moving the things that you no longer need, or items that it doesn’t make a lot of sense to move, due to their size or weight.
Once your sale is over, you have a few options for the remaining stuff that doesn’t sell. You can donate it to a worthy charity, like Goodwill Industries, or the Salvation Army, both of which operate thrift stores to help fund their charitable activities. Or you can choose to list some of the better stuff in a consignment shop or even give it to a deserving family that you know. If the items leftover truly are worthless, trash them as a last resort.
A moving sale can be a lot of work, but the rewards are worth it – not just the money that you stand to make, but the reward of not having to pack and unpack stuff that you are not going to use anyway.
This article was written by Vickie Nagy a Dublin Califiornia real estate agent. You can learn more about Vickie by visiting her website here: http://vickiesellshomes.com/.
About the author
