Most of us have lots of stuff. We don’t usually notice how much stuff we have until we get ready to sell our house and move. Then we realize we have accumulated many things during the years we have lived in our home. We are then faced with a decision whether we want to continue to store them in our new residence or get rid of them.
Getting rid of stuff
There are several good options for getting rid of the things you no longer need or want when you are getting ready to sell your house:
Selling your things online
There are great options for selling things that are still in reasonably good and functional condition:
Craigslist offers a special breakdown of cities. All you have to do is pick the closest one to you, click on it, and set up your account. Craigslist is free, so there is no charge when you sell things through their site. Once you have set up your account, you are ready to advertise your items. Include a full description and great pictures so people can see and read about the exact condition of your items.Some people are hesitant to use Craigslist due to having strangers come to their home to pick up what they are selling. If you have this concern but still want to sell things on Craigslist, here is a safety tip. Unless your item is so large that it must be picked up at your home, you may want to meet your buyer in the parking lot of a public place like a shopping center or a restaurant.
eBay is another great way to sell things you no longer need or want. Selling on eBay is not free as it is on Craigslist, and unless you choose to sell locally on eBay, you will need to pack and ship your items. Setting up an account on eBay is free, and although setting up shipping so your buyer pays shipping is a little complicated, the representatives at eBay are always very helpful.
Other great places to sell you things are: Amazon.com, Swappa, and Facebook.
Selling your things locally
Flea Markets
Most major cities have flea markets where you can rent a stall and sell your things. The key to selling at flea markets is pricing things low and being willing to negotiate. Flea market purchasers love to negotiate and feel like they have gotten a great deal.
Yard Sales and Garage Sales
Spring is a great time to hold yard sales or garage sales. Here are some tips for holding a successful one:
- Clean everything before offering it for sale. No one wants to buy dirty things. Clothing displays and sells better when it is either hanging up or folded neatly.
- Price your items way below what they would sell for in stores. While they may have sentimental value for you, to your buyers, they are just something they may want.
- Advertise in local papers, post fliers in businesses that will allow it near where you live, list your sale on Craigslist, and post signs leading to your sale the day of the sale.
- Display your items in similar groupings. People will also buy more when your things are displayed neatly. (Note: they will also mess up your neat displays as they shop.)
Donate what doesn’t sell to Goodwill or Salvation Army or another similar organization. Some of these organizations will even pick up your things.
Getting rid of stuff means you have less to move when you sell your home. You may even find when you are taking knick-knacks down to stage your home for viewing that you no longer need many of them either.
