By J Allen Private sales to dispose of household and other items are called many things, broadly related to the objective. Garage or yard sales are usually about clearing out excess to create space or earn a little cash. Estate sales generally mean someone passed on and entire properties need to be liquidated. This article is specifically about moving sales that are done prior to relocating as a means of substantially lightening the load. This type sale has the determined purpose of arriving at a new destination with minimal stuff. The reasons why are actually irrelevant in that we just want to get rid of absolutely everything no longer used, forgotten, outgrown, redundant, outmoded, outdated, or wont fit into wherever were going, regardless of those items condition. To achieve success in this goal requires an attitude of relentless focus and determination, an ability to not be governed by sentiment, and being merciless in execution. If this mindset is not there, then results will be largely mediocre and the objective unmet. Adequate preparation is crucial and can easily take three to five times longer than the actual sale. If youve never attempted doing one of these, its an incredible amount of work to do well, for large properties in particular, but the payoff is substantial. In fact, they are so much work, I wouldnt recommend doing one very often. A couple times in a lifetime should be plenty if they are well executed. For the rookies, it makes a lot of sense to start with research. Go to a few and observe not only how they work, but what you like or dont like, and how you found them. Take note of things like signage, pricing, staffing, parking, and what catches your attention. Select a target date next. This is useful not just in terms of planning and staging for any desired promotion, but it also helps focus on the task at hand. Then we need to identify what stays and what goes. Go through the entire house, cupboards, closets, garage, attic, grounds, and storage, including sheds, storage buildings and any off-site storage lockers. Examine everything and determine what is to be disposed of. Pull out and separate everything to be sold. Staging things now makes it much easier to setup later. The more merciless you are in deciding to get rid of things, the more successful youll be in this overall endeavor. Most of us are pack rats. Stuff seems to multiply like rabbits over the years. One way to ensure keeping nothing that shouldve gone is by starting with a clean slate. In other words, begin from the position that every single item must go, and then try to make a case for each one that stays. Another method is to ask yourself how important is something that I havent used or even seen for a couple years? Approaches like these yield amazing results. By the way, this is the time to deal with sentimentality. Obviously there are things we always want to keep, but some folks are sentimental about nearly everything. If this is the case, quit now. Most of the time, the interested parties can reach agreement or at least compromise, but seriously, if everyone affected cant do this, then stop. Its not worth damaging relationships. However, having once come to consensus and given time for the emotions to vent, let it go and get on with the work. Once the things to be sold are identified and staged, they need to be priced. Put a price tag on everything or at least show a price for like items. This is a key step, and the earlier research helps a lot if youre new at it. Be aggressive and dont forget your objective is to get rid of everything placed for sale. Often you can easily get a third to over half of the original cost on certain items depending on condition, but this not the norm. Most will fall in the 10% to 20% range, with many below that, and a few above. Be prepared to deal. Its expected, so price accordingly, but dont lose them by starting too high. Determine where to display everything and how much space is needed. Youll want lots of table space as most visitors are put off having to bend down to the floor. Borrow folding tables or make them with sheets of plywood and sawhorses. If you already have moving supplies, the dish barrel boxes make perfect height counters. Just tape up the top end, fold the bottom flaps to the inside, and then bind them together in groups of four. Once the sale is over, theyre ready to pack. Presentation is critical and you need to appear organized. It should not feel cramped or be difficult to move around and see everything. Arrange tables and counters to create aisles and accommodate traffic flow. Give some thought as to how best to display items and show them off. Make sure things are clean, dusted, and operate properly mechanically, electrically, or otherwise. Be aware that a little advertising reaps large dividends. Youll want to place a small ad in the paper. Its surprising how far folks will travel for a large sale, especially for furniture, tools, and large or special items. Mention these in the ad, and make sure to use the words moving sale. Get some bandit signs for the yard and to place at more distant approaches to your location so you can guide prospects to you. Dont put up those pathetic looking poster board signs that curl up in the weather and are printed too small or illegible to read. Decent weather-proof signs are cheap. Use them and write a large, clear, succinct message. Prospects should be able to read the address and other information easily from their vehicle. Dont shortcut any of these things. They all go toward making your sale look somewhat professional and folks like that. Make sure you have adequate help during the sale, at least three or more total. If you cant bring everything being sold outside, which is likely for several rooms of furniture, then youll need someone to escort folks inside the house. You also want enough help to assist several visitors simultaneously, and for extra sets of eyes. Most people are honest, but a few crooks make this necessary. Its not unusual to have thieves working in teams with one distracting those running the sale, and another slipping away with things. Be aware of this when its really busy. At a minimum, some will try and switch prices. Once all is ready to go, have the sale. Theres some debate about the best days and how many. My preference is Friday and Saturday, running all day. Get as much as possible ready the day before. No matter how clearly you state the hours or how early you get up, youll have early arrivals even the night before. Its your choice how to deal with them, but they are generally serious buyers ready to part with cash if you have something they want. In addition, theyre more likely to pay your price for the privilege of buying early. Have plenty of change, and be able to change large bills. Checks are a non-starter in my opinion, especially for purchases under a few hundred dollars. For very large ticket items you may decide to take them. If so, be thorough validating identity and contact data. Preferably, dont release items until funds are verified. Gauge your progress during the first day and adjust things like prices and signage as needed. Assuming you have a large and varied selection of items in decent condition, the prices are right, and youve adequately promoted the sale, then the first day results should be positive. Weather factors can be mitigated to some extent. Obviously, if its raining, more has to take place in the garage or indoors. If its really hot, provide soft drinks on ice. Dont give them away, but make up your cost and a little profit. Likewise, when its cold, coffee and hot chocolate work well. Some folks even sell things like hot dogs, burgers or barbeque on the side and make a tidy profit. The point is to do things that encourage visitors to stick-around and look more thoroughly at what youve got. After the second day, you should have sold off at least half to three quarters of what was started with. To deal with the rest, you may want extend a half day for a half-price sale. This can also be done during the last part of the second day. Cut the prices on everything at least by half to move it. A useful guideline, especially with big-ticket items, is to not bother lowering the price below the amount of tax savings realized if the item were donated to charity. This is also handy to keep in mind when haggling with a customer over what youre willing to take. Despite doing everything perfectly, there will be things remaining after the final sale day. Because the original objective was to eliminate everything placed for sale, the final step is to load all of it up, head over to your favorite charity, and donate it. Many charitable organizations also offer a pick up service if you have especially large items or lack the means to take the remaining things to their location. One additional task, perhaps as you return from the donation trip, is to be courteous and collect all your signs. If all has gone according to plan, you will likely end up exhausted, but content with having achieved your objective. While the principal goal was to clear stuff out, you probably will have earned enough to go a long way, if not surpass the costs of acquiring all the new things youve anticipated getting at the new place. John Allen writes on a wide range of topics. Visit his blog on Simpler Living to read more or obtain feeds. He can also be reached through his travel website Caribbean Vacations which focuses on the Eastern Caribbean. 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