It's no secret that clutter-free, clean homes appear more attractive to potential buyers. So, if you're thinking about selling your house in the new future, holding a garage sale is a great first step toward presenting your property in the best light. Garage sales help:
1. Rid the house of clutter. A home with less clutter is easier for a CRS-designated Realtor? to sell.
2. Earn extra cash. Extra money is always helpful during and after a move.
3. Acquaint or re-acquaint with neighbors. Who knows? Maybe the neighbor knows a potential buyer.
4. Decrease moving costs with fewer boxes to pack and move.
How to Start
Go through one room at a time. Ask each member of the family to help by looking through his/her own belongings, especially in closets and drawers for items they no longer use or like.
"It might be a good idea to have a multi-family garage sale and consolidate with neighbors and friends. The families can share the cost of advertising and promotion, and will have a larger selection of items creating more of a draw," advises Toni Sherman, CRS, GRI, of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Glen Ellyn, Ill., and a past president of the Council of Residential Specialists. "A few days before the sale, contact a local CRS-designated Realtor? for complimentary, professional-looking garage sale signs."
Clothing
It's tough to get rid of clothing because of personal attachments or memories. Of course, some special-occasion clothes, such as wedding dresses and baptismal gowns are keepsakes. But it's the day-to-day clothing that needs to be examined carefully. When choosing what to keep and what to sell, keep these questions in mind:
" When did I last wear this? If it's longer than a year, place it in the garage sale pile.
" Does it have a stain? If you have tried to get the stain out and cannot, give it away; or if it's a very visible stain, throw it out.
" Am I still comfortable wearing this? Sometimes we can't seem to get rid of something but don't like wearing it. If that's the case, get rid of it.
" Does it fit? If the clothing item is two sizes too small, don't wait to wear it until you lose weight, especially if you have held onto it for a long time.
" What toys and clothing have the kids outgrown? Children's items are especially popular at garage sales, so be sure to include anything that doesn't fit or they no longer use.
Housewares
If there are duplicate houseware items, select the better one and sell the other. Be sure small appliances work correctly. If they don't, consider throwing them out instead of selling them to someone else.
China, Trinkets and Valuables
Every home has odds and ends that sit unused, collecting dust. This can include extra settings of china, gifts from relatives and trinkets perceived as valuable. Real estate agents, like CRS designees, advise homeowners to sell them at a garage sale, consignment shop or online through a service such as eBay. Everyone knows that one person's trash is another person's treasure.
Furniture/Equipment
For homeowners planning to buy new furniture, downsize or change decorating schemes, CRS designees advise parting with furniture now rather than incurring extra moving costs. Keep family heirlooms and furniture deemed useful, but remember that well-maintained furniture and exercise equipment are especially big sellers.
Organize and Decide on Prices
Once the inventory is collected, it's time to sort everything by category. Group all clothing together on tables, bookshelves or mobile clothes racks, and do the same for toys, housewares and small furniture/appliances.
Determine the cost of each item based on estimates from lists of donated items. Booklets with this information are available through tax accountants, the IRS or groups like the Salvation Army or Goodwill Industries. Clearly affix price stickers to all items.
Assign each family member a job for preparing the items and then an assignment for the day of the garage sale. This might include managing the cash drawer from noon to 2 p.m. or answering questions about furniture from 8 to 10 a.m. Also, discuss price reductions with anyone who is working the sale, so everyone deals with buyers in the same way.
Notification About the Garage Sale
Homeowners can publish a brief notice about their garage sale in a local newspaper a week to a few days before, depending on its frequency. At least a day before the sale begins, post signs around the neighborhood with a clearly marked address and arrow pointing in the right direction. Much of the traffic at garage sales stems from people living or walking/driving through the neighborhood.
"If a homeowner is considering a move in the near future, spring and early summer are the best times to hold a garage sale and rid the house of clutter," Sherman says. "Before showing a home, it's important for home sellers to use a critical eye on the house inside and out. An organized, tidy home really does increase the interest of potential buyers."
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