8 Tips to Host a Great Garage Sale
Happy Spring Cleaning Season! What better way to declutter your old and unused items than with a money-making opportunity? Don’t throw away those dusty old bikes taking up space in the garage, sell them! Spring is the perfect time to host your own garage sale, but planning it takes some time. Don’t let the stress of picking the perfect day, taking inventory, and spreading the word stress you out! We’re here to help. Follow these recommendations to host a stress-free and successful garage sale: Choose a Saturday- These are generally the most popular day for garage sales because many people are off work. You’ll also want to start as early as possible before it’s too hot outside and extend your garage sale well into the afternoon. This leaves time for those with Saturday morning activities, sports, and chores to make it your sale. Experienced garage salers believe that one day sales are more successful than multi-day sales. It’s also beneficial to plan to participate in a neighborhood block sale. More garage sales = more foot traffic. Advertise- Promote your garage sale in local newspapers and on social media sites, such as craigslist and FB events. Mention your big ticket items such as furniture in these ads. Many garage sale shoppers are looking for deals on items that would be more expensive in stores. Strategically place signs around your town where a lot of cars are stopped for adequate periods of time that say, “Garage Sale” in large text, the date and time, and your address. Take Credit Cards- Although most garage sale shoppers bring cash, we still recommend purchasing a service that allows you to take credit cards, such as ‘Square.’ You don’t want to have to turn someone away because you only accept cash. Venmo or Paypal would also be a good option for those shoppers who aren’t carrying cash. Stock up on Supplies- It’s always better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. You’ll need: labels and markers to make price tags, newspaper and grocery bags to wrap items, and tables to display your items. Keep some bags on hand to make it easier to pack up those buyers who may be stocking up on smaller items. Have a plan for the Money- Make sure to have cash change and plan ahead where you’ll be keeping it. Having a “cash box” even if it’s locked just sitting somewhere isn’t your best bet, unless you have someone manning it at all times. Take money inside as you go and only keep some change on hand. Don’t discuss how much you’ve made with visitors. Keep your home locked- Better safe than sorry. If you have animals in the home, make sure they are secure so you don’t have any escapees! Negotiate Smart- There will be a lot of bargain shoppers, so be ready to make a deal. Seriously consider what’s more important to you before the yard sale begins: Making some money or getting rid of items. Consider the strategy: less negotiations early in the sale and more toward the end. Donate what’s left- Unless you want to pack it up and try again in a few weeks, donate those left over items to a local charity. You clearly have no use for them, and neither did your visitors!
New Year Plan to Get Organized
With the holidays over, the pain of having to take down decorations is upon us. If you’re hoping that you can fit another storage bin on your garage shelf without it breaking, it’s time to declutter. Productivity experts recommend tackling organization with a strategy; set a schedule and set reminders for yourself. To make the task easier, spread out the work. Below is a New Year plan to help you achieve your organization goals for the year, month by month. January- It’s okay if you didn’t like one or more of the gifts you got this year, but what’s not okay is keeping everything when you know it will never get used. Donate, return, or toss unwanted items, or toss older versions to make room for the new. February- It’s time to dump all the things you kept because you “might need them in the future.” If you haven’t revisited them in a year, chances are you won’t revisit them ever. This includes: old love letters, greeting cards, photos, and business cards from people you no longer correspond with. (You can scan sentimental items into your computer to save them without taking up physical space in your home.) March- Prepare your gardening tools for spring. Throw out all expired seeds, broken flower pots, and torn gardening gloves. April- Shred the files of papers and receipts you kept for tax purposes (after you file your taxes). Also, start going through old sports and outdoor equipment. Donate items your family doesn’t use or have outgrown, such as bicycles and baseball gloves. May- Before it gets too warm, go through old boxes in the attic or basement. Toss out any items may be broken or damaged from being stored. June- Evaluate the condition of travel gear for vacation season. Luggage and camping gear can take up a lot of space, so if you plan to replace these, try repurposing them or donate to a local thrift store. July- Survey your closet for spring and summer clothes. The ones you haven’t worn yet this season should be donated now so that others can wear them while it’s warm. Also, do an inventory of school supplies. Old markers, pens, and glue sticks may be dried up. Toss these, then make a list of what you need to buy for the new school year. August- Go through the kids' schoolwork that you have been saving. Only keep the best examples of their work and take photos of anything that may be taking up space. Displaying their artwork will help decrease the need for storing it, too. September- Now that the kids are back in school, you can focus on getting your private spaces organized. Purge old supplies from your home office and take stock of what you need for new projects. Consider purchasing storage bins and file cabinets for increased organization. October- Get ready for lots of food as the holiday season approaches by organizing your kitchen, starting with the pantry. Check expiration dates and toss expired items, chipped plates, bowls, and any rusted/bent cutlery. November- Weed through old holiday decorations as you begin to buy new ones. Donate the old ones you aren’t as fond of. December- Take the warm clothes you don’t wear to a charity. Someone else could surely use that old, never-been-worn sweater in the cold!
