Let’s admit it: moving to a new home is hard. Deep down, you might feel excited to journey into the unknown or to experience something completely new. But on the outside, you feel a little terrified. You have to make so many preparations, from sharing the news with your kids (which is hard enough on its own) to clearing every last item out of your house.
Don’t let all the worries associated with moving get you down. Start the moving process early on so you have plenty of time to do everything at your own pace.
Perhaps the most important part of this process involves deciding what to do with all your unused or unwanted belongings. Should you keep everything? What should you do with all the stuff you don’t want to lug around?
One simple solution is to put on a moving sale. Moving sales allow you to get rid of the stuff you don’t need and make some extra money at the same time. It’s a win-win. Read below to learn specific steps to take before, during, and after your moving sale.
1. Decide Beforehand What You’ll Keep and What You’ll Sell
The easiest way to prepare for a moving sale is to make adequate time to select your sale items. This process might take longer than you think. In other words, start early-a couple months before moving day should give you plenty of time. This timeframe also allows you to sell unwanted items before you become overwhelmed with packing.
If you’ve ever seen the show Hoarders, you know that some people just don’t know how to say goodbye to their belongings. Don’t be like them! You can determine what is best to sell if you:
- Know you won’t need or want it ever again
- Know it will be more useful to someone else
- Know you can quickly or easily replace it after you move
As you follow these parameters and use good judgment, you’ll locate all the items you need for your sale.
2. Get Your Items Ready for Sale
Once you’ve chosen the items for the sale, you’ll need to get them ready for buyers. Your belongings probably won’t sell well if you dump them in a pile in the middle of your front yard. Use this chance to make your stuff appealing to potential customers.
Categorize your items, clean them up, and make them look and feel brand new. Consult the web to make sure you price your items as accurately as possible. No need to overprice-you’ll most likely have lots to sell. And remember: you want to get rid of as much as you can.
3. Spread the Word
No matter how much you prepare for your moving sale, people will not come to it if you don’t advertise it. If advertising sounds intimidating to you, don’t worry-it is for lots of people. But you have a handful of simple ways to get word of your moving sale out to others. Try these methods:
- Update your Facebook status.
- Put an ad in your local newspaper.
- Post on Craigslist.
- Tape flyers around your neighborhood.
When you advertise, make sure you mention the day, time, and location of the sale. Most yard sales and garage sales happen on weekends, and they start in the morning and last until the afternoon.
4. Set up Shop
Though some may characterize moving sales as less formal than commercial retailers, you should still approach your sale as professionally as you can. Keep your items separated and categorized for your buyers’ convenience. Feel free to enlist help from your family members or willing neighbors-the sale will go more smoothly as people help you organize.
Your moving sale provides a great opportunity for you to bring out your inner salesman. Be prepared with a calculator, some change, and a willingness to negotiate deals with customers. Remember that friendliness and helpfulness go a long way.
5. Don’t Panic If Leftover Items Remain Afterwards
After your moving sale, expect items to go unpurchased. Depending on how well the sale runs, you’ll need to figure out what to do with the stuff that nobody bought. You could try to hold another moving sale. However, such a decision might prove difficult, especially if your moving date quickly approaches.
Consider donating your leftover products instead. Think about where your items could do the most good, whether you give them to the Salvation Army or your neighbors. If you have a lot of extra stuff, you may need to make more than one trip to drop it all off. However, you’ll feel less stressed if you get rid of the stuff instead of trying to carry it with you when you move.
When it comes time for you and your family to make the big move, remember these tips to put on a successful moving sale. Once you’ve gotten rid of all unwanted items, give your moving company a call so you can start packing.
Work with Mid-West Moving & Storage
Serving the Chicagoland area with professional moving services, Mid-West Moving & Storage can handle all parts of your move. From planning to packing to unpacking and furniture assembly, our movers will have everything safely delivered to your new home or business location.
Each of our movers is also trained, screened and insured for your peace of mind. We have handled large moves, such as corporate relocations down to small apartment moves. Regardless of the amount of items needed to be moved, you can count on us to handle the job!
Give us a call at 847.593.7201 or fill out a contact form for a free estimate.
