Pricing is an important aspect of a successful and lucrative #garage, #yard or #tag sale. A rule of thumb is that garage-sale items should be priced at no more than 10% of their original cost. But don’t make pricing decisions the night before the sale, says Better Homes & Gardens; price items as you set them aside for the sale, even if it’s months in advance. Think like a customer: They stopped to look for a bargain; give them one and you can get rid of that extra #stuff for good. For “volume” items such as clothing, you can post a sheet listing prices, and it’s also a good practice to have a free box for little odds and ends that aren’t worth haggling over. #GarageSaleSuccess
Tag: stuff
Keep Your Garage Sale Classy
Summer is a great time to have a #garage sale; you can get rid of a few extra things and make a few bucks. For maximum garage-sale success, sell only those things that still have some of their original value left. If things are in worn, dirty or otherwise shoddy condition, neighbors aren’t going to want them, either. “First impressions matter,” says Homes.com. “Shoppers may see one dingy item in your garage sale and get turned off from shopping.” Also sort, organize and price everything you have for sale — even clothing — to remove another barrier from the casual browser’s purchase decision. #GarageSaleSuccess
When Dads Create Clutter
As #Father’s Day approaches, you may be thinking about ways to celebrate dear old #dad. Depending on his pastimes, a pizza oven, automotive accessory or gadgety gift may be in his very near future. But before you buy, consider for a second how dads create #clutter.
It may be a gross generalization to say that moms probably think about clutter and household #organization more. In a consumerist society, individuals of every gender can accumulate lots of #stuff as time goes by, and that stuff can pile up around the house.
But surveys say that women often spend more time cleaning than their spouses. They are also more adept at planning work-related tasks, travel and holiday celebrations. They largely dominate the professional #organizer field.
Dads may be prone to let things pile up. And they many build vast collections of tools, garden implements, collectibles and other highly specific and specialized #stuff that’s seldom used on a day-to-day basis.
If you have one of those dads, try to make Father’s Day a day free of added clutter. Focus on the experience: buy him tickets to a ball game, a round of golf or an online class. Or go for something consumable, such as a nice steak dinner — in or out — or a bottle of his favorite spirit.
Like with moms, you also can give the gift of #organization by actively helping #clean, sort and consolidate his stuff. Wash his car or have it professionally detailed. Install pegboard organizers in his home office or workshop. Help him clean out a storage closet or the garage.
If you find anything he no longer needs or wants, schedule a free #donation #pickup from ClothingDonations.org. That way, you’ll assist in clearing the extra unwanted #junk from the home environment, which will make dad’s life less stressful overall.
The best gift for any parent is not only #clutter-free, it’s also virtually free: spending quality time together. So whether he’s a hoarder or a neat-freak, that’s the best way to honor dad on Father’s Day. #FathersDay
Make Your Mother’s Day Gifts Practical
Don’t downplay the allure of a practical gift on Mother’s Day, says The Maids. An extravagant floral arrangement or a fancy dinner is nice, but a labor-saving new appliance or freshly detailed vehicle are also good options. Potted plants, gift cards and birdhouses are (relatively) #clutter-free ideas, but housecleaning services and self-care gifts such as yoga classes can make Mom happy without adding more #stuff to the household. “The perfect Mother’s Day gift is the one that makes her feel seen and appreciated, and one that helps her make the most of her valuable time and energy.” #MothersDay
Helping Aging Parents Downsize
Most people will eventually face the fact that their aging parents won’t live forever — and they’ll likely need to adjust their living situations as they age. And that typically means that they need to sort out a lifetime’s worth of stuff before moving into a smaller space.
It’s a big job — especially when the parent or parents have lived in the same home for many years. Moving is stressful under the best of circumstances, but giving up a home filled with memories can get emotional even if the kids are there to help.
To help a downsizing parent, schedule bite-sized #decluttering sessions, Houzz says — no more than four hours per day, a few times a week. Spacing the sessions out will allow all parties to have some quality time together without getting overwhelmed by the task at hand.
For proper downsizing, try to get a picture of what the parent or parents’ new lifestyle will look like: Will they be cooking, entertaining, traveling or dressing up to go out? Their goals and interests can have a big impact on what they need to have in a new place.
Start by #decluttering the least sentimental items such as linens and clothing. Chances are that they have a lot of these and can pare them down easily to only what’s needed in a given week. Then gradually move on to the more difficult decsions.
Consider digitizing photos and other memorabilia, says Highgate Senior Living. Prints and collectibles can take up a lot of physical space, but digital photos or video scrapbooks can preserve the memories without the burden of extra #stuff.
One wholesale #decluttering strategy is to label everything with Post-it notes, designating what will definitely go to the new housing environment, what gets distributed to family members and what gets sold or #donated.
You aren’t really helping a parent #downsize until that extra #stuff is removed from the home, however; they can backslide on their decisions if things are allowed to sit there in limbo. Schedule a #free #donation #pickup — or multiple #pickups — at ClothingDonations.org.
It’s difficult to watch your parents get on in years. But with a little forethought, you can help aging parents adjust to a new space and lifestyle in their golden years.