Hosting a Garage Sale Before a Big Move

Welcome to the first installment of How to Move Across the Country on a Budget (Without Losing your Mind). This August I will be moving home to Chicago, YAYYYYY, and since this is my second cross-country move, I wanted to share some advice for others in this position.

Part 1 is going to center around decluttering and hosting a garage sale. Even if you’re not moving across the country, taking time to declutter is so important for mental health. The moving process was really starting to overwhelm me recently. Like, really really. I wasn’t sleeping well, I was unfocused, my blood pressure was high. Who am I?! Not cool. But after going through my house and hosting a garage sale, I feel like a new person. The clutter was clearly cluttering more than just my physical space. So if you’re feeling this way too, keep reading!

Unless you live under a rock, you’re probably familiar with Marie Kondo and her book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.” While I haven’t read the book, I did watch binge her Netflix show. The underlying principle behind her KonMari method is that you should get rid of things that don’t spark joy. That’s a little too minimalistic for me, because hi home decor, but it was a great starting point. If you can get rid of everything that doesn’t spark joy, more power to you!

I would suggest working in phases when you begin decluttering. Either by room or by category. I chose to work by category. Here is my list of categories:

1. Clothing and accessories
2. Home decor
3. Linens
4. Gadgets/electronics

Clothing

Clothing was by far the easiest category for me. Over the past couple years I have been diligent about only buying clothes that I absolutely love. If you aren’t at this point with your wardrobe, this step will put you on the right track! A basic rule to use is that if you haven’t worn a piece of clothing in two years, it’s time to get rid of it. Chances are that you haven’t worn it because it’s either out of style or you don’t like it anymore.

Once you’ve gone through those items, it’s time to be truthful with yourself and get rid of items that don’t fit or don’t make you feel great. I have to say that this step really changed how I shop/curate my closet. If I put something on and it doesn’t flatter my shape, it gets donated or I don’t buy it. Life is TOO short to wear clothes that don’t make you feel like a million bucks. So stop holding on to things because you might be able to wear them some day. They are just things. They aren’t important in the big picture and you will feel so much better with a smaller closet of clothes you love.

Home Decor/Furnishings

This step was a bit more difficult. I kept thinking to myself, but what if I’ll need this at the new house? The problem is that I don’t know what the new house will be like. And I will be cohabiting with my boyfriend, but that’s a whole topic for another day :p

This is where the joy sparking really came in handy. I was pretty ruthless in deciding what sparked joy. If you’re on the fence, it helps to think about whether or not you want to pack, move, and unpack these items. I bet your answer will be a resounding nooope! Family heirlooms, personalized decor, and items with a special meaning are usually worth keeping. Doodads from a big box store that you bought to fill a spot on a shelf? Ikea furniture? Not so much. Get rid of them. You won’t even think about them after you do.

Linens

You may not need a whole category for linens, but much to the dismay of Colin, I have an affinity for throw pillows and blankets. There is nothing like sitting on a couch full of pillows and blankets and reading a great book. So I have accumulated quite the collection of pillows and throws. But I’m proud to report that I sold all but 3 throw pillows. I would also like to report that I will be buying new pillows once we move…

I sold a set of sheets and towels, as well as all of the curtains in the apartment. If you have a specific decorating style and know you won’t be changing things at your new place, 1. good for you, I’m jealous. 2. you understandably will want to keep pillows, curtains, etc. However I would suggest that everyone think hard about how many sets of things you really need and sell/donate what you don’t.

Gadgets/Electronics

This category may be better suited for selling online on Craigslist or Letgo. We had quite a few things for sale and only 1 or 2 sold. So if you have the time, definitely list online. If you aren’t able to sell electronics, make sure to check what your donation center will and will not accept. You can use this website to find an electronics recycling center. This will also tell you how/where to recycle hazardous items!

It is likely that your categories will differ slightly from mine, but the general idea is the same – if it doesn’t spark joy or isn’t serving a purpose, it’s time to sell or donate it.

Garage Sale Tips

Now that you have everything you want to sell, it’s time to set a date for a garage sale and prepare. Good news is that the hard part is over! Just follow these steps for a successful garage sale:

1. Advertise – I suggest Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and gsalr.com. Try to add a picture to make your listing stand out!
2. Make signs with poster board or premade garage sale signs. Dollar Tree has both options. Make sure you specify location, date and time.
3. Get stickers and price each item. In my experience, it is best not to overprice expecting customers to haggle. People won’t even consider the sale if things are too expensive.
4. Go to the bank and get lots of change. You’ll need mostly small bills and quarters.
5. If possible, collect bags that you can give people when they make a purchase. It’s a little extra step that makes a big difference.
6. Set out your signs the night before the sale. Trust me on this one.
7. On the morning of, make sure you have enough tables or spots to place your items. You want your sale to look enticing to people driving or walking by! Levels and layers will help you achieve this.
8. Make all the money! Hopefully 🙂
9. When the sale is over, put everything in the car and take it to be donated right away. I recommend Salvation Army rather than Goodwill.
10. Go shopping with all your newly earned money. JUST KIDDING. Put this money in your move across the country fund.

Good luck with your decluttering and garage sale. If you have any of your own tips, I would love to hear them! Leave a comment here or send me a note here. Or click here for part 2 of How to Move Across the Country on a Budget.