An estate sale is a great way to clean out a home and make some money too. Sadly, the circumstances that lead to disposing of a homeowner’s possessions are generally negative: the death of a family member, divorce, bankruptcy, or even an eviction. Thankfully, there are some occasions which are more positive, such as decluttering and downsizing.
Whatever the reason, organizing an estate sale can be a difficult process. While there are companies that offer estate sale service and junk removal services, the convenience will impact your bottom-line. Even if the particular estate you are dealing with is on the small side, hidden fees by service providers can add up to a shocking total. Moreover, when it comes to estate cleanout services, seldom does everything fall into the “unwanted items” category – ready for donation to local charities or to be tossed in the trash. Even when paying professionals, only you can make the final decision about where certain belongings should go.
Run your own estate sale by following these four simple steps to hosting a stress free and lucrative tag sale:
Step 1: Figure Out What Buyers Want
Overwhelmed is the term most frequently used when people describe how they felt at the beginning of the estate sale process. Not only do you have the property sale to plan, but all the home’s contents can potentially be put on the market too. Think of this as a garage sale on steroids!
Surprisingly often, one person’s trash is another’s treasure. Before sending items to the already bursting landfill, do some research. Checking out what weird and wonderful things are available to buy on Craigslist ads or at an auction will give you a good indication of what the public is willing to buy. Utilize free social media platforms like NextDoor or Facebook to offer useful items for cheap or even free. Let other people do the work of hauling away things you don’t need, and maybe even make a few dollars in the process.
Step 2: Organize Your Items
Some time will be needed to scour every corner of the estate/property from the basement to the attic and from the closets to the garage shelves, and don’t forget about the shed!
Start by setting aside important financial items, personal documents, and sentimental items. Move on to dividing the contents into piles of related categories.
Create a list of items and highlight any that are particularly valuable. The rest can be batched for streamlined transactions. (See pricing tips below.)
Step 3: Price Your Items
Deciding on a fair price can be tricky. Bargain hunters are your target market, so you need to price accordingly. An excellent method to attain the goal of an estate sale, i.e. to sell everything, is to use bulk pricing. Charge a single price for all items within a category rather than labeling individual items. Selling a box of related items, sometimes referred to as a “lot,” is a good way to get rid of more things efficiently.
Part and parcel of pricing your goods is to check for concealed treasures. You would not like to accidentally sell something of great value secreted away in a coat pocket for only a couple of dollars. Check every conceivable hidey-hole before tagging and displaying your objects.
Step 4: Clean Up
Having prepared for sale day, bear in mind that the property itself may also be listed for sale. As any real estate agent will attest, buyers can better visualize themselves in a home after it has undergone a thorough clean up. This, in turn, leads to higher and more competitive offers.
Do a final inspection to ensure that none of the remaining items are important or sellable. At this phase, a dumpster rental will become your new favorite tool!
If you are left with many large items such as mattresses, ensure that your rented dumpster accommodates them. A smaller dumpster can be used if all of your larger items will be sold.
Remember that nothing may extend above the “full line” marked on the dumpster, as regulations require a tarp to cover the dumpster when it is transported. An overfilled dumpster may result in unwanted additional charges.
There are also various items that are not considered bulk trash. Hazardous materials and some electronics and appliances are off limits and need to be disposed of in the correct manner. As Bargain Bins is a green company, we will gladly advise you as to what goods are forbidden and how best to dispose of them.
Bargain Bins dumpster rental service provides expert advice and exceptional customer service. To answer your questions regarding volume, weight, and placement, or for a free quote, contact us before your estate sale.