Tag: garage

Be the Genius Behind the Garage Sale

Posted on by Jordank

Now that you’ve celebrated #America’s #250th birthday, it’s time to get serious with your summer #organizing and #decluttering and finally get rid of some of the extra #stuff that’s just getting in the way of living your best life — and make a little extra cash while you’re at it.

That’s right: It’s time for a #garage or #yard sale. There’s no better way to recoup some of the #money you’ve spent on #clothing that doesn’t fit, disused #housewares and appliances, and forgotten sporting goods than to throw open the garage door and slap a price tag on them.

The good news? Lots of people are out enjoying warm weather and looking for good deals. The bad news? It does take some effort — and thought — to host a good garage sale. Elevate yours to a must-shop by observing a few genius ideas.

First, #cull through your merchandise. Anything with flaws — clothes with holes, chipped dishes, inflatables that don’t hold air — should be fixed or thrown away. Don’t waste your time pricing anything that’s not in usable condition; toss it or put it in a “FREE” box.

Next, #curate the items you sell. Put knickknacks together in one place, kitchen stuff in another and tools in another. Sort clothing by gender, age, color and season and media by category. If you have furniture or other large items for sale, put them on the parkway for easy pickup or make a flyer with pictures.

Price all items fairly. Your trash may be someone else’s treasure, but your goal is to reduce the volume of your stuff and make a few bucks, not to gouge people for your castoffs. What would you pay if you wanted whatever it is?

Finally, advertise. You don’t have to spend money on a classified ad — do those still exist? But do make large, colorful, easy-to-read signs with directional arrows and include the times, dates and address.

“Put them up early on the day before your sale so people see them coming home from work,” says Instructables. “The more people come to your sale, the better you will do, so do what it takes to get them there.”

Hosting a garage sale isn’t rocket science, but paying attention to a few details goes a long way. And to make the #purge complete, you can #donate any leftovers to ClothingDonations.org by scheduling a #pickup after your sale. Happy #decluttering!

Does Dad Need a Professional Organizer?

Posted on by Jordank

Does #Dad really need another tie or pair of shoes? #Father’s Day gifts don’t have to add to the #clutter. Tickets to experiences such as concerts and sporting events can treat him while adding nothing to the amount of #stuff stored in the home (assuming he resists buying a lot of souvenirs), and his favorite consumables can be good options, too. Or you can give the gift of #organization, says Just Organized. Many of a typical #dad’s favorite spaces — the garage, workshop, mancave and home office — tend to be dumping grounds for all kinds of #junk that could be #decluttered and #organized. Help him yourself or hire a professional; he won’t forget it! #FathersDay

It’s Time to Clean and Organize the Garage

Posted on by Jordank

Meant to hold an automobile and (maybe) a few tools or outdoor items, the #garage tends to attract all kinds of #stuff. Out of sight and mostly out of mind, the garage can quickly become a dumping ground for old #clothing, #boxes of memorabilia, extra furniture, sporting goods and tons of other items that don’t immediately find a place elsewhere.

The change of seasons is a great time to clean out the garage and #organize the things that make the most sense to house there — including your car. But before you start to #purge and #clean, “think about how your garage can best serve you and sketch out a plan to achieve an end result you’re happy with,” says Martha Stewart.

Examine your garage #storage needs. Maybe you have a lot of sporting goods — bicycles, watercraft or camping gear, for example. Perhaps you’re an avid gardener and need a dry space to store shovels, rakes, the lawnmower and other equipment. And of course, anything to do with a motor vehicle and its maintenance should have a space here, too.

Once you have a plan, pick a mild day and empty the garage out. Dust the rafters, sweep and vacuum, and wipe down the flat surfaces. Eliminate common nuisances such as spider webs and wasps’ nests. Sweep and mop the floors with a soapy solution or something stronger if you want to get rid of engine oil stains.

Then, wipe down whatever you decide to keep in the garage and return it to a dedicated #space. “Now is the time to create additional storage solutions,” Martha Stewart notes, by installing overhead racks and shelves for boxes and bins, pegboard #organizers for tools, hooks for bikes and kayaks, and a bench for gardening equipment.

Anything that prefers climate-controlled storage such as paper goods and fabric items should probably find a home indoors in a (dry) basement or closet. And anything you no longer need or want that doesn’t fit into your newly #organized garage can go to ClothingDonations.org by arranging a #free #donation #pickup at your convenience.

A clean and organized garage might be a place where you’ll want to spend more time when the weather permits. You may even be able to park your car there!

More Stuff Equals More Garage Sale Shoppers

Posted on by Jordank

A #garage sale is kind of a needle-in-a-haystack proposition for shoppers, so more #stuff tends to draw more people. If you have a ton of #merchandise to #declutter, you can go it alone with a sale, but if you don’t, “collaborate with friends and family,” says My Blessed Life. Create a bookkeeping system to divvy up the money, or piggyback onto a neighborhoodwide sale. You can also attract the interest of more and different customers by having the kids set up a lemonade stand or sell baked goods. And before you even open for business, schedule a #free #donation #pickup with ClohtingDonations.org to get rid of the excess junk after the fact. #GarageSaleHacks

Goods That Will Make or Break Your Garage Sale

Posted on by Jordank

There are 12 categories of #garage-sale goods that “sell like hotcakes,” WiseBread says. Good quality, gently used #clothing; tools; furniture (especially bookcases or shelves); vintage dishes, glassware, and casseroles; garden tools; handbags; costume jewelry; games, toys, and bicycles; books; appliances; camping gear and other sporting goods; and exercise equipment. “Put pictures in your ad. Basic exercise equipment like weights will usually go quickly, but older treadmills or exercise bikes may linger, depending on how you price them and how quickly you want to get rid of them.” #GarageSaleHacks