Boost Your ROI with these Home Improvement Projects
If you know you’re not in your “forever home,” you likely put a lot of thought into planning your home improvement projects. And if you’re contemplating selling your house soon, you’re likely brainstorming all of the things you can do to maximize the profit on your sale. Like many other people, you want to make sure that you get the most bang for your buck when it comes to home improvements. Let’s take a look at those home improvement projects that provide the most value. Bottom line Before you start tackling renovations, additions, and remodeling, it helps to get a baseline to gauge how much you should invest. Do you know your home’s current market value? If the answer’s no, you want to use one of the many online home value estimator tools or work with a local agent to find out what your property is currently worth. If you work with an agent, you can also get an informed, professional opinion of what home improvement projects will not only attract potential buyers but also provide a return on your investment. Curb appeal If you’re itching for a new kitchen or bathroom, you’ll be disappointed to know that even minor kitchen remodels will not yield a full return on your investment. So, go ahead and tackle those areas if you’re planning on being in your home for a few years and want to enjoy an updated look, but don’t hang your hat on a solid return. By and far, those improvements done to the outside of your home will realize a return on your investment and get people in the door when you go to sell. Let’s take a look at some outdoor projects that will protect your investment. Fresh coat The places where you want to expend your efforts -- and invest your hard-earned cash -- are those places that make a first impression with prospective buyers. If your home’s exterior needs a fresh coat of paint or a modern color update, invest in getting your siding repainted. While your home may not be the newest in the neighborhood, a facelift is just the thing to get it noticed in a great way. It’s all in the details Other areas of note include your roof and your gutters. If you’ve not been the best about maintaining your gutters, clearing your gutters and replacing or securing any loose pieces should be a priority. Again, your house doesn’t have to be new, it just needs to look like it. The same holds true with your roof. While a new roof may not be budget-friendly, you should invest in replacing and securing any loose or missing shingles. Grand Entrance Take a look at your sidewalks, driveway, and entryways. Do you have any loose bricks? Is the cement cracked or uneven? If you answered “yes,” you need to tackle those walkways and your driveway. Again, the goal here is to make your home look as inviting -- and well-maintained -- as possible, and loose bricks or cracked cement won’t cut it. Lush lawn Perhaps the best investment you can make -- and one with the highest return of all -- is to care for your lawn. Buyers love homes with beautiful, full, green lawns, so take the time to have your lawn seeded or have sod laid to create a thick, carpeted look to your lawn. You won’t regret it. With so many variables in play, the best investments you can make in your home are those that will draw in prospective buyers when the time comes. A beautiful exterior draws people in to see the interior, and stepping up your home’s curb appeal will boost your return on investment at settlement. Finished Basement According to Homelight.com High income buyers ($150,000+ a year) like finished basements. Finished basements can bring in more than $40,000 in additional profit and add to the total square footage of a home. Finishing a basement costs an average of $6,500-$15,000 and primarily consists of drywall, flooring, and paint. With the potential for a 69% return on investment, it may be something to consider before putting your home on the market. Refinish Hardwoods The National Association of Realtors says refinishing hardwood floors recovers 100% of the cost at resale. That said, the ROI on updated flooring depends on current condition. If your floors are in decent condition, refinishing them is a great, cheap way to bring in extra profit when selling. Open Floor Plan A spacious layout is at the top of many buyer’s wish lists and can be done for relatively low costs. An open floor plan brings in more natural light, makes the space seem larger, and helps buyers imagine how they would fill the space if it were their own. Some walls can be knocked down quickly, while others may be structural and require alternative support to be installed. Be sure to consult with a contractor before tearing down walls. Source
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