How to Hold a Moving Sale

STEPS TO PLANNING A SUCCESSFUL MOVING SALE

You’re getting ready to go someplace new. Did you know a moving sale can help you save money as well as make money? Lightening the load of your move lowers your shipping costs. Follow these steps to organize a successful moving sale and put cash in your pocket.

1. Know what to sell and what to keep.

If you no longer use nor need an item, someone else might want it. If you can easily replace something at your new home sell it to lower the weight of your moving truck.

2. Get others involved from the start.

Ask your family members and neighbors to sell their unwanted items too. You might even organize a block-wide sale; a bigger event draws more people, all potential buyers.

3. Pick a Friday or Saturday.

Except for holidays, weekends are usually best for garage sales. When you announce the date, include the sale hours, such as 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

4. Choose a location with good access and ample parking.

Before you decide on a garage, yard, or basement moving sale, check with local authorities to make sure your event doesn’t violates codes. Try to allow plenty of space for people to move around easily as they come and go.

5. Get the word out.

When you advertise your sale, make clear the date, time, and street address.

6. Be ready to do business.

On the day of the moving sale, set up a cashier’s desk (a card table will do fine). Have a calculator, scissors, tape, string, markers, a cash box and plenty of change. When you accept bills, be aware of counterfeit currency and how to spot it.

3 REASONS TO HAVE A MOVING SALE!

Turn your unwanted items into cash.
Lower your moving costs by reducing the weight of your load.
Attract a buyer for your old home.

Be prepared for the Early Birds. No matter what starting time you publish, some shoppers will show up 30 minutes early or more!
Accept Credit Cards Fewer and fewer people carry cash. Avoid losing potential sales by having a PayPal account or card reader (like Square) ready.

ADVERTISE

Not sure what to put in your ad? We recommend that when you advertise your sale, make clear the date, time, and street address. If the weather forecast looks iffy, specify a rain date. Describe popular items such as furniture, appliances, tools and electronics. You might include a phone number so people can call for more information or to get directions.

Where you should advertise your moving sale:

Local newspaper. Consider running your ad in the local newspaper and online classifieds. Generally, the more words in an ad, the more it costs to run. Ask about the cost to run Friday and Saturday vs Saturday only. Be aware of submission deadlines, which can be several days in advance of publication.
Online classifieds. You might take advantage of free online classifieds such as yardsales.net, yardsalesearch.com, and garagesalefinder.com. They are all free to advertise and will generate a map for buyers to find you easily. You can still use Craigslist, but it’s very hard to get noticed with the volume of listings they receive every minute.
Flyers. Put flyers around the neighborhood. Print Moving Sale in large letters with the date, time, and address. Check with the local Chamber of Commerce about requirements for signs and posters. If allowed, place them in high-traffic areas with arrows and directions on sale day.
Social Media. Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest are great place to advertise your moving sale. They’re really useful during your event. When Tweeting, use your city name as a hash tag, for example: #MovingSale going on in #Charlotte today! Message me for details. Tweet about a big item that just sold, those frosty drinks in the cooler, or the beautiful weather.

10 TIPS

Price things to sell. Visit eBay or search online to determine how much you can reasonably expect to sell your items.
Put a price tag or sticker on each item. Place items where shoppers will notice them. If two or more families take part in the sale, assign each a unique ID code or different color sticker.
Start saving shopping bags and cartons. Make it easy for customers to take their purchases with them. Have tissue or newspaper on hand to wrap glass, knick-knacks, and other fragile items.
Keep loose pieces together. Bundle or package sets, groups, or units so customers can easily see what they are getting. Put loose game pieces in a sealable plastic bag and place it inside the box.
Keep “for sale” items and “not for sale” items separate
Display like items together. Keeping kitchen utensils, sporting goods and tools together makes it easy for customers to find what they want.
Hang clothing on a clothesline or rack for easy viewing.
Be prepared for a change in the weather. Have sheets of plastic on hand to quickly cover everything.
Offer refreshments for sale. Many shoppers welcome a cold drink, especially on warmer days. Ice down some sodas and bottled water the night before. Tell the kids the money they earn selling drinks is their reward for helping.
Assign everyone in the family a job. Many hands make light work. Give everyone something to do for the day—cashier, clerk, or organizer. And have fun!

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