NKS Monthly

Cut Clutter & Make Money 

Yard sale, garage sale or rummage sale, no matter what you call it, it’s a great way to get rid of extra things and earn some additional cash. The amount of money you bring in depends on a few valuable secrets. Make sure your sale is a success by following some these suggestions.

Summer is the season for selling. Statistically, summer is the best season to sell because people have more flexibility during longer daylight hours and more vacations and time off mean more shoppers. Also, if you have a sale in August or September you’ll benefit from the large number of college students who need to furnish their new dorms or apartments on a budget.

So what should you get rid of? The basic rule of thumb is if you haven’t used or worn something in two years then it’s probably time to get rid of it. The best-selling items at garage sales are typically baby goods such as strollers and high chairs, sporting goods, furniture, tools, books, kitchen items and toys. Clothes often do not sell very well. You will have to price them very low if you want them to move. Be sure to sort clothes by size for the customers to easily locate items that they are interested in. Presentation is key, clothes should be clean and wrinkle free.

Don’t have time for a garage sale? Sell your items on eBay or craigslist. Do your research and price your item comparably to the others on the market. A picture is worth a thousand words. Be sure to include pictures with any and everything you sell online. Don’t forget to include shipping costs when selling on eBay and make sure that your buyer has proper transportation to pick up the item if you’re selling on craigslist. There are also services available to you that you can drop off your items to a selling service and they will post them on eBay for you. Check out the websites www.i-soldit.com, www.orbitdrop.com or www.quikdrop.com for more information.

Do you have items left over from your garage sale? Donate to charity. When donating to charity make sure to get a receipt in the value of the items donated. Save these receipts for your taxes.

Remember, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”.