Garage Sale, Yard Sale

No matter how large your self-storage unit is, it will probably become jam-packed over time – to the extent that you may eventually have trouble closing the door. You stash items in your unit with the intention of reclaiming them in the future because you don’t need them or have space for them at the moment, but somehow that time doesn’t arrive.

As a result, your unit may reach capacity sooner rather than later. In the previous post Cash, Trash, or Keep, you went through a process of deciding what to keep, what to sell, and what to give away. But perhaps you now realize that you’ve kept too many possessions. That means these items can probably bring you some extra dollars. Continue reading for some suggestions about how to sell the items that you earmarked for that purpose.

Take a weekend to go through your storage unit to choose items to sell. It goes without saying that the goods should be clean, functioning, unbroken, etc. Be honest with yourself – will you ever use the item again? Will you miss it? In fact, did you even remember it was in your unit? At Browning Park Mini Storage in Benton, AR, we can help you make decisions about your possessions.

Once you’ve gone through everything, make a list of the items that you’re going to sell, set a fair price for each, and decide how you’ll sell them.

Garage or Yard Sales

Having a yard sale is one of the easiest ways to sell your items. And now that spring is coming, a yard sale is not only an easy way to get rid of items quickly and easily, but can also be a lot of fun.

To promote your sale, put up photocopied signs announcing your sale around your neighborhood. Ask family or friends to help you watch your merchandise. Then pray for good weather and wait for the crowds to arrive. By the end of the day or weekend, you will have cleared up a lot of space in your storage unit and put a bunch of money in your wallet.

Consignment Shops

You may have seen shops in your local area that sell first-rate used goods. These shops may be interested in taking some of your quality goods to sell on consignment. They will take a cut of the sale, but will save you the trouble of selling the items personally.

You might end up dividing your items – some at a yard sale and the higher quality items at a consignment shop. In addition, you might have items left over from the yard sale that would be suitable for a consignment shop – clothing, baby and children items, household goods, furniture.

Auction Sites – eBay

The process of selling items on eBay is easy. Create an account and make sure you have a valid PayPal account.

To create a listing, you’ll need to upload a photo of the item, add a title and description, select payment and shipping.

When the auction ends and you’ve received your money via PayPal, you ship the item. Easy.

Other marketplaces, like Craigslist and Amazon, follow a similar process.

Recycling

You can actually save some money by recycling some items. Some manufacturers offer discounts on new electronic items if you recycle previous versions. And there are sites that offer cash for salvage goods. Junkyards often offer cash for metal items. Just do an online search to find an appropriate recycler.

Recycling in this way will give you some cash, but even more rewarding is the satisfaction that you’ve been environmentally responsible.

Donating

Finally, you may be able to donate items to a legally established organization and lower your taxable income. Just keep a record of any donation you make and cite it when completing your tax forms. You can get more information about deductible donations at the IRS website.

Money in Your Pocket

No matter which method you choose, you will gain some dollars from your storage clutter. Come on down to Browning Park Mini Storage in Benton, AR, to discuss your storage needs